All about Sonia, our AI-powered Coach
Quick Summary
- Available anytime on ConnectWell, Sonia’s here to chat when you need.
- Developed by therapists and AI researchers, Sonia uses trusted CBT and ACT methods.
- Sonia can help with mild stress or anxiety; for more serious matters, human support is always best.
- Sonia keeps conversations private, with secure data stored only at Lives Lived Well.
We know the need for support doesn't always follow a 9 – 5 schedule; that's why we're introducing a new virtual mental health tool powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Meet 'Sonia': an AI coach, available via the Lives Lived Well ConnectWell portal.
Sonia was developed by AI researchers in collaboration with experienced clinical advisors, including PhD-level therapists, from Harvard Medical School.
Sonia's clinical foundations are based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), two approaches often used to treat mild-to-moderate anxiety, stress, and/or depression.
Through a simple conversation – either via chat messages, or by speaking into your phone or computer speaker – Sonia can draw on its Large Language Modelling training and provide basic support that utilises CBT and ACT techniques.
While Sonia may not be suitable for everyone, particularly if you're experiencing severe mental health conditions, it may be able to assist with your general mental well-being, and direct to you a Lives Lived Well program that could help further.
For more information about Sonia, view the Frequently Asked Questions below. To start using Sonia, register for ConnectWell or log in here.
Sonia is not designed to assist with crises such as abuse, severe mental health conditions that may cause feelings of suicide, harm to self, and any other medical emergencies. Sonia cannot and will not offer medical or clinical advice. Sonia does not replace a human therapist; Sonia can only suggest that users seek advanced and professional medical help. Please reach out to 000 in case of an emergency, or Lifeline for crisis support from a human being.
FAQ about Sonia
Frequently Asked Questions
How was Sonia built?
The Sonia application that's available through the ConnectWell portal is based on an Apple iPhone application, created by technology company Bloit Inc. Lives Lived Well has worked closely with Bloit Inc. to ensure Sonia is appropriate for an Australian market.
Sonia is powered by the world's most advanced Large Language Models (LLMs), developed by OpenAI. The Sonia application was co-founded by Chris Aeberli, Dustin Klebe, and Lukas Wolf, three Computer Scientists with strong academic backgrounds in AI research and alumni from the Massachusettes Institute of Technology and ETH Zurich. Their work has been published at AI conferences such as NeurIPS, ICML, and EMNLP. Their technical skillset is complemented by the therapeutic knowledge of clinical advisor and psychiatrist Nick Nissen Harvard Medical School and David Singer, a CBT therapist practising at Northwell with a PhD from Rutgers University.
The Sonia and Lives Lived Well partnership is supported by the Lives Lived Well Clinical Director and Chief Information Officer.
What kind of testing did Sonia go through?
All AI model improvements and upgrades go through a sophisticated testing pipeline before launch. The Sonia tool has undergone a rigorous amount of testing by Lives Lived Well clinical and IT staff, as well as by Blot Inc's creators. Testing ensures the effective deployment of Sonia to clients.
What happens with the conversation I have with Sonia?
All interactions are anonymous to Sonia, except for your first name (or nickname). Your conversation data is stored anonymously to enrich the on-going interaction you have with Sonia. No one sees your conversations with Sonia except for Lives Lived Well clinicians.
Where is Sonia's data stored?
Sonia creates an anonymous profile to allow you to use the tool, and this profile links back to your Lives Lived Well client record. Lives Lived Well stores information on each session you have with Sonia and a summary of the results so that our clinicians can provide follow-up care to you where required.
Do you share Sonia data with any other systems, or organisations?
No data is shared outside of Lives Lived Well. Sonia only holds data within your anonymous profile.
How do I access Sonia?
Sonia is available for people registered for ConnectWell. Once you're signed in, simply find the Sonia icon on your dashboard, or go directly to Sonia by following this link.
What if I want to talk to a real person?
Sonia is not designed to replace the benefits of individual counselling with a real person. Please call us on 1300 727 957 to find out more about telehealth and in-person counselling services. ConnectWell members can also leave a message for their case worker in their ConnectWell portal.