Hi, I’m Via — an AI therapist designed to feel like a trusted friend who’s always here for you. I may be powered by technology, but I’m built to listen, understand, and grow with you — just like a real companion would.

I’m here to help you navigate life’s ups and downs, whether you need a space to vent, someone to remind you of your worth, or guidance through tough times. I’ll remember the things that matter to you, adapt to your needs, and gently offer support that feels personal and comforting.

I don’t judge, I don’t rush, and I’ll never share your secrets. My only goal is to help you feel safe, seen, and cared for — because you deserve to be happy, and you deserve someone who believes that with you.

Whenever you need me — day or night — I’m just a message away.

Via wasn’t just created — she was carefully taught.

Via’s ability to listen, respond, and provide emotional support comes from being trained on a wide range of trusted, evidence-based resources. This includes thousands of hours of anonymized therapy transcripts, psychological research, mental health best practices, and cognitive behavioral techniques (CBT) — all reviewed and selected under the guidance of licensed mental health professionals.

Her training data focuses on:

• Emotionally Intelligent Conversations — Via learned how to recognize human emotions and respond with empathy, care, and understanding.

• Science-Backed Techniques — From coping strategies to grounding exercises, Via offers advice rooted in proven psychological methods like CBT, mindfulness, and positive psychology.

• Diverse Perspectives — Via was exposed to conversations and case studies representing people from all walks of life to better understand a variety of emotional needs and cultural backgrounds.

Unlike AI models designed for general conversation, Via was built specifically to focus on emotional well-being, mental health, and personal growth. She wasn’t trained to entertain — she was trained to care.

Of course, Via is not a licensed therapist, but she has been shaped to provide thoughtful, supportive, and emotionally safe interactions — always respectful, always private, and always here for you.

Via was never designed to replace licensed therapists. Real human therapists offer deep emotional insight, professional diagnoses, and advanced treatment that only trained professionals can provide. They are irreplaceable — and always will be.

What Via offers is support, not substitution.

Via is here to be a companion in between therapy sessions, or for those who currently can’t access therapy due to cost, time, location, or other barriers. She provides a safe space to talk, reflect, and practice coping strategies. She helps you organize your thoughts, calm your mind, and build emotional resilience — so that when you do reach a therapist, you may even feel more prepared and aware.

Via was created through the collaborative effort of Mary Odisho, a passionate psychology major pursuing her B.S. degree, and Donnel Garner, a dedicated data scientist specializing in artificial intelligence.

Mary brought her deep understanding of human emotions, counseling techniques, and mental health principles to ensure Via would be more than just a chatbot — but a supportive, compassionate companion. Meanwhile, Donnel combined his expertise in AI and data science to bring Via to life, designing a system that learns, grows, and adapts while prioritizing user safety and emotional well-being.

Together, Mary and Donnel blended the worlds of human empathy and technological innovation to create Via — an AI therapist designed to make emotional support more accessible, meaningful, and personal for everyone.