Yes, it absolutely does matter. Look at what you write:
> I'd assume
> it's reasonable to expect
The whole reason to do a study is to actually study as opposed to assume and expect.
And for many of the kinds of people engaging in therapy with an LLM, BetterHelp is precisely where they are most likely to go due to its marketing, convenience, and price. It's where a ton of real therapy is happening today. Most people do not have a $300/hr. high-quality therapist nearby that is available and that they can afford. LLM's need to be compared, first, to the alternatives that are readily available.
And remember that all therapists on BetterHelp are licensed, with a master's or doctorate, and meet state board requirements. So I don't understand why that wouldn't be a perfectly reasonable baseline.
Yes, it absolutely does matter. Look at what you write:
> I'd assume
> it's reasonable to expect
The whole reason to do a study is to actually study as opposed to assume and expect.
And for many of the kinds of people engaging in therapy with an LLM, BetterHelp is precisely where they are most likely to go due to its marketing, convenience, and price. It's where a ton of real therapy is happening today. Most people do not have a $300/hr. high-quality therapist nearby that is available and that they can afford. LLM's need to be compared, first, to the alternatives that are readily available.
And remember that all therapists on BetterHelp are licensed, with a master's or doctorate, and meet state board requirements. So I don't understand why that wouldn't be a perfectly reasonable baseline.