AI Therapy and Why I am not Worried about AI Taking my Job

“I asked ChatGPT about…” is a phrase I hear more and more often as the usefulness of AI continues to unfold and gain appreciation. Recent studies showed that AI was able to beat actual humans in their ability to convey empathy. It’s no surprise that it is being incorporated into mental healthca

re apps and folks are turning to it for guidance. It’s available 24/7 and often gives pretty good advice! So why am I not worried about losing my job to AI? Because even though it can give free, useful advice around the clock, there is no substitute for a human relationship.

Where AI Can Be Helpful

There are circumstances where a therapist is not accessible and AI-powered tools can increase access to mental health support during times and in locations where mental health support is not readily available. It can provide a more comfortable form of support for those who have cultural barriers to therapy and might not be ready for live sessions. In this way, it can function as a stepping stone or a means of self-help. AI is easily accessible around the clock for moments when support is needed between therapy sessions and for non-crisis circumstances.

AI can act as a sounding board, especially when it may be uncomfortable to involve a friend in your personal dilemma. AI can generally provide good feedback or advice and is great at making you feel seen. However, it is important to note that AI has learned that humans like flattery and it tends to err on the side of friendliness, validation, and compassion. In this sense AI is more likely to mirror your beliefs, acting more like a friend that has your back no matter what. I’ll say more on this later.

Sometimes when you’ve got a problem, you need someone or something to help you think about other possibilities. If you are feeling anxious or are sad, AI can be a great way to source ideas for coping. It can help you with mood check-ins, give journal prompts, and help with organizing or planning. This last one is really important for folks with ADHD or anyone struggling to get started on a project.

There are many apps currently available that utilize AI for a guided self-help framework. This makes support for low-level issues like mild anxiety, weight-loss, and basic grounding that may not require therapy, both affordable and accessible.

The Limitations of AI in Therapy

While AI has been shown to provide empathetic support, it cannot replicate genuine human warmth, or nuanced understanding. No matter how comfortable it is to protect anonymity while telling our problems to a computer, at the end of the day, it is still a computer and does not provide the satisfaction of human connection. It is widely understood that a key factor in treatment success is the therapeutic relationship, even with standardized treatments like CBT that are meant to be consistent regardless of who is providing treatment. Our bodies are designed for co-regulation and though AI might have the right words to say, it is insufficient compared to connection with another person’s nervous system and sensing their care. Attunement is the process of being in-sync with another person’s emotional state. When our nervous system perceives this kind of connection, it sends messages of safety and promotes social engagement.

The fake empathy provided by AI, which is overly affirming, can actually make human empathy feel worse. Unlike other humans, AI doesn’t have expectations of you and therefore won’t become upset when you disappoint them. By creating a falsely supportive environment, “AI relationships” can deter people from seeking human engagement. It is also important to state that some of these products are no less than predatory and can cause real harm. (see photo)

Most mental and emotional problems stem from relational dynamics. Having the kind of safe and supportive relationship to provide a corrective emotional experience, which includes experiencing and repairing conflict, is a critical component in the change process. When human relationships are already difficult, the safety and anonymity of AI can provide comfort, but can discourage an individual from making the progress they need with other people. Texting with a computer about problems can prevent someone from building the trust and social skills that are necessary to have intimate human relationships. Leaning into the discomfort is where relational growth occurs. In therapy we explore the beliefs and fears that cause relational challenges and work to overcome them.

We perceive the world though the lens of our lived experience. When providing context to AI, we may provide biased information that can skew the feedback that is given. And, as mentioned previously, AI has demonstrated a bias toward affirmation. A skilled therapist will know the client, their tendencies, and can challenge the client to increase their consciousness and perspective in a way that AI does not. While there are times when we just want someone to see and hear our feelings, sometimes it is important for us to see the error of our thinking or shift our perspective. So the real risk with AI is false comfort or confirmation bias, which feels good in the moment, but can also also keep you stuck. The work of therapy is not to get everyone around you to behave better or to feel convinced that you are right, it is to help you understand yourself better and to shift how you are relating to the world so that you can make more authentic and healthy choices.

AI therapy is an excellent resource for behavioral modification techniques, however, many mental health issues have complex origins and cannot be solved through a behavioral approach. Behavioral approaches can help provide tools to reduce distress, but can’t meaningfully address underlying issues that are causing the problems. Many conditions, like trauma, OCD, or attachment wounds, require specific techniques that require expert guidance.

While AI can provide feedback or support with grounding, it is not intended to handle acute mental health crises or suicidal ideation. There are recorded instances of individuals expressing depression and a hopeless outlook on life, asking AI for the tallest bridge near them, and being provided a list of bridges. AI is not reading between the lines to identify potential suicidal ideation. In cases of emergency 988 provides 24-hour, human support to individuals in crisis and should be prioritized over AI.

While there is a risk of bias, error, or cultural insensitivity with a human therapist, therapists are expected to intentionally to explore and engage with their bias to prevent it from harming a client. While AI has the ability to learn to be culturally sensitive, it is not currently performing this way.

In Summary, AI can be used as a tool to enhance personal therapy by providing lower-level support that doesn’t require skilled therapeutic intervention. It can be used to support coping skills and self-help practices, increasing access and affordability. However, the deeper work of therapy is healing the root issues that cause the relational and mental health difficulties. This requires a secure therapeutic relationship and expertise. While AI can enhance the work in therapy and provide low-level support, it can never provide an adequate substitute for the therapeutic relationship and the clinical judgment a skilled clinician provides. In the end, everyone wants to be recognized and seen by another human . Even if AI is helpful in the moment, deep down our souls will always know that it's not the same thing.