AI Can't Be Your Therapist

AI is the buzzword truly dominating conversations these days. You can have a conversation with an AI agent or chatbot, like ChatGPT or Claude, to help you solve all kinds of problems—optimize your vacation plans to minimize driving, build a meal plan that will satisfy the pickiest of eaters, even come up with gift ideas for your spouse. 

But there are times you shouldn’t use AI to solve your problems—and one of those times is when you’re working on your mental health. A recent study out of Stanford University showed that, while AI chatbots are readily accessible, there are big risks to using them in place of a licensed clinician who’s had years of training in caring for a person’s mental health. AI chatbots were shown to have stigma toward conditions like substance use and schizophrenia and to not be able to recognize signs that someone is considering suicide.

“AI has a lot of great uses,” says Todd Peters, MD, senior vice president, chief medical officer, and chief medical informatics officer at Sheppard Pratt. “But when there are no good guardrails in place, it can make AI unreliable at best and dangerous at worst when it comes to something as critical as someone’s mental health.”

And amid rising loneliness, it can be tempting to turn to a companion who’s available 24/7 and is unwaveringly supportive—but that unwavering support isn’t always the kind that will help you in a crisis.

“A relationship with an AI chatbot isn’t a substitution for human connection,” Peters shares. “These tools that are designed to keep you engaged and continuing to talk with a chatbot—as opposed to a fellow human—can increase isolation and loneliness.”

So, given these issues with AI for mental healthcare—and these are just the tip of the iceberg—are there any ways to leverage AI that are healthy and effective?

Peters thinks so—but encourages you to exercise caution. “AI can be great at giving ideas for coping skills to use when you’re experiencing distress, but I would recommend you work on those ideas when you’re in a good headspace,” he says. “I think AI can also be useful for organizing data and identifying patterns, like keeping track of your feelings—but be aware of privacy settings and policies for any tool you’re using, and be cognizant of whatever information you’re sharing. And remember that privacy settings and policies can change, so stay engaged in how these platforms are evolving.”

If you’re in need of mental health support, Sheppard Pratt is a great place to start. Our Psychiatric Urgent Care programs provide expert level-of-care assessments to help you find the right care. You can also connect with a Sheppard Pratt care navigator by calling 410-938-5000.