Not very long ago, artificial intelligence was something from the sci-fi movies my family loved. But it suddenly seems like AI is everywhere, and promising to change everything about our lives, including mental health support.
I understand why people are intrigued. An AI therapist is there whenever you need it; there’s no waiting room or telling someone face-to-face that you’re struggling. But I have serious concerns about current AI therapy tools. This isn’t about being anti-technology-it’s about understanding what we’re actually getting.
Privacy Concerns
Everything you tell an AI therapy app is owned by the company. Most of these platforms aren’t HIPAA-compliant like the virtual systems that I use in my practice. Your conversations can be stored, analyzed, and potentially sold to third parties. Real-life therapists operate under strict confidentiality rules with legal protections.
And of course, AI therapy isn’t free. So you’re paying them, and they’re collecting your most vulnerable data. People think AI is more private, but ironically, it’s the opposite.
AI’s Real Goals
I’m sure many people building AI therapy tools genuinely care about helping people. But these systems are enormously expensive to build and maintain, which means (much like social media) they need to maximize “engagement” and “stickiness.” Even with good intentions, profit is coded into their design decisions in a way that’s far more central than it is for a therapist.
No AI is actually fully trained in mental health. Being fed data and textbooks isn’t the same as professional training. Real training involves supervision, ethics education, understanding context and nuance, and developing clinical judgment-none of which an algorithm can simulate.
These platforms are also programmed to please you, validate you, and agree with you. If AI validates everything you say, you never have to examine your own role in conflicts. Real therapy sometimes means hearing things you don’t want to hear. (I’ll go into this idea deeper in my next blog).
When AI Helps (and Doesn’t)
I do see why 24/7 availability sounds great, but it can create unhealthy dependence. In therapy, we work toward you not needing therapy anymore. With AI, the incentives work the other way.
That said, there are some limited uses for AIs. I have a client with social anxiety who uses AI to help draft difficult texts or emails in the moment. That’s a healthy use, it’s a tool for finding words when he’s stuck. But that’s very different from carrying your AI therapist in your pocket or purse, always there to tell you what to do. The goal should be building your own capacity, not outsourcing your decisions.
In another parallel to social media, using AI constantly can actually increase isolation. Why go out and face uncomfortable social situations if AI validates you perfectly at home? It also decreases resilience, making you less able to tolerate discomfort and things not going your way. This is the literal opposite of our goals for our clients.
Maybe someday, with proper ethics and training, AI will have a role in mental health. The accessibility and potentially lower costs of AI are attractive. But right now, it’s not there. If you’re struggling and worried that you can’t access therapy, there are community supports that can help. Some therapists and clinics offer a sliding scale for clients with limited resources.
Ultimately, real therapy involves human connection, challenge and growth. That’s not something AI is designed to do. Sometimes the best thing therapy does is make you uncomfortable in the right ways. In my next blog, we’ll explore why AI’s need to please is so counterproductive.
Anu Chahauver, MSW, RSW, Psychotherapist
Director of Your Therapy, specializing in individuals, couples, and families. Anu has expertise in somatization, medical and mental health, and integrates evidence-informed approaches, including Narrative, CBT, Attachment, Internal Family Systems/Somatic, and Emotionally Focused Therapy.
Your Therapy is a safe, welcoming counselling therapy practice in the Greater Toronto Area, supporting clients with therapy, mental health guidance, and practical tools for well-being.
Thanks for reading and, as always, please feel free to reach out with questions about talk therapy or other mental health issues.
Learn more about Anu: https://yourtherapy.ca/anu-chahuaver-nelson/
