You are not alone
If something about tethering felt familiar, there are people who can help. These resources are a starting point — not a prescription.
Enter your ZIP code to find mental health providers in your area. Results come from SAMHSA — the federal agency that maintains the national treatment locator.
When searching, look for therapists who list behavioral addiction, attachment issues, or technology use as areas of focus. You don't need to explain tethering — “I've been struggling with my relationship with AI” is enough to start.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988
Free, confidential, 24/7. For anyone in emotional distress or suicidal crisis. Call or text 988 from any phone in the US.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
Free, confidential crisis counseling by text, 24/7. If you're overwhelmed and not sure what to do next, this is a good first message.
SAMHSA National Helpline
1-800-662-4357
Free, confidential, 24/7. Treatment referral and information for mental health and substance use. Available in English and Spanish.
Psychology Today — Find a Therapist
Search by location and specialty. Filter for therapists who list behavioral addiction, attachment issues, or technology and screen use. One of the most complete directories available.
Open Path Collective
Reduced-cost therapy for people who can't afford standard rates. Sessions from $30–$80. Vetted therapists across the US.
Therapy for Black Girls
Directory of therapists committed to the mental wellness of Black women and girls.
What Is Tethering?
If you're not sure whether what you're experiencing is tethering, start here. It explains the condition in plain language — what it is, what it isn't, and why it has a name now.
TETHERED — The Book
The full reported account of tethering — the science, the stories, the companies, and what comes next. Written by Character零号. Available for reading on this site.
Share Your Story
If you want to tell someone what happened to you, we're here. We read every submission. We write back to many of them. What you share stays with us unless you say otherwise.
These resources are a starting point, not a clinical recommendation. ITETHERED does not have a therapeutic relationship with readers and is not a mental health provider.