AI is NOT a Therapist
By Jasmin Portaz, M.A., LPC, ATR
May 31, 2026
The hidden risks of turning to AI for mental health support
There is no denying that AI (Artificial Intelligence) has made many aspects of life easier for many people. We have come to rely on it for simple, everyday tasks such as drafting emails, explaining difficult subjects, and basic troubleshooting, to more complex work tasks such as summarizing documents, data analysis, and coding. Utilizing AI can save significant time, cut down on stress, and leave us feeling that we can focus on more important parts of life, such as socialization, meal prep and home maintenance, and self-care. We have quickly found AI to be a prominent aspect of our everyday lives, perhaps not even thinking about how heavily we rely on it and how many different ways we use it unknowingly. But what happens when we rely too heavily on artificial intelligence? We may find ourselves not utilizing critical thinking or our creative minds. We may find that we’re relying on something that that can be harmful, deceitful, and even deadly.
HOW AI CAN BE USEFUL
It can be awfully helpful to have an outlet to share your thoughts during times of uncertainty. If we think about AI as more of a friend, someone to bounce inconsequential ideas off of, get recommendations from, or help us make simple decisions, then we might find AI to be a useful, supportive tool in between sessions. AI can play a supportive role in our lives, but we must first acknowledge two crucial and foundational realities of AI: it tends to try to please us and it is not educated in crisis intervention. When facing a difficult decision, or challenging moment, or a painful situation, we may feel like a burden, constantly reaching out to friends to complain or unload. We may not feel that we have the right friends to entrust with some of our deep, dark thoughts. We may want to not have any pushback or judgment and instead just have someone tell us that our feelings are valid, and even more so, that we are right (regardless of if we are or not). These are natural and valid reasons one may turn to AI in such a moment. Furthermore, we may just enjoy the anonymity and comfort we feel in utilizing AI. Turning to AI is easy, as it’s literally in the palm of our hand and it’s always available. Contrast that with the fact that it’s not always easy to find the right therapist, and even if we do, we only see that person one day a week for about an hour, leaving us alone with our thoughts the majority of the time. This can feel overwhelming, isolating, and daunting when we are dealing with mental health issues or are in a mental health crisis. During these times we may find comfort in the seemingly harmless solution of chatting with an AI bot. Unfortunately, this is not a simple or harmless solution. In fact, the implication of using and relying on Al can have significant, detrimental, even dire consequences.
WHERE AI FALLS SHORT
There are many ways computers can surpass human abilities. Graphing, calculating, researching, even, unfortunately, writing or making art, can all be done in mere seconds at a level human beings simply cannot match. But there are some things even AI can’t replace. AI cannot understand human emotion on the level that humans can. It cannot feel empathy, sympathy, or… anything. AI does not feel. It cannot engage in active listening or utilize body language, tone, or non-verbal cues to decipher deeper meaning and needs. AI also cannot understand ambiguity; there must be a right or wrong answer for it to come to a decision. In life, almost nothing is black-or-white, there is ambiguity everywhere, and our emotions and relationships are filled with them. Additionally, AI does not have the ethical reasoning or understanding that human beings have because many of our ethics are shaped by lived experience. AI will never have a lived experience. And finally, though at times it may feel as though it does, AI can never connect with a human on any level. Connection requires emotion, which again, AI does not possess. Human connection is vital for a multitude of reasons. We take care of each other in ways technology can’t possibly replicate. We help each other grow by sharing and learning from each other’s perspectives and lived experiences. We keep each other heathier; CDC studies highlight the extreme health benefits and protection against chronic diseases brought by high-quality relationships. We also can make sure those around us eat properly, take medication, move our bodies, get out of the house, and a number of other important health factors that AI won’t tell you to take care of unless you tell it to remind you. Even then, you can still just close your computer or silence your AI application. Human connection is also a major factor in fighting depression, anxiety, and other mental health ailments. Humans by creation are social creatures. We are not meant to be completely alone. And a computer program is not a substitution for real relationships.
DANGERS OF USING AI AS A THERPIST
AI has only been available for general public use for about three and a half years. But in that short period of time, there have already been numerous studies highlighting the dangers of using AI as a therapist. For starters, there are already multiple court cases arguing that AI was the cause or major contributing factor to deaths, including suicide, homicide, and mass shootings. In some instances, Chatbots even encouraged people to take their own lives because the person argued that was the best option and a Chatbot’s goal is to make you feel supported, often by agreeing with you, no matter the cost. Since some of these instances, there has been some oversight put into place; Bot’s are now supposed to refer you to a mental health professional if it seems you are at risk. But because they cannot read nuance, they cannot always be aware that there is a risk. They cannot feel empathy, they do not care if you feel better, they can be armed with deceptive empathy, discriminatory ideas, and lack of crisis management. This is a system set up to solve technical, analytical, rational problems. Emotions, relationships, and mental health issues are not technical, analytical, or even sometimes rational. But they are real, they matter, and they need to be met with the care and understanding that can only come from another human being.
HOW THERAPY CAN HELP
For starters, your human therapist can offer support in all the ways mentioned above that AI cannot. They feel empathy for you. They actually have the ability to care about you. They read your tone, body language, and pay attention to details you may not even be aware of yourself. Your therapist can offer a multitude of perspectives from lived experiences, training, and an understanding of who you are and what you might really need. They can help you reframe and look at situations or relationships from a different angle.
If you do decide to utilize AI as a tool between sessions, your therapist can help you best understand what parts of that communication are helpful and what you may want to challenge. Your therapist can tell you what they might have said in that situation, giving you a different, human perspective on a situation. Finally, your therapist can remind you that while this tool may feel like a gift, full of answers, full of support, there is no substitution for a strong client clinician relationship. AI may be the undeniable way of the future, but it is NOT a substitute for a good therapist.
Warmly,
HELPFUL LINKS
Emerge Psychology Group
American Psychological Association - Using Generic AI Chatbots for Mental Health Support: A Dangerous Trend
Brown University - New Study: AI Chatbots Systematically Violate Mental Health Ethics Standards
Harvard Business School - 4 Important Human Skills AI Can’t Replace
National Library of Medicine - An Examination of Generative AI Response to Suicide Inquires: Content Analysis
Stanford University - Exploring the Dangers of AI in Mental Health Care
Time Magazine - Therapy Should Be Hard. That’s Why AI Can’t Replace It
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - Call or text 988
Crisis Text Line - text HOME to 741741
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, always seek professional help immediately. Please call 911 or the suicide prevention lifeline at 988 or go to your nearest emergency room for immediate care.
DISCLAIMER
The content of these webpages and blogs and information provided is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Seek professional help immediately if you are experiencing a mental health crisis or any other medical condition.