.png)
Can AI Be Your Therapist? Maybe. Should It Be? Let’s Talk About It.
Over the past year, we’ve seen something new in therapy: clients showing up with advice from AI.
And not just surface-level insights. Some people are having full-blown therapy sessions with tools like ChatGPT, venting, asking for coping strategies, even working through past trauma in a chat box.
It’s a fascinating shift. And a complicated one.
Let’s dig into how AI is being used as a therapist, where it helps, where it falls short, and why human-to-human connection still matters.
The Rise of AI Therapy: What’s Driving It?
AI tools like ChatGPT, Woebot, and Wysa are becoming popular because they’re:
- Accessible (they're available 24/7),
- Non-judgmental (you can say anything without fear), and
- Free or low-cost (a big deal in a broken healthcare system).
In places like Culver City, Marina del Rey, and Venice, where the pace is fast and therapy waitlists are long, it’s tempting to type “I’m feeling anxious” into a chatbot and see what comes up. And sometimes? The response feels surprisingly helpful.
What AI Gets Right
AI therapy bots have real value:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) scripts can be delivered clearly, consistently, and at scale.
- They can help with mood tracking, daily journaling, and identifying cognitive distortions.
- For people who are anxious to open up to a human (or just want to practice self-awareness) AI can be a great entry point.
There’s no question: some support is better than none.
Why AI Can’t Replace a Real Therapist
No matter how advanced the tech gets, here’s what AI can’t do:
1. Read the room
AI can’t feel the tension in your voice. It doesn’t see the tear that starts forming when you finally say what you’ve been holding back.
2. Build attunement
A therapist doesn’t just listen, they feel with you. They notice when your energy dips or when your story doesn’t match your tone. AI doesn’t have that emotional radar.
3. Hold complex trauma
Deep trauma work, especially EMDR, somatic