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01 September 2025

AI in Psychotherapy: A Tool for Deeper Connection, Not a Replacement for It

Is artificial intelligence (AI) the future of psychotherapy, or a threat to the therapeutic relationship? As a practitioner who uses AI tools for the transcription and analysis of sessions, I see this question as essential. The integration of technology into mental health care isn't just a futuristic concept; it's happening now. A recent wave of academic research explores this very topic, balancing the immense potential of AI against the critical ethical challenges it presents. By looking at recent papers, we can see a clear path forward: when implemented with robust standards for safety, ethics, and transparency, AI can become a powerful ally in improving patient care.

 

The Revolution in Mental Health: Why AI Matters

The demand for psychological and psychiatric help is surging, yet the number of specialists remains limited, creating long waiting times. This is where technology can offer a breakthrough. A scoping review by Ojo (2024) highlights that the growing interest in AI stems from a need for more personalized and efficient treatment strategies1. For professionals in psychology and psychiatry, AI offers tools that can analyze speech, language, and behavioral data, supporting everything from diagnosis to the transcription of psychotherapy sessions.

From my perspective, the most immediate benefit is time. The administrative burden of documentation is significant. By automating tasks like session transcription, I can dedicate more of my focus to the person in front of me, which translates directly to higher quality therapy. This efficiency can also help shorten the queues for specialists, making mental healthcare more accessible.

 

Beyond Transcription: Enhancing Analysis and Supervision

Automated transcription is a game-changer. Manually transcribing a one-hour session can take two to four hours—time that is now freed up. But the benefits of AI go much deeper. Ojo (2024) points out that these systems can be trained to analyze a patient's language for subtle markers of risk, such as suicidal ideation, or compare patterns across thousands of similar cases to inform treatment planning.

Furthermore, these tools can revolutionize therapeutic supervision. By providing an accurate, searchable record of a session, supervisors and therapists can conduct a more profound analysis of the therapeutic process. This enhances the quality of care and supports the continuous professional development of the therapist. The goal isn't to replace clinical judgment but to augment it with data-driven insights.
 

Is It Safe? Navigating the Ethical Landscape of AI in Psychiatry and Psychology

The power of AI brings significant responsibilities. The research is clear about the potential dangers if this technology is implemented without care. Key concerns raised by Ojo (2024) include:

  • Privacy and data protection: Patient data is incredibly sensitive.

  • Algorithmic bias: If AI models are trained on non-representative data, they can perpetuate and even amplify existing disparities in healthcare.

  • The "black box" problem: The inability to explain how an AI reaches a specific conclusion undermines trust and accountability.

  • Over-reliance on algorithms: Clinicians must not cede their critical judgment to technology.

     

These are not trivial concerns. However, the concept of "embedded ethics," as proposed by McLennan et al. (2022), offers a solution. This approach involves integrating ethicists directly into the AI development process to anticipate and address issues from the very beginning7. Anders (2025) reinforces this, arguing that upholding patient dignity requires a fundamental shift toward approaches that recognize the inherent worth of every individual, a principle that must be encoded into the systems we build8.

For these tools to be used responsibly, we need full data encryption and anonymization, absolute transparency with patients—including their right to refuse the use of AI - and unwavering human oversight. The final decision must always rest with a qualified professional.

 

Conclusion: A Partner in Care, Not a Replacement for the Therapist

The research is unanimous on one point: AI in psychotherapy, psychology, and psychiatry is not meant to replace the therapist. Its role is to enhance the availability and quality of care. As a practitioner using these tools, I see them not as a step toward automated therapy, but as a way to foster deeper human connection by handling the mechanical aspects of my work.

The future of mental health isn't a chatbot therapist. It's a human therapist empowered by intelligent tools to be more present, insightful, and effective. The key benefits are clear: shorter waiting times for specialists, more time dedicated to patients rather than paperwork, and the potential for deeper therapeutic analysis. By embracing AI responsibly, we can improve the efficacy of therapy and uphold our ultimate commitment: the well-being of our patients.

 

References

 

Anders, R. (2025). Dignity in mental health care: human rights challenges and pathways. Academia Mental Health and Well-Being, 2. https://doi.org/10.20935/MHealthWellB7729

McLennan, S., Fiske, A., Tigard, D., Müller, R., Haddadin, S., & Buyx, A. (2022). Embedded ethics: a proposal for integrating ethics into the development of medical AI. BMC Medical Ethics, 23(6). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-022-00746-3

Ojo, Y. (2024). Ethical Considerations in Using AI for Mental Health Diagnosis and Treatment Planning: A Scoping Review. MIRG-ICAIR 2024, 169-180. https://www.academia.edu/127297024/Ethical_Considerations_in_Using_AI_for_Mental_Health_Diagnosis_and_Treatment_Planning_A_Scoping_Review

Emothly supports mental health specialists by offering innovative tools for transcription, analysis, and generation of clinical notes to improve patient care.

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