Techniques for improving turn-based automated counseling to alter behavior

A system comprising one or more processors and memory operably coupled with the one or more processors, wherein the memory stores instructions that, in response to execution of the instructions by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the following operations as part of a human-to-computer dialog between a subject and a counseling chatbot:

• determining a first state of the subject based on one or more signals;
• selecting, from a plurality of candidate natural language responses, based on the first state and a decision model, a given natural language response;
• providing, by the counseling chatbot, at one or more output components of one or more computing devices operated by the subject to engage in the human-to-computer dialog with the counseling chatbot, the given natural language response;
• receiving, at one or more input components of one or more of the computing devices, a free-form natural language input from the subject;
• determining a second state of the subject based on speech recognition output generated from the free-from natural language input, wherein the second state comprises a positive or negative valance towards a target behavior change;
• calculating an instant reward based on the second state;
• and
• training the decision model based on the instant reward.

At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution of the instructions by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the following operations as part of a human-to-computer dialog between a subject and a counseling chatbot:

• determining a first state of the subject based on one or more signals;
• selecting, from a plurality of candidate natural language responses, based on the first state and a decision model, a given natural language response;
• providing, by the counseling chatbot, at one or more output components of one or more computing devices operated by the subject to engage in the human-to-computer dialog with the counseling chatbot, the given natural language response;
• receiving, at one or more input components of one or more of the computing devices, a free-form natural language input from the subject;
• determining a second state of the subject based on speech recognition output generated from the free-from natural language input, wherein the second state comprises a positive or negative valance towards a target behavior change;
• calculating an instant reward based on the second state;
• and
• training the decision model based on the instant reward.