AI Therapy: Promise or Peril?
Exploring the benefits, risks, and the urgent need for human connection in a digital age.
Key Point
AI can support mental health, but it cannot replace the safety, empathy, and connection of human care.
A Helpful Tool or a Human Risk?
“AI therapy is taking over.” At least, that’s what the media headlines and online chatter suggest. There has been a boom in using AI for immediate guidance, advice, and suggestions when people are struggling with their mental health. Something’s worrying you? Feeling overwhelmed? Just ask AI.
And while this may sound innovative, even convenient, many mental health professionals are urging caution.
Why We Should Be Careful
I am not against using AI tools to support mental health. They can be helpful for quick information, grounding techniques, or even journaling prompts. But let’s be honest: AI is still very new, and it is completely unregulated.
We don’t yet know how it will respond to each individual case, especially in moments of crisis. Unlike a trained therapist, AI cannot truly assess risk, track subtle patterns, or provide the depth of human empathy needed when someone’s life is on the line.
A Parent’s Concern
As a father, I often think about the potential harm AI could have on our youth. Children and teens, with underdeveloped brains and limited life experience, may not always be able to separate human support from machine output.
Because what is AI, really? It’s not a person. It’s not a relationship. It’s a vast collection of data compiled and presented in a way that sounds helpful. But AI can easily be manipulated into giving responses a user wants rather than needs. In some cases, that becomes a form of self-fulfilling prophecy, reinforcing destructive thoughts instead of challenging them.
That’s dangerous. Feeding our egos, desires, and impulses instantly, 24/7, can feel powerful, but it isn’t a real connection. It’s not human.
The Legal Case Raising Alarms
In 2024, the family of a teenager filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming that ChatGPT played a role in their child’s suicide. The case is ongoing, and it raises chilling questions:
Did AI contribute to this loss of life?
Can an AI system be held responsible for such outcomes?
And most importantly, what safeguards are missing that could prevent tragedies like this?
Whether or not the courts decide AI was directly responsible, the case highlights the real dangers of relying on AI in moments of despair.
The Bigger Picture
Imagine a future where people say, “You don’t understand me, but my AI companion does.” Where technology replaces authentic human connection, promoting isolation and deepening the struggles with attention, dopamine overload, and interpersonal growth that we’re already seeing in younger generations.
This is not science fiction. It’s already happening.
And it forces us to confront a difficult truth:
Just because we can create something doesn’t mean we should.
Just because it’s faster and more efficient doesn’t mean it’s better.
Where I Stand
I am not against AI. It can be a tool — a resource for reflection, organization, or even as a supplement to therapy. But AI cannot replace human connection, and it certainly cannot replace trained, compassionate mental health care.
What we need now is regulation, caution, and safeguards — to protect not just our privacy, but our well-being, our youth, and our future relationships.
Because mental health is not just about information. It’s about connection, trust, and healing — things no algorithm can truly provide.
If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health, don’t turn only to a machine. Reach out to a licensed therapist, a trusted friend, or a helpline in your area. Real help is out there — and it’s human.
About the Author
Christopher Morrison is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Nationally Board-Certified Music Therapist. He has
specialized training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), EMDR, the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery & Music, and
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy. As the owner of Mind & Melody Therapy Services, he works as both a psychotherapist and music
therapist, helping adults heal from childhood trauma and reconnect with their inner child. His approach fosters self-compassion,
emotional healing, and personal growth.
