AI is unstoppable. Therapists need to either keep up or be left behind.
First published in Generative AI 12/09/2024
Have I got your attention? If you work in any capacity in mental health, you need to be aware that AI is already taking over parts of your professional world. This article intends to give you a “heads up.”
Many counsellors find the prospect of AI in therapy daunting. Understandably, questions arise: Can a machine replace the depth of human empathy? Will this technology undermine the essence of human connection in therapeutic relationships? These concerns are valid, but avoiding the conversation is no longer an option.
If you are afraid that AI will take over your job, you need to get involved and informed about how these things work, or your worst fears will come true. Becoming part of the change is the only option if you wish to continue professionally.
Professional bodies will take inordinate amounts of time to unravel all the ethical issues involved, and in the meantime, entrepreneurial therapists, qualified or not, will take over the space.
Young people are already looking to TikTok for answers to their mental health and well-being worries. If you are unaware of this, check out the page below, which lists therapists creating bite-sized information videos on mental health themes.
The Best Therapists On TikTok – Empathysites These therapists can help you improve your mental health, one short form video at a time. empathysites.com
These pages are not regulated, but the younger generation laps them up. They are using old technology, but it suits young people because it delivers information in fun-sized packages on their phones.
New technology is already entering the market through chatbots, which can be created easily without any coding or programming expertise. I have created six for my own personal use.
If you have an account with OpenAI, I can send you a link so you can try them out. I will even coach you on creating your own using your criteria or modalities.
Currently, these tools are not regulated, and the prospect of regulating them seems overwhelmingly complex.
As more individuals turn to AI-driven tools for mental health support, the lack of oversight raises concerns about safety, quality, and ethical standards.
Think of AI not as a competitor but as an ally. Just as technology assists in other areas of our lives — whether it’s through spell-check or GPS — AI can streamline some aspects of therapy, allowing you to focus on what matters most: the human connection.
Counsellors should be aware of these unregulated tools’ potential risks, particularly regarding client data security, misdiagnosis, and the absence of human empathy, which is central to effective therapy.
Chatbot example:
I feel I should give an example of AI Therapy in action, so I tried a few. I used the same basic idea for each interaction but got remarkably different results. Most worked on simple CBT principles and didn’t interact with me in any helpful way.
They suggest a mindfulness exercise, breathing techniques or a simple task analysis approach.
However, I came across Free AI Therapist, which felt different.
Free AI Therapist Free AI Therapist is an AI self-help, mental health chatbot to talk to about your life and problems without judgement…
Soon, I felt like I was conversing with someone who was responding and asking relevant questions. My issue began with me expressing tiredness, having returned from a Holiday and finding it difficult to get back to work.
The final response after eight or so back-and-forth bits of conversation:
It sounds like you’re worried that if you’re not constantly self-promoting and hustling, your income will suffer, and you’ll be forced to take on less fulfilling work just to make ends meet. That’s a really scary thought, especially when you’ve built a career that you’re passionate about. It’s like, you’re afraid that if you’re not constantly feeding the machine, it will come to a grinding halt, and you’ll lose the freedom and autonomy that comes with being your own boss. Can you tell me more about what’s driving this fear? Is it the thought of losing financial security, or is it more about losing the sense of purpose and identity that comes with doing work that you love? Also, what do you think would be the worst part about having to take on less fulfilling work? Would it be the boredom, the lack of challenge, or something else entirely?
To take this conversation any further, I would have had to present my credit card and subscribe somehow.
Therapy chatbots exist; your clients may have used them before coming to you. Have you considered how you might respond to this? Do you feel threatened by it, or can you see ways of using these previous experiences to help you get off to a good start in building a relationship?
The Opportunities of AI for Counsellors.
Using AI saves time. In seconds, you can gain insights or an overview of a situation that may have taken hours of research using traditional methods.
Imagine this: after a session, instead of spending hours trawling through research papers, you could ask an AI assistant to present you with the most relevant new research customized to your therapeutic approach.
You can also train a Chatbot in your modalities and how you wish it to respond to your questions. As an example I asked https://deepai.org/chat to explain some differences between these two modalities.
CBT: Often time-limited, with a focus on achieving specific outcomes within a defined number of sessions. The goal is usually to equip clients with skills and strategies for managing their symptoms independently.
Integrative Therapy: Can be either short-term or long-term, depending on client needs. The goals may be broader, focusing on overall personal growth, increased self-awareness, and enhancing coping strategies, rather than solely on symptom reduction.
So you can tell your chatbot which modalities you work with and from which perspective you want it to answer your questions.
A word of warning about using free AI services.
I asked this question, which is the sort of thing that pops up regularly on social media groups for counsellors.
“Can you find respected CPD available in the UK for couples counselling?”
My paid service with OpenAI gave me a comprehensive answer with references to the relevant websites, of which this is one example:
The Grove Practice — Certificate in Couple and Relationship Therapy
This 50-hour CPD course is highly regarded and covers essential theories and practical skills for working with couples. The training is inclusive of various relationship types and offers an optional COSRT Level 5 certification. It runs online over four weekends and is a good fit for therapists who want comprehensive training in couple therapy — The Grove
I asked a number of free services and got responses like this:
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP): BACP offers various CPD workshops and training in couples counselling throughout the year, including online options.
Relate: As one of the UK’s leading relationship support organizations, Relate provides training courses and workshops focused on couples counselling and relationship support.
There were no specifics and no urls for further research.
My evidence-based research shows that free services will give you generalised answers no better than asking questions on social media. You can tailor paid services to your own needs quite simply.
I am not affiliated with any particular AI, although I use OpenAI and know that Claude is helpful for some specifics. Here is a screenshot of a list of some other possibilities. I suggest you create a test question and try it for yourself. (suggested template question at the end of the article)
Some ethical Considerations
One of the biggest concerns around AI in mental health is how to train it within ethical guidelines. Who is responsible for client confidentiality? How can we be sure these tools are free of bias, which could result in misleading or unequal treatment?
Ethical dilemmas around confidentiality, bias, and client safety are real, but rather than waiting for governing bodies to catch up, therapists can actively shape the narrative. By becoming educated and vocal about how AI is applied in therapy, we can ensure that the technology aligns with our ethical standards.
No one can stop these tools from developing, but we can all influence how they are implemented and controlled.
The future is here. Get involved.
AI will continue transforming the therapeutic landscape, offering new tools and possibilities. As a practitioner, you must determine how to incorporate AI into your practice.
While AI can automate certain processes, it will never replace the profound impact of genuine empathy, deep listening, and therapeutic alliance. These elements of therapy make it transformative, and human therapists will always have the advantage in this area.
Will you explore ways to enhance your work with AI or fully integrate it into your therapeutic approach? Will you clearly state the benefits of your approach as being human-centred and free yourself of any association with AI?
AI is here, and while it brings new tools and possibilities, it will never replace the human heart of therapy. By embracing AI, we can protect and elevate our profession’s future. The choice is not AI or human-centred therapy — it’s AI with human-centred therapy for a stronger, more resilient practice.
Start by familiarizing yourself with AI-driven tools like therapy chatbots, consider how they could enhance (or detract from) your services, and engage in ongoing discussions about the ethical frameworks surrounding AI in therapy. The future is here, and your role in it matters. Don’t get left behind — get involved.
Suggested Template for questioning AI . Feel free to cut and paste.
Subject: [Client Issue or Therapy Topic]
Context:
I just had a therapy session with a client who is dealing with [brief description of the issue or challenge, without revealing any identifiable information, e.g., “generalized anxiety,” “relationship difficulties,” “grief and loss,” “self-esteem issues,” etc.]. I primarily work from a [insert therapeutic modality, e.g., Integrative, CBT, Psychodynamic Therapy, IFS, Person-Centred Therapy, etc.] approach, and I would like to explore how this framework can best address the issue presented.Request:
Can you provide me with references to reliable, publicly accessible articles, blogs, or other resources that discuss effective therapeutic strategies or perspectives for [topic] from the lens of [therapeutic modality]?Please direct me to reputable sources like:
Peer-reviewed articles
Government or NHS resources
Trusted mental health organizations (e.g., Mind, NCPS, BACP, NHS, or NICE)
Well-regarded psychology blogs or publications
Goal:
I’m looking for practical insights or information to enhance my understanding within the framework of [therapeutic modality] before I follow up with my supervisor or dive deeper into specific therapeutic interventions.Thank you!
Join the Facebook Group AI and Therapy for more help and to become part of the conversation.