With the developmental strides in technology, AI technology and machine learning are also progressively and increasingly utilized within the sphere of healthcare and especially mental health. This is evidenced by the increasing use of AI chatbots and other mental health applications. The AI is developed in such a way it can provide support to the user by engaging in conversations through natural language processing. This has been termed as Conversational AI or CAI. Due to this some AI based chatbots are presented as emotionally tuned in with the needs of the user and provide personalized therapies.
But are these AI solutions truly revolutionizing therapy, or are they just another tech fad? This blog explores whether AI therapists represent the future of mental healthcare or are simply overhyped.
What is the Current Landscape of AI?
AI assistance tools offer Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) exercises, mood tracking, and mindfulness practices, helping users manage stress, anxiety, and depression. United We Care’s Stella, an AI powered wellness coach offers its users an empathic ear and comes up with responses that are emotional and useful in nature. Not only that, Stella offers its users the comfort of conversing in 120+ languages without compromising on the quality of response and support. Offering 24/7 support and companionship, guiding users through cognitive and behavioral techniques.
These tools provide scalable, affordable mental health support to millions, especially those who may lack access to traditional therapy. However, they primarily focus on mild to moderate mental health challenges or work with traditional therapy approaches, raising questions about their effectiveness for more severe conditions. However, it is also important to understand that while millions of people already use digital therapies, their potential and impact is often not sufficiently evaluated.
Forming an Alliance with your AI Therapist
When it comes to AI based therapy and AI assistance tools, the therapeutic alliance works differently. It is well understood that a therapeutic alliance is the essential requirement to reach the goals of clients and that is achieved when the therapist provides meaningful support and motivation. But how does that work with your digital therapist? When the AI assistance tools show empathy based response to users, it encourages them to confide in the AI service by agreeing on tasks that are specially tailored for this specific user. Here, what is at play is a user-perceived alliance. In other words In AI therapy, the alliance could rely on the user’s perception.
There has been great effort made to increase the trust and utilization of chatbots by imposing more human-like or anthropomorphizing qualities on them, as research has also shown that humans tend to like and trust objects that resemble them (Devillers, 2021). These steps can be seen as helpful ways to make AI assistance chatbots more accepted and easier to use, which could help address the shortage of mental health professionals.
Advantages of AI Therapists
AI therapists or AI therapy has received attention in mental healthcare due to heavy focus on AI assistance and the following features:
Easy and Constant Availability: AI therapists are available to users 24/7 providing them with support at any time of day, unlike human therapists who operate within specific hours. This can be particularly useful in crisis situations or for individuals with irregular schedules. Another aspect to this is accessing help from different geographic locations and different time zones.
Affordability: Traditional therapy can be expensive and many people do not come for therapy despite the seriousness of their problem because of health expenses. With respect to that AI drives therapy is more affordable and even free in some cases.
Personalization: Online therapy and AI tools collect and analyze user data with their permission in order to provide them with tailored solutions that specifically cater to their issues and problems. They also help the user keep track of their mood patterns, sleep, diet etc.
Role of Human Therapists
AI therapists offer some great tools for mental health care, but they should not be seen as replacements for human therapists; rather there is a need for collaboration between mental health practitioners and AI assistance tools to enhance the nature of care given. Therapy isn’t just about fixing problems or changing behaviors—it’s about building a trusting relationship between the therapist and patient and while that kind of bond is not very far ahead into the future if we think about humans and AI, therapies still need a kind of bond that is rich in genuine empathy and emotional understanding that comes from a certain grounding into real experiences.
Concerns and Limitations
Just like issues with any new technology, AI therapies also have their limitations out of which privacy and data security are the most important in the sphere of mental healthcare. Client information is incredibly personal. Thus, constant developments need to be made in AI technology to ensure securing client data and not sharing them with any thief party. Confidence in AI therapies can also be achieved if users are provided with information regarding how their data will be used and how AI will make decisions regarding their personal information.
A Way Forward
The future of AI in mental healthcare is not merely a hype but holds true potential which has only just begun to be realized. However, in order for it to grow it would need a lot of careful handling and we’ll need ongoing research and clear regulations to ensure AI is used responsibly, respecting privacy and maintaining ethical standards. The best path forward will likely be a mix of AI and human therapists, creating a stronger, more effective system that balances the efficiency of technology with the deep connection only humans can provide.
References
Devillers L. Human–robot interactions and affective computing: the ethical implications. In: von Braun J, Archer M S., Reichberg GM, Sánchez Sorondo M, editors. Robotics, AI, and humanity. Cham: Springer International Publishing (2021). p. 205–11. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-54173-6_17
Sedlakova, J., & Trachsel, M. (2022). Conversational Artificial Intelligence in Psychotherapy: A New Therapeutic Tool or Agent? The American Journal of Bioethics, 23(5), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2022.2048739
