Tuesday, November 3, 2026
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Is Therapy Possible with Artificial Intelligence?

Clinical Psychology
Narmin Alizada Author: Narmin Alizada
2 minreading time

Today, the field of psychological support is undergoing a major transformation. One of the most striking developments is the rise of artificial intelligence (AI)-based therapy tools. In recent years, applications like Woebot, Wysa, and Tess have promised support for issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress. But can an AI program truly replace a human therapist?

A Changing Landscape in Mental Health Support

The integration of AI into psychotherapy brings hope for easier access and more flexible support. For individuals who cannot reach traditional therapy due to financial, geographical, or personal barriers, chatbot-based tools offer anonymous, low-cost, and easily accessible alternatives. For example, Woebot provides psychoeducation and mood tracking based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles (Fitzpatrick, Darcy & Vierhile, 2017).

These tools are especially popular among younger users. Their 24/7 availability creates a sense of comfort and support at any moment. For some individuals, chatbots may even reduce the anxiety associated with face-to-face interaction.

Helpful but Not Complete

Although some studies show short-term benefits of AI-based tools, many experts emphasize that they still lack core elements of effective therapy—such as empathy, emotional understanding, and therapeutic connection. For instance, a human therapist can notice silent moments, body language, or tears and respond accordingly—something AI currently cannot do with the same depth.

Moreover, AI tools are not always reliable in detecting and responding to crises. Identifying suicide risk, for example, requires more than analyzing words—it depends on non-verbal cues, tone, and complex emotional understanding (Bendig et al., 2019). Failure to detect these can raise serious ethical and safety concerns.

The Role of Human Connection

The strongest aspect of psychological therapy is the “therapeutic alliance” between the client and therapist. This alliance is built on trust, empathy, and reciprocity. Research shows that users tend to form only limited emotional connections with chatbots and mostly use them to receive information rather than to build a meaningful relationship (Miner et al., 2016). In this sense, AI serves more as a supportive tool rather than a true therapeutic partner.

Looking Ahead

It’s clear that artificial intelligence cannot fully replace human therapists. However, it can play a supportive role in mental health services. For example, AI may assist with tasks like initial screening, mood tracking, or administering questionnaires. Therapists could benefit from these tools to enhance efficiency and continuity of care.

Still, as AI continues to enter the mental health field, it is essential to set ethical guidelines, ensure data privacy, and define clear boundaries between support and therapy. While AI has the potential to complement therapy, human connection remains at the heart of healing.

References

Fitzpatrick, K. K., Darcy, A., & Vierhile, M. (2017). Delivering cognitive behavior therapy to young adults with symptoms of depression and anxiety using a fully automated conversational agent (Woebot). JMIR Mental Health, 4(2), e19. https://doi.org/10.2196/mental.7785

Bendig, E., Erb, B., Schulze-Thuesing, L., & Baumeister, H. (2019). The next generation: Chatbots in clinical psychology and psychotherapy to foster mental health. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(11), e16021.

Miner, A. S., Milstein, A., Schueller, S., Hegde, R., Mangurian, C., & Linos, E. (2016). Smartphone-based conversational agents and responses to questions about mental health, interpersonal violence, and physical health. JAMA Internal Medicine, 176(5), 619–625.

Narmin Alizada Narmin Alizada
My name is Nermin Alizade. I completed my secondary and high school education in Azerbaijan before graduating from the Department of Psychology at Bursa Uludağ University in Türkiye in 2021. Following my graduation, I worked as a psychologist in various clinics, rehabilitation centers, preschools, and high schools. In 2026, I completed my master's degree in clinical psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Pavia, Italy. My master's thesis explored the role of chatbots in psychological support and therapeutic processes in chronic disease management. As part of my ongoing professional development, I am continuing my training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zihni Sungur. I also serve as a volunteer psychologist in the Online Psychological Support Project run by the Turkish Muscular Diseases Association (KASDER), contributing to access to psychological support for individuals living with muscular diseases and their families. In addition, I work as a writer and the Azerbaijan representative for Psychology Times Türkiye and UK. Since 2021, I have also been a member and writer at the Child and Adolescent Studies Workshop, continuing my work in the field of child and adolescent psychology.