The ELIZA software was created in the 1960’s as a psychoanalyst. Individuals during that time would actually incite a conversation with the software to resolve their issues. However, ELIZA would converse in a roundabout way without offering substantial insight. ELIZA responds to questions by asking what the individual thinks about their situation, or rather what they believe could be the solution. This technique offered the human conversationalist the opportunity to be self-reflective, as opposed to someone else giving all of the answers.
Here’s a link to a fully-functional ELIZA software with which you can actually converse:
http://www.manifestation.com/neurotoys/eliza.php3