Hello from TinT.
What a lovely August Sunday, right?
We hope you’ve got a hot zesty chai or a cup of nutty coffee by your side, because today’s newsletter is a workshop in disguise. And yes, it’s going to need a little bit of your attention and curiosity. So let’s brew that drink and dive in!
A Story from Home: Mom Meets ChatGPT
The other day, I watched my mother, who’s a doctor- Google something. One word, enter, and then: tab-hopping. It was slow and overwhelming.
So I asked her to try ChatGPT. She typed the same word- typo and all, and this time, it just worked. The model clarified her intent and gently offered follow-up questions.
Once she treated it like a junior assistant, it clicked.
That’s the power of a well-phrased prompt. It can turn
scroll-fatigue into clarity without downloading a new app or learning something new.
This Edition: A Workshop in 3 Parts
We’re getting practical, hands-on, and gently nerdy. This isn’t just information- it’s something you can apply right away.
Sections:
- Prompting Styles Therapists Can Use
- What the Experts Say (Simplified for Practice)
- 6 Therapist Use-Cases to Try Today
These aren’t rigid formulas, they’re flexible thinking tools.
Let’s begin!
1. Prompting Styles Therapists Can Use
Instruction Prompting
Prompt: "Write a therapy note..."
Think of this like delegating to a junior therapist. Clear, direct, pattern-based.
Use for:
- Writing educational content
- Summarizing key takeaways
- Creating simple outlines or workshop overviews
Example:
"Write a short, warm LinkedIn post explaining the importance of boundaries for professionals in caregiving roles."
Chain-of-Thought Prompting
Prompt: "Think through each concern step-by-step..."
Use this when the problem or pattern is layered. It mimics clinical reasoning.
Use for:
- Intake or formulation prep
- Designing multi-step content or exercises
- Scriptwriting for group work
Example:
"Break down 'emotion regulation' into 3 digestible parts for teenagers. Use everyday examples."
Few-Shot Prompting
Prompt: Show 2–3 examples, then ask the model to continue.
Think of it like modeling a case formulation or intake summary.
Use for:
- Creating intake templates
- Translating emotional language across cultures
- Shifting tone for different audiences (children vs parents)
Example:
"Client A: Teenager with exam anxiety → Created a “worry monster” activity
Client B: Adult with burnout → Created a weekly energy tracker
Now create: A workshop idea for new parents navigating sleep deprivation."
Role Prompting
Prompt: "You are a trauma-informed psychologist..."
Assigning a role helps shape tone, pace, and focus.
Example:
“Act as a trauma-informed therapist trained in EMDR. Write a short, friendly explanation of EMDR therapy for a first-time client who is curious but unsure. Use simple, calming language. Focus on what EMDR is, how it works in the brain, and what a typical session might feel like, without overwhelming them. Keep the tone warm, clear, and grounded.”
System Prompting
This is where you set the overall behavior, like onboarding an intern. Go to the settings of your LLM tool and insert this prompt to set the tone. Some tools might offer this only for paid versions.
Example:
“You are a warm, supportive assistant for mental health professionals. You prioritize clarity, trauma sensitivity, and avoid making diagnoses.”
2. What the Experts Say: Translated for Therapists
Prompt engineering guides from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Microsoft agree:
- Be Clear. Avoid fluff. Specific beats smart-sounding.
- Set Context. Who’s it for? What do you want?
- Give Examples. Show the tone or format you expect.
- Define Roles. AI works better when it knows who it’s pretending to be.
- Iterate. Reword, reframe, refine.
Example:
You’re a mental health educator. I’m creating a visual explainer for college students. Write 3 analogies that explain emotional regulation using characters from famous fiction books.
Pro Tip:
Once you write your prompt, ask the AI:
“Rate this prompt on a scale of 1–10. How can I make it a 10/10?”
It’ll teach you to prompt better with the AI, not just through it.
3. Therapist Use-Cases: 6 Ways to Start Prompting Today
Try these with anonymized or fictional content only.
1. Note-Taking Practice (Fictional Cases)
Prompt:
“Here’s a fictional or composite therapy session summary: [insert]. Organize it into DAP format.”
Use for: Skill-building, teaching, or documentation training. Never with real client data.
2. Psychoeducational Handouts
Prompt:
"Explain 'catastrophizing' to a 14-year-old using cricket metaphors."
Use for: Prepping group content or simplifying psycho-ed for various age/language levels.
3. Supervision Journaling
Prompt:
“I’m reflecting on a session where I felt stuck. Ask me 3 gentle, open-ended questions to unpack my response.”
Use for: Self-awareness, not as a replacement for supervision.
4. Journal Prompts for Clients
Prompt:
“Create 5 reflective journaling prompts for a young adult working on self-worth after a breakup.”
5. Scenario-Based Practice for Interns
Prompt:
“Act as a hesitant client. Help me practice building rapport and safety.”
6. Multilingual Translation with Cultural Framing
Prompt:
"Translate this grounding script into Tamil. Keep the tone soft, warm, and culturally resonant."
Reminder: Always check with native speakers.
Closing Prompt: A Grounding Activity for you!
Prompt:
“Write me a sticky note (poem, quote, haiku or short reflection- anything that moves you personally) I’d want to see at the end of a long day as a therapist. Something warm and grounding that reminds me why I do this work.”
Personalize it further by adding a bit on yourself:
“I’m a trauma therapist who loves tea and dry humor.”
We’d Love to See What You Try
Send us screenshots, favorite prompts, or mini-wins by simply replying to this Email! We would love to feature your experiments in our next issue.
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See you this weekend for the long(er) read!
Harshali
Founder, TinT
