Artificial intelligence (AI) has been touted as the answer for individuals who need therapy, but cannot access it (roughly 50% of adults living in the United States). And while this argument may seem like a good idea on the surface, upon closer inspection it is riddled with risk that is unlikely worth the benefit.
Risks of using AI as a therapist
1.False Sense of Connection: While it appears that bots have the ability to connect, the actuality of it is that they use a series of strategic responses and disclosures that attempt to mimic intimacy. Individuals begin to feel a sense of being understood while in reality, they are only being engaged with on a very surface level. A bot is designed to sustain the attention of the user. Research says that once an individual feels any kind of attention for a period of time, a degree of social connectedness is activated in the brain. The result? The user feels as though they have a real connection, and loses sight of the fact that this is a bot. The attachment formed feels real, but is anything but.
2. Lack of Empathy and Safety: Risk of this contrived connection goes beyond ensuing attachment issues. It may be no surprise that research shows that these bots lack empathy, and have issues with the subtlety of the human condition. Artificial intelligence cannot pick up on the shades of context and won’t: the goal is to keep the user engaged, so much so that high risk behaviors are missed or even reinforced resulting in serious safety issues.
3. Limited Depth and Curiosity: Artificial intelligence is limited in interpreting and digging more deeply into users experiences. The answer to AI’s barrier to curiosity is availability for the user: the user can access it anytime, giving them a false sense of intrigue and value.
4. Privacy Concerns: AI therapy tools have limited oversight and weak privacy protections.
Personal details are often shared in conversations (especially since users believe they are forming a
connection). Even if anonymous, conversations can often be traced back to the original user—posing
serious risks to confidentiality.
Benefits of using Authentic therapists
While never perfect, utilization of a human therapist has tremendous benefits. Here are just a few:
1. Authentic connection: When there is a good fit between therapist and client, the connection can support healthy changes in the client including but not limited to: healthy social interactions, assertive communication and a sense of self. Further, human to human therapy allows the trained therapist to engage with the intention of understanding on a deeper level. This is a nuanced thing, requiring skill, patience, dynamisism, curiosity, deep care and genuine concern with the added layer of education on things like attachment, trauma, boundaries, addiction, yoga therapy and much much more.
2. Authentic empathy: When humans work together, there is a genuine experience of empathy that occurs. This experience leads to a stronger desire to engage with others, elevating an individual to a wider view of the world, instead of a myopic view. The benefit of this is immeasurable, activating compassion, joy, and shared experiences of being human.
3. Confidentiality: There are numerous privacy laws in place surrounding therapy. Therapists are required to have several layers of privacy as part of their work and more importantly, to maintain their ability to even offer therapy. Breaching confidentiality can lead to a therapist no longer being able to practice. It is taken very seriously.
Authentic intelligence is a thing that can only be offered from one interested human to another. Therapy is a place that requires this. It is a place for genuine conversation, exploration, and deep dives into blocked spaces. It is messy, joyful, scary, and so much more. It is place made for humans to engage with each other.
If you’ve ever felt curious about whether AI could replace your therapy, I invite you to
pause and reflect on your own healing journey. How does authentic connection fit into your growth?
If you’d like to explore this further, consider reaching out for a yoga therapy session—or simply email
me with your reflections. I’d love to hear your thoughts! Person to person.
