Art can have a role in healing, and AI can also be part of the solution. Eli Strzelecka, founder of Conspicuis, shares her personal story, her initiatives, and many things in between. This is part of the TouchBase Reach Out series.
Check out Eli on LinkedIn and check out Conspicuis.
The interview is below, followed by a transcript, lightly edited for clarity.
Yohay Elam (YE): Hi everyone. Thanks for watching or listening. Welcome to this latest episode of the Reach Out series, where we explore the intersections of human connection, technology, and mental well-being. I’m Yohay Elam, founder of TouchBase, an app that tackles loneliness by helping foster meaningful connections, not just any connections.
And today I’m thrilled to be speaking with Eli Strzelecka, the founder of Conspicuous and the mind behind the playful and thought-provoking Guild Gallery. We’ll discuss mental health, AI, loneliness, the role of shame, and how technology, art, and mental health can intertwine. Eli, thank you for joining us.
Eli Strzelecka (ES): Hey, good to be here. Thanks so much for having me. I’ve been really looking forward to this chat with you about AI and mental health. To me, our discussions are always enriching, and I hope we can shed some light for people who are struggling themselves or are just curious about the topic.
I’m personally very excited about the opportunities, and at the same time, of course, a little concerned about the potential harms that always come along with progress and innovation.
YE: Lots to talk about indeed. And I hope I pronounced your last name more or less correctly. Before we jump into today’s topics, I’d love to hear a bit more about you. Could you please introduce yourself and tell us how happiness became part of your professional journey?
ES: I think happiness should be part of everyone’s professional journey. Joke aside, up until my mid-20s I saw life as a series of tests to pass or fail. It was embedded in me that my worth would depend on how impressive my education, husband, and job were.
The golden standard was: become a lawyer, marry an engineer or doctor, have two kids before 30, buy a house. So I got two master’s degrees in law, I was in a long-term relationship with a future engineer—I did everything I thought I was supposed to do.
But doing everything right didn’t lead to feeling right. I went to a therapist, against my family’s wishes, to figure out what was “wrong” with me for not being happy. He helped me realize I needed to build a life I actually liked and make serious changes.
I love the story about Michelangelo being asked how he created the statue of David: he said he just removed everything that wasn’t David. That’s how I see my last decade—removing things that caused despair. And somehow I ended up here, building a mental health and AI company.
YE: Very interesting. You already touched on art and Michelangelo—we’ll come back to that later. But let’s dive into AI. Everyone is talking about it. From your perspective, how does AI impact mental health—both positively and negatively?
ES: Both chatbots and image-generation tools have incredible potential to improve mental health if used properly. LLMs can ingest a lot of valuable knowledge about mental health. There’s a myth that only humans can have meaningful mental health conversations—that’s not true.
I turn to AI for compression, advice, venting, brainstorming. It’s so efficient at helping with mental health that I worry about potential addiction. What I don’t want is a world where people stop cultivating meaningful human relationships.
Here’s an example: many people struggle with boundaries. They say yes when they want to say no, listen when they want to leave, and lose themselves in relationships. Then they withdraw to avoid conflict. I encourage them to ask AI how to set boundaries, deliver bad news, or handle difficult conversations. Relationships aren’t mystical—you can learn skills, and AI can help.
If you feel socially awkward, AI can teach you how to approach people, what to say, how to show interest. But it’s on us who build in this field to highlight positive use cases—because the risk of increased isolation is real.
YE: Yes, that resonates. What you said about canceling yourself in a relationship—romantic or with friends—that’s something I’ve experienced too. Back then there was no AI. Now we can use it, but as you said, in the right way.
AI is playing an increasing role in therapy bots, diagnostics, predictive analytics. Do you see any ethical red flags or limitations we should be aware of?
ES: The best way to use AI for mental health is under a therapist’s supervision. But not everyone can afford a therapist, and even if you can, the first one isn’t always the right fit, and the right fit now might not be forever. That’s why platforms like BetterHelp are great—you can try different therapists until you find one who clicks.
At that point, AI can supplement therapy. If you’re not currently seeing a therapist, AI can still help manage symptoms. But it will never replace human connection or the benefits of traditional therapy.
Ethically, we need to remember that AI models are trained on human-provided data, with the biases and limits of their creators. Think of how terrorist groups, cult leaders, conspiracy theorists already manipulate people. Imagine them building AI agents to preach to vulnerable populations. That’s terrifying.
We already live in an age of conflicting truths. We choose which media to trust. Now we’ll also need to decide which AI we trust—and to what extent.
YE: So trust is critical—not just in economics but also in choosing the right AI tool and using it alongside humans. Let’s shift to loneliness, which is central to TouchBase. What do you think are the main reasons people struggle with loneliness in today’s digital world?
ES: I think we need each other less and less. For example: I can wake up, work with AI, do yoga with YouTube, order lunch without meeting the delivery guy, entertain myself on Netflix, post online for likes, and then talk to AI about my feelings—all without seeing a person.
Gen Z grew up with social media. Their online personas often drift far from their real selves, setting impossible standards. We have fast food, fast fashion, fast dating—the easier it comes, the less we appreciate it. Everyone seems replaceable, with something “better” always one click away.
That’s why I love solutions like TouchBase—using tech to remind people to connect. Our lives aren’t designed for nurturing long-term bonds anymore. That’s why we see this loneliness epidemic.
