I think the oversimplifications about using AI for therapy are holding us back from having more substantive conversations about how AI and therapy can co-exist.

In the last two years, I have been hearing a lot of conversations about AI and therapy. IN MY EXPERIENCE, these conversations usually sound the same. It usually goes something like this:

"AI cannot replace therapists. Therapists offer real human connection. AI can get things wrong or even give harmful advice. So people should not use AI and should go to therapy instead."

All of that is true but it's a little oversimplified. I think we can have a deeper more nuanced conversation than that.

Every client has their own reasons for showing up to therapy. Some people come in after being diagnosed with something, and they want help in processing all the emotions with that. Some people want to talk about their life experiences so they can understand themselves more clearly. Some people are still hurt from past experiences and want help trying to recover. We could go on and on.

A lot of people are already using AI in ways that overlap with therapy. I have even done it myself at times. And for many people (not everyone), the benefits are immediate. There is no waiting list, no insurance approvals, no cancellation fees, etc. There is also a lot I have learned using AI.

I'll just use myself as an example. I wanted to learn strategies to manage ADHD. I went to a therapist who tried teaching me about some tools, and it really was not helpful. TO BE FAIR, that therapist had never claimed to specialize in ADHD. But she was the only one that my insurance covered at the time who was accepting new patients. I also used a chatbot, which taught me a lot of helpful tools for things like how to stay focused and how to take in information more quickly. I'm sure I'll go to a therapist someday who specializes in ADHD, and I'm sure it will be very helpful. But in the meantime, I have benefited from using other resources.

As a therapist, I never want someone to feel like they have to wait for me to start feeling better. If there is a way for someone to reflect, calm down, organize their thoughts, or learn helpful coping strategies before they come to my office and see me, I am going to see that as a good thing.

At the same time, I know this is not for everyone. There are situations in which I would strongly encourage someone to see a therapist and strongly discourage them from relying on AI instead. Some people are in therapy because their needs require a therapist.

I won't give examples here but I think most of us have read about situations in which a chatbot said something really harmful to a vulnerable user and it had serious consequences. For a user in that position, therapy is galaxies more advisable than AI.

But not everyone needs the same level of care all the time.

Some people need a therapist-patient relationship. They need to be heard by another person and to feel understood. Some people benefit from having a professional check in with them periodically to monitor their behavior and watch for warning signs.

Some people are doing okay on their own. Even then, they might want to learn more ways to handle stress, anxiety, or other things they deal with. Those individuals are often fully capable of learning coping strategies on their own, including through tools like AI. They don't necessarily need to go see a therapist.

Most of my clients are thoughtful and can notice a red flag. They do not follow every piece of advice they hear. If a chatbot told them to quit their job overnight and move across the country with no plan, they would pause and at least think through the idea. I think most people are like this. So I'm really not as worried about robots giving dangerous or risky advice to most people, except the ones who are especially vulnerable. Like I said at the outset, and like I've been telling my clients for years, everyone is different.

So instead of asking whether AI can replace therapy, I think a better question is this: What does each person actually need, and what tools help them get there?

Because once we start having a more nuanced conversation, I think it will become more useful.

I am a therapist, and yes, I don't want my job to be replaced by robots. I'm also not worried about my job being taken by robots. My schedule is full, I am not taking new clients, and I do not even have space on a waitlist right now. The reality is, not everyone needs the same kind of support, and not everyone needs a therapist. There are other resources that can be helpful.