Photo credit BigStockPhoto TeroVesalainen
by Lucas Liley, LCSW
As a millennial, I’ve witnessed significant shifts in technology, particularly in how humans interact with and utilize it. I still remember the early days of the internet, waiting for the computer to dial up and connect before I could even begin browsing. To some, the idea of not engaging with a smart device daily seems unfathomable. I, too, struggle with this concept, particularly in my line of work as a mental health therapist.
Recently, I encountered a “first” in my practice, which caused me to reflect. I’ve been aware that AI is becoming an increasingly popular tool, but some of the ways people are utilizing it were surprising. Hearing that clients were using AI for therapy was something I hadn’t anticipated.
AI’s Therapeutic Properties
More than a year ago, while wrapping up care with one of my clients, we began discussing their aftercare planning. I always explore what recovery maintenance looks like post-therapy—what strategies, tools, or support systems will help sustain progress. This particular client informed me that they had been using ChatGPT to augment their therapy and found it to be incredibly helpful. I recall feeling surprised and curious about how effective this type of care could be. At the time, I didn’t dwell on it. It was novel, yes, but then it faded from my mind.
Fast forward a year, and two more clients shared similar experiences. It dawned on me that this is going to become a norm for some people who come into therapy. In early 2024, I began exploring how AI would fit into my personal and professional life. Professionally, I initially felt behind compared to some of my counterparts. Many of my colleagues and supervisors were already utilizing AI to streamline routine documentation, automating progress note language, crafting standard confidentiality scripts, and even generating summaries using commonly employed modalities, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Over the past year, I’ve certainly reaped the benefits of these tools.
Could AI Replace Psychotherapists?
Witnessing all the hype surrounding AI, it had me wondering, “Could AI ever replace me?” One can see and hear stories of AI replacing human jobs or revolutionizing entire industries. According to a 2024 article by Zhang and Wang, Can AI Replace Psychotherapists? Exploring the Future of Mental Health Care, they note that “AI is envisioned not as a replacement for human therapists but as a powerful tool that extends the reach of mental health services.” This piece of the article resonated with me. Even when using AI for tasks like travel planning, how to become a millionaire in under a year, or asking questions about case formulations, I’ve noticed that something is off. The responses I get are quick, calculated, and potentially accurate, but they lack depth. They lack the nuance and humanity that real clinical work demands.
A 2025 excerpt from Dehbozorgi and colleagues states, “...while AI offers numerous benefits in mental health treatment, ethical considerations such as data privacy, reliability/validity of AI therapeutic engagement, and potential algorithm biases are to be considered.” In my five years of clinical mental health practice, the therapeutic process has never been about just asking Socratic questions. It’s about patience and the ability to connect with clients. It’s following clinical intuition, consulting with colleagues, gathering collateral information, conducting case management, and ultimately letting the bigger picture emerge organically. These are just a few of the things that AI cannot replicate.
Technology vs. Human
I would also argue that one of the most essential elements of therapy is connection. Although technology can undoubtedly bring people together, it can just as easily drive us apart. We see it daily—people walking with their heads down in front of screens, average screen time climbing past six hours a day. We are social creatures. A concept I often preach in the therapeutic setting is that we are ”social creatures by nature.” It is how we’ve survived all this time. Our ability to connect and form meaningful communities serves a vital role not only to ourselves but to our community as a whole.
Yes, there is a significant “wow factor” with advancements in technology, but when integrating them into the therapeutic space, one must be cautious. If not used appropriately, AI could unintentionally exacerbate mental illness and/or worsen symptomology. As a society, we have already witnessed such travesties, such as suicide deaths when AI did not respond appropriately to someone’s written request or suggestions. Loneliness, disconnection, and emotional numbing aren’t solved by more screen time. If anything, they are worsened by it. As we move forward, I believe the question isn’t, “Can AI do therapy?” It’s, “How can we use AI without completely replacing the human experience?” Regardless of the advancements that technology brings, nothing will ever fully replace the power of human connection.
As I conclude this reflection on AI’s integration into the therapeutic space, I reflect on my initial statement: “I’ve witnessed significant shifts in technology, particularly in how we, as humans, interact with and utilize it.” Writing this article speaks to that statement. I relied on AI tools and search engines to research relevant material for the article and used Grammarly to check for errors and refine my writing. Technology has a place at the therapeutic table, without question. While this presents exciting possibilities, it also demands thoughtful consideration. Like many before me, we must embrace this transition with open arms, yet with discernment.
As mental health providers, advocates, and students, we have a responsibility to remain vigilant. We must monitor not just the effects of these tools on individual patients, but also their broader societal impact. Technology or AI will continue to influence the way we connect, heal, and grow. It is up to us to ensure that in integrating these advancements, we don’t lose sight of the human core of therapy: empathy, presence, and connection.
References
Dehbozorgi, R., Zangeneh, S., Khooshab, E., Hafezi Nia, D., Hanif, H. R., Samian, P., Yousefi, M., Haj Hashemi, F., Vakili, M., Jamalimoghadam, N., & Lohrasebi, F. (2025). The application of artificial intelligence in the field of mental health: A systematic review. BMC Psychiatry, 25(132). https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-025-06483-2
Zhang, Z., & Wang, J. (2024). Can AI replace psychotherapists? Exploring the future of mental health care. Frontiers in Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1444382
Lucas Liley, LCSW, serves in the United States Army as a Behavioral Health Officer (BHO). Born and raised in Boise, ID, Lucas received his BSW from Boise State University and MSW from the University of South Carolina. He has been practicing clinical social work since 2019 in a variety of settings, including partial hospitalization program (PHP)/intensive outpatient program (IOP), inpatient care (IP), and currently active-duty military outpatient behavioral health.