Will AI Therapy ever be Better than Psychotherapy?
In our digitally driven era, AI therapy and mental health AI chatbots are popping up and becoming mainstream. They seem to be harmless, providing accessible emotional support or mental health advice. But can an AI chatbot replace psychotherapy?
With looming speculation of inflation, and a high unemployment rate it can seem like a convenient fix to rising mental distress. But beneath the surface, this convenience masks serious ethical and clinical dangers that should not be ignored.
Talking to AI will never compare to genuine empathy and human connection received in Therapy
Unlike a human therapist, AI lacks emotional awareness and lived experience. While AI chatbots can simulate empathy, they cannot genuinely feel or understand it. This makes it difficult for users to form a true therapeutic bond, which is essential for healing and accountability.
The Data Privacy Risks of AI “Therapy” vs Traditional Therapy
Therapists in Ontario are registered under CRPO and operate under strict confidentiality laws like HIPAA. AI platforms often run by silicone valley start ups and larger corporations do not. Many mental health apps, including AI-based ones, have questionable privacy practices and zero background in psychotherapy or mental health treatment. A Mozilla investigation flagged that up to 74% of such apps have high-risk privacy flaws, with 15% deemed critical. Whereas a therapist is always held accountable. If a chatbot misdirects a user or gives harmful advice, there’s often no accountability because you can’t report a computer program to the CRPO.
AI gives Harmful or Misleading Advice
There have been many cases where AI chatbots have offered dangerous responses, especially when users are vulnerable. Studies have found bots some validate harmful thoughts like self-harm or suicidal ideation. Instances of studies conducted that analyzed the responses of AI programs like ChatGPT and noted several instances where they provided harmful advice or enabled bad behaviours. Once an instance saw the AI tell a struggling drug addict to take drugs. Because AI can't read between the lines or poses human empathy they responded by simply listing the bridges. These concerning behaviors are meant to be handled with the utmost care. Human therapists have gone through extensive training to be able to handle them.
US Legislative Responses to AI ”Therapy”, How will Canada Respond?
Illinois recently passed a law prohibiting AI from providing psychotherapy without a licensed professional’s involvement and bans deceptive marketing of AI therapy services.
Nevada has banned therapy-oriented AI chatbots in schools.
Utah demands clear disclosure when users interact with AI “therapists,” and forbids using personal data for targeted advertising.
While these important legislative responses are unfolding in the United States, it is still uncertain how the government of Canada will respond. We can only hope that these laws are adopted for the safety of Canadians. The best thing to do is to be informed, keep yourself safe and keep an eye out for future developments.
Why Do AI Restrictions Matter?
AI therapy platforms often exploit emotional vulnerability for engagement or getting more “clicks”. But healthcare should never be about “clicks”, it should prioritize safety and wellbeing. As mentioned above there have been numerous instances and studies that have shown AI proposing harmful or misleading advice. Another example is the National Eating Disorders Association once replaced human helpline staff with a chatbot, which then gave dangerous advice to users in crisis.
The American Psychological Association and federal regulators are calling for limits on marketing AI chatbots. They fear that reckless marketing, like overpromising its capabilities or not disclosing they are not professionals could cause serious harm. People may mistake AI for a professional, when a professional therapist will always be the superior choice for mental health support.
What to Look for in Mental Health Support and Psychotherapy
The usage of AI tools can be beneficial as a secondary or supportive position but not as a replacement for a therapist. At Healing Voices Psychotherapy we use AI as support for administrative tasks that in turn help support our therapists. It helps save energy from the mundane tasks to put it back into clients and their needs. We do not use random algorithms to give advice or treatment, we use evidence-based tools that are client specific. And because our psychotherapists are registered with the CRPO you can ensure that your privacy is protected and is not at risk of a data breach.
Supplementary AI tools will only get you so far
There is no way to stop people from using AI chatbots as a therapeutic tool, in some cases it could be a helpful supplement or momentary stand in so it's important to understand its drawbacks and limitations. At the end of the day it can’t replace a human. With states in the U.S cracking down with regulations and the uncertainty of how Canada will respond, it's clear that mental health should remain a human endeavour.
If you’re having difficulty navigating emotional challenges, save yourself some time aimlessly chatting with AI chatbots. At Healing Voices Psychotherapy we provide therapy with the empathy and care that only a human can provide. If you’ve been considering seeking mental health support or psychotherapy, book a free 15-minute consultation with us today! If you're interested in learning more about the types of support we offer check out our modalities tab on our website. Your healing deserves a human’s touch.
