AI Isn’t Your Therapist: The Hidden Dangers of Chatbot Counseling
AI tools are everywhere right now. From chatbots that draft your emails to ones that recommend recipes, it can feel tempting to let them take on more personal roles, like providing therapy. At first glance, the idea makes sense. An app that is always awake, never judges, and costs less than a therapy session in Kansas City? Sounds convenient. But let’s pause for a second. As helpful as artificial intelligence can be, using it to replace the relationship you build with a real therapist can be risky.
As a Kansas City therapist who has worked with clients through grief, trauma, anxiety, and depression, I can tell you that healing doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens in relationship. And AI simply cannot offer the warmth, connection, and accountability that therapy requires. Even experts across the country are raising alarms about this trend.
When AI Gets It Wrong
One of the biggest dangers of relying on AI for mental health support is how often it misses the mark. A study from the University of Minnesota found that while licensed therapists responded appropriately to crisis situations 93 percent of the time, chatbots only managed it about 60 percent of the time. That difference could mean life or death.
In fact, researchers noted a chilling example: when someone hinted at suicide by asking about bridges, the AI responded with details about bridge heights instead of offering support or directing them to help. That kind of mistake shows the gap between machine-generated words and true human care.
If you are struggling with grief, please know you deserve support from someone who understands nuance and can respond with empathy. Learn more about my grief therapy services here.
Emotional Dependency and Misleading Affirmation
Another concern is how quickly people form attachments to AI. In a recent article, The Times reported that the NHS has urged people to stop using chatbots for therapy, warning that they may encourage loneliness and delusional thinking. The piece quoted experts who said, “Chatbots cannot replicate the nuanced support offered by human therapists and may in fact exacerbate mental health problems by giving false reassurance.”
The Guardian went even further, calling chatbots a “dangerous abyss” for vulnerable people. Therapists interviewed in the article described cases where individuals spiraled after turning to AI for help, with one noting, “The chatbot gave answers that validated harmful thoughts instead of challenging them.”
If you are navigating anxiety or depression, this is where human therapy shines. We work together to spot unhelpful patterns and gently shift them, rather than reinforcing them. Explore my anxiety therapy or depression therapy options to learn more.
Chatbot Psychosis and Legal Fallout
There’s even a growing phenomenon researchers are calling “chatbot psychosis,” where individuals develop irrational beliefs that are reinforced by AI. Some people begin to believe the AI is their friend, partner, or sole support system. Others spiral into paranoia when the bot’s answers contradict their expectations.
Lawmakers are starting to notice. This summer, Illinois passed a law banning AI from being used as a standalone therapist without licensed professional oversight. The Washington Post reported, “Illinois became the third state, after Utah and Nevada, to restrict the use of AI in the mental health industry, citing growing concerns about AI psychosis and patient safety.” The law carries fines of up to $10,000 for companies that cross the line.
The takeaway is clear: even governments are stepping in to make sure people do not mistake AI for therapy.
If you are considering trauma work, know that you will always be in a relationship with a real, licensed therapist when you start trauma therapy with me. For those interested in specific tools like EMDR, I also offer EMDR therapy online in Kansas and Missouri.
Why Human Therapists Still Matter
At the end of the day, therapy is about connection. AI might be fast and clever with words, but it does not understand the weight of silence in a session, the way someone’s face softens when they feel understood, or the courage it takes to share painful memories. As the Guardian noted, “Chatbots risk providing the illusion of support while leaving people more isolated than before.”
Human therapists offer something that AI cannot: empathy, accountability, and genuine care. We can adapt, respond, and even challenge you when you need it most. We can laugh with you, sit with your grief, and remind you that you are not alone. AI might be a tool, but it should never be the relationship.
Takeaways
AI chatbots often fail in crisis situations and cannot replace human judgment.
Experts warn that chatbots may encourage loneliness and reinforce delusional thinking.
“Chatbot psychosis” is a growing concern as people form unhealthy attachments to AI.
States like Illinois, Utah, and Nevada have banned AI as a standalone therapist.
Healing happens in relationship, and that means working with a licensed therapist, not a machine.
If you are looking for a Kansas City therapist who understands grief, trauma, anxiety, and depression, I would love to connect with you. Visit sarawilpertherapy.com today to book a consultation and start your healing journey.