YE: Maybe we need more friction—making things a bit less easy, so they have more meaning. Which is opposite of what tech usually does. Let’s talk about shame. It’s a powerful emotion that keeps people from reaching out. How do you see the relationship between shame, technology, and connection?
ES: Shame is tied to social desirability. If I’m depressed and only talk about that, people won’t want to interact with me. So the natural response is to hide it. We don’t want to be defined by our struggles, so we either isolate or compensate. That’s why some of the funniest people are also the most depressed.
But whether we isolate or compensate, loneliness creeps in because we’re not truly seen or loved for who we are. Being loved for a persona is just as lonely as not being loved at all.
AI today provides a safe, judgment-free environment to talk about these things and accept them ourselves. Then we can get advice on how to communicate them to others in respectful ways. Opening up to AI can be an amazing first step toward self-acceptance.
But the end goal must be human connection. If no one in your life truly knows you, shame will persist and loneliness won’t go away.
YE: Breaking that cycle is crucial. One way you tackle it is through art. You have a unique perspective on the intersection of technology and art therapy. How do these fields complement each other?
ES: Artistic creation has incredible benefits for mental health. Some argue AI art isn’t real art, but I’ve seen people heal through tools like MidJourney or DALL·E—people who never considered themselves artists before. Tech gave them a new outlet.
I’ve started running non-clinical AI art therapy group sessions. We discuss topics, identify feelings, and then create AI-generated representations of problems, memories, or aspirations. Art has been central to my own mental health journey, and AI adds inspiration and wonder.
It’s healthier to connect over AI art creations than curated Instagram posts, which often bring people down.
YE: Interesting—Instagram versus creating art. Do you think AI could play a meaningful role in art therapy, or is there a limit to how much tech should intervene in creativity?
ES: The nature of art is to push boundaries. If a banana taped to a wall can be art, why can’t AI-generated images be art? People once resisted photography and digital art too, but they became valid outlets for creativity.
I’m happy to use AI in mental health work because it works. But we need to watch for addiction. Spending all your free time generating images is unhealthy if it replaces human interaction.
With Conspicuous, we use art to foster meaningful discussions. The tech is available, and it can be used for good. But if painting works for you, keep painting. For others, AI art can be a great tool.
YE: Totally. I can’t paint, but I can use a computer—though I’ll try not to spend all day on it. Let’s step back to loneliness and mental illness. People often see mental illness and happiness as opposites. But some argue struggles can deepen joy. What are your thoughts?
ES: Complex question. I’ve had suicidal thoughts since an early age, experienced deep emotional pain, addictive behavior, risky behavior. My default state is pain. And I know there are listeners who get it. Many people die ashamed, never realizing they weren’t alone.
You can’t just “think” yourself into happiness. Life can be deeply hard—trauma, financial struggles, abuse. For people wired for self-destruction, it’s lifelong work.
But you don’t have to do it alone or in shame. I want to offer spaces where people can relieve anguish, make art, talk, laugh, connect. You’re not banned from joy because you’re depressed or traumatized. You can have issues and still feel hope, purpose, and joy.
In fact, joy may feel deeper for those who struggle, because it takes more effort.
YE: Got it. Complicated, but there is a path forward. Do you think people who struggle with mental illness can turn it into a driving force for positive change?
ES: Honestly, I think you must. If you don’t, suffering pushes you into harmful escapes. Mental illness doesn’t stagnate—you either work to improve or it worsens.
If you don’t sublimate it, give it meaning, use it to help others, it becomes a curse. But once you know what to do with it, it’s not so bad. Sharing my experience relieves others, which relieves me.
I don’t need to feel good all the time—I need to feel my life isn’t useless. I hope Conspicuous can be a place where anyone connects with their strengths and creativity. Fear is often the bigger problem than the symptoms themselves.
YE: The fear and shame—powerful forces, but acknowledging them helps. So, what drives you forward in your work? What keeps you motivated?
ES: Every day I speak with people who recognize loneliness as a problem—like you. We share the journey. I talk about my struggles, others share theirs, and we all feel less alone.
With Conspicuous, I don’t know if it’ll take off or fade. But every conversation, every space we create for people to talk about these issues, is never wasted. I used to live without purpose. Now I wake up with meaning, and that feels great.
YE: Yes—purpose drives us forward. If people want to support your work, what’s the best way?
ES: Join our Discord community. Join our AI art therapy sessions. Sign up as a beta tester. Reach out in any way. I’d love any support people can give.
YE: I’m sure this resonated with many. You’ve been brave in opening up. We’ll share the links so people can support Conspicuous. As we approach the finish line, I’d like to end on a high note. What gives you hope about combating loneliness moving forward?
ES: There’s so much hope. I meet people who’ve suffered emotionally but chose not to let it consume them. We’re not doomed. There’s more to life than pain.
In fact, the loneliness epidemic itself is hopeful—it means you are the friend someone is looking for. If you were the only one lonely, that would be bleak. But because so many people feel it, we can connect with each other. The solution is within reach.
YE: I think of that Billy Joel song, Piano Man: “They share a drink they call loneliness.” If so many are lonely, they can at least be lonely together. Thank you very much, Eli, for joining us today.
That was fascinating, and thank you to everyone listening. Follow TouchBase on social media or visit gettouchbase.com. Eli, this has been such a thought-provoking conversation.
ES: Thanks so much. I really enjoyed chatting with you—I always do. I hope others will join our conversations too.
YE: Thank you, and to our listeners: don’t forget to reach out, connect, keep the dialogue going. See you next time on Reach Out.