As a linguist whose research is situated at the intersection of language, technology, and society, I am particularly interested in the ways in which human–machine interaction can be optimized to yield tangible benefits for society at large. This line of inquiry is driven by the broader question of how emerging technologies—especially those powered by advances in natural language processing and artificial intelligence—can be harnessed not merely for technical efficiency, but in the service of socially meaningful applications. One area in which my current research is focused concerns the potential use of artificial intelligence as a tool in psychotherapy. In an interdisciplinary psycholinguistic study, I examine how large language models (LLMs), once adequately trained and contextually adapted, might function as “e-therapists” that provide an initial point of contact for individuals seeking psychological support via online chat. Such applications hold considerable promise for addressing the widening gap between the growing societal demand for mental health services and the limited availability of qualified professionals.