ExploreSelf: Fostering User-driven Exploration and Reflection on Personal Challenges with Adaptive Guidance by Large Language Models

TL;DR

ExploreSelf is an LLM-powered tool that enables users to actively steer their reflection process on personal challenges through adaptive questions, fostering deeper engagement and insight.

Contribution

We introduce ExploreSelf, a novel LLM-based system that offers flexible, user-controlled reflective guidance, addressing limitations of existing systems.

Findings

Participants valued flexible navigation and adaptive support.

Deeper engagement and insights were observed during reflection.

User control enhanced reflection quality.

Abstract

Expressing stressful experiences in words is proven to improve mental and physical health, but individuals often disengage with writing interventions as they struggle to organize their thoughts and emotions. Reflective prompts have been used to provide direction, and large language models (LLMs) have demonstrated the potential to provide tailored guidance. However, current systems often limit users' flexibility to direct their reflections. We thus present ExploreSelf, an LLM-driven application designed to empower users to control their reflective journey, providing adaptive support through dynamically generated questions. Through an exploratory study with 19 participants, we examine how participants explore and reflect on personal challenges using ExploreSelf. Our findings demonstrate that participants valued the flexible navigation of adaptive guidance to control their reflective journey, leading to deeper engagement and insight. Building on our findings, we discuss the implications of designing LLM-driven tools that facilitate user-driven and effective reflection of personal challenges.