What is AI Therapy?

Mental health support has come a long way, but if we’re being honest—it still isn’t accessible for a large variety of people. It’s difficult to find a clinic or a counseling center that meets your needs; therapy can be expensive, opening up to the right person can be difficult, and getting an appointment can be a hassle. But artificial intelligence may have come to change that. AI has become so advanced that it even offers therapy platforms, and these platforms are becoming really popular. The real question is: is AI therapy just as good as in-person therapy or is it just a mediocre trend that everyone’s following? Let's break down some of the pros and cons of AI therapy: 

Image Source: Wigmore Medical

The Pros of AI Therapy

• It's cost-effective and affordable

As we know, in-person therapy is incredibly expensive, where the average rate per hour is $100-200/hour. In contrast to that, AI therapy platforms like Wysa cost just about $9/hour. This is a huge game changer for people who are in need of therapy, but simply cannot afford it due to its high and costly rates.

• Appointments don't exist

When having to book therapy sessions, it can take a really long time for the receptionist to find a slot; which is terribly inconvenient. This isn't the case with AI therapy though. Many AI therapy platforms don't require booking appointments since chatbots are available 24/7. This means there are no long waitlists, and there's also no need to squeeze therapy in a bizarre and inconvenient time that gets in the way of school or work.

• There's no fear of judgement

When attending in-person therapy, you may not always receive the support you truly need if you struggle to open up to your therapist. This may be because you're afraid of being judged and might feel that your worries and stresses aren't good enough. When it comes to AI therapy, that fear of judgment is often removed, and therapy becomes much more low-pressure.

The Cons of AI Therapy

• No Diagnosis

Since AI therapy doesn't consist of licensed healthcare professionals, they can't actually provide you a "real" diagnosis; especially if you're in need of medication.

• You're not talking to an actual person

When using AI therapy, there's a lack of connection due to the fact that you're talking to a chatbot and not an actual person. While AI may be trained to recognize the emotions that you describe, it doesn't truly understand those emotions because it has not truly gone through those emotions. AI therapy can feel impersonal because there isn't any real empathy that takes place; which is a huge part of therapy.

AI therapy does have its pros and cons, but it's important to acknowledge that AI has come a long way and has been beneficial for many people; especially on the topic of people's mental health. Ultimately, up to each individual to decide if they want to use AI therapy platforms. However, it's important to remember that all is good when used in moderation.