03/07/2025
I have been having conversations about the use of AI in therapy recently and as a trained counsellor I obviously have a professional interest.
How might AI expand the availability of mental health support? Both affordability and accessibility are important reasons for its popularity. The support is there exactly when you want it.
However, there are real issues to be considered. Client safety is always a therapist's primary concern. Can a bot monitor this and hold a client securely?
In complex situations particularly, the human element with the capacity for more nuanced understanding, genuine empathy and the ability to gently work to challenge someone's biases and perspectives, will I believe remain irreplaceable.