AI Therapy Starter Kit

A local-first, privacy-focused toolkit for AI-assisted therapy and self-reflection.

Your sessions stay on your computer. Your data is yours. Works with Claude, GPT, or any LLM.

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Why This Exists

If you've used ChatGPT or Claude for emotional support, you've probably hit these problems:

• Sessions disappear. Start a new chat, lose all context. Copy-paste to Google Docs? That gets old fast.
• Privacy concerns. Your deepest thoughts, stored on someone else's servers, potentially reviewed by humans.
• Platform lock-in. Build a relationship with 4o, then OpenAI deprecates it. Start over.
• Inconsistent quality. Sometimes helpful, sometimes reads from a script. No therapeutic framework.

This toolkit solves all of them.

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What You Get

Persistent memory — Sessions and insights accumulate in local markdown files. Your AI therapist remembers everything, across sessions, forever.

Real privacy — Files live on your machine. Optional encryption (AES-256) for sensitive data. Use a local LLM for maximum privacy.

Portable — Works with Claude Code, ChatGPT API, or any LLM that can read files. Switch providers without losing your history.

Evidence-based framework — Built-in CBT, ACT, DBT, Somatic Experiencing, and Lifespan Integration. Structured therapeutic approaches, not just vibes.

Customizable — Choose your therapist's communication style. Add modalities. Make it yours.

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Quick Start

New to Claude Code or terminal-based AI tools? See the Getting Started Guide for step-by-step instructions.

Prerequisites

• Claude Code (recommended) or another LLM interface
• macOS or Windows
• 10 minutes for setup

Installation

macOS:

git clone https://github.com/ataglianetti/ai-therapy-kit.git
cd ai-therapy-kit
./setup.sh

Windows (PowerShell):

git clone https://github.com/ataglianetti/ai-therapy-kit.git
cd ai-therapy-kit
.\setup.ps1

The setup script will guide you through:

1. Choosing a therapist name and communication style
2. Selecting therapeutic approaches (CBT, ACT, DBT skills)
3. Setting up storage location
4. Optional encryption

Start a Session

cd ~/ai-therapy   # or your chosen location
claude            # or your preferred LLM interface

Just talk. Your AI therapist will maintain context, take notes, and remember everything for next time.

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Features

Communication Styles

Style	Best For
Warm & Supportive	Validation-first, gentle challenges, nurturing presence
Direct & Challenging	Socratic questioning, will push back, insight-focused
Coach	Action-oriented, goal-focused, accountability
Grounded & Real	Down-to-earth, honest feedback, uses humor, focused on growth

Therapeutic Approaches

• CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) — Identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns
• ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) — Values-based action, mindful acceptance
• DBT Skills — Emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness
• Lifespan Integration — Body-based trauma integration, builds coherent life narrative
• Somatic Experiencing — Nervous system regulation, completing stuck survival responses

Session Continuity

Your AI therapist automatically:

• Reads your profile and recent sessions at the start
• Takes structured notes at the end
• Updates your profile as insights emerge
• Tracks homework and follows up

Optional Encryption

For shared computers or maximum privacy:

• macOS: Encrypted disk image (built-in, no install)
• Windows: VeraCrypt container (free, open-source)

Setup walks you through it.

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How It Works

ai-therapy/
├── CLAUDE.md        # Your therapist's personality and approach
├── profile.md       # Cumulative client profile (builds over time)
└── sessions/
    ├── 2024-01-15.md
    ├── 2024-01-18.md
    └── ...

CLAUDE.md — Instructions that shape your AI therapist's behavior. Generated during setup based on your preferences.

profile.md — Your ongoing profile. Background, patterns, insights, goals. Updated across sessions.

sessions/ — Session notes in dated markdown files. Themes, emotional state, homework, threads to revisit.

Everything is plain text. Readable, portable, yours.

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Safety Features

This toolkit includes built-in safety protocols:

Crisis Response

• Recognizes crisis language (suicidal ideation, self-harm, psychosis)
• Provides immediate crisis resources (988, Crisis Text Line)
• Does not attempt to "treat" acute crises

Scope Limitations

• Will not diagnose conditions
• Will not advise on medication
• Recommends professional help when appropriate

Ethical Guidelines

• Maintains appropriate therapeutic boundaries
• Promotes autonomy, not dependency
• Acknowledges AI limitations honestly

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Important Disclaimer

This tool is for self-reflection and emotional support. It is not a replacement for professional mental health care.

• The AI cannot diagnose mental health conditions
• The AI cannot prescribe or advise on medication
• If you're in crisis, contact a crisis line or emergency services
• Consider sharing that you use this tool with your therapist

Crisis Resources:

• 988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text, US)
• 741741 — Crisis Text Line (text HOME)
• 911 — Immediate emergencies
• findahelpline.com — International directory

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Privacy & Security

Your Data

• All files stored locally on your machine
• Nothing uploaded, synced, or transmitted by this toolkit
• No analytics, telemetry, or tracking
• Delete anytime by removing the folder

API Considerations

If using a cloud LLM (Claude, GPT), your messages go through their API:

• Claude API: Anthropic's privacy policy — Data not used for training
• OpenAI API: OpenAI's privacy policy

For maximum privacy, use a local LLM (Ollama, LM Studio). See SECURITY.md for setup.

Encryption

Optional but recommended for shared computers. Setup script walks you through it.

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Known Limitations

LLM Safety Guardrails

All major LLMs (Claude, GPT, etc.) have built-in safety filters. These can affect therapy conversations in ways you should know about:

Topics where the AI may seem hesitant or awkward:

• Sexual trauma and assault
• Abuse (especially detailed descriptions)
• Self-harm (specifics, not general discussion)
• Violent experiences
• Suicidal ideation (the AI will pivot to crisis resources)

What this looks like:

• The AI may give generic responses instead of engaging deeply
• It may redirect the conversation or change the subject
• It may add disclaimers or suggest professional help more than necessary
• In some cases, it may refuse to continue a line of discussion

This is not the AI judging you. It's hitting guardrails built into the model. The AI cannot override these filters.

What you can do:

• Frame topics in terms of feelings and impact rather than graphic details
• If the AI redirects, try rephrasing: "I want to process how this affected me emotionally"
• Understand that some trauma processing may require a human therapist who can hold space for the full story
• Consider a local LLM with fewer guardrails (see SECURITY.md), though this trades off response quality

This limitation is real, and we want you to know about it upfront rather than feel dismissed mid-session.

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FAQ

Can I use this with ChatGPT instead of Claude?

Yes. The CLAUDE.md file works as a system prompt for any LLM. For ChatGPT, paste it into Custom Instructions or a GPT Project.

What if I'm already in therapy?

Great! This tool works well as a supplement. Consider sharing that you use it with your therapist.

Is this HIPAA compliant?

This is not a healthcare product and doesn't fall under HIPAA. You're running it on your own computer. We don't store or access any of your data.

Can I customize the therapeutic approach?

Yes. Edit CLAUDE.md directly, or purchase expansion packs for additional modalities.

What if I need more than self-reflection?

This tool is designed for everyday emotional support. If you're dealing with severe symptoms, trauma, or crisis situations, please seek professional help. The AI will also recommend this when appropriate.

Why does the AI seem evasive when I talk about trauma?

LLMs have safety guardrails that can make them awkward around certain topics (abuse, sexual trauma, self-harm, violence). This isn't the AI judging you — it's hitting built-in filters it can't override. See "Known Limitations" above for more detail and workarounds.

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Contributing

Issues and PRs welcome. See CONTRIBUTING.md.

Areas of interest:

• Additional modalities (with clinical grounding)
• Improved crisis detection
• Local LLM integration guides
• Translations

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License

MIT License. See LICENSE.

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Acknowledgments

Built with inspiration from the r/therapyGPT community and their creative workarounds for AI therapy persistence.

This project incorporates principles from evidence-based therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

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Take care of yourself. 💚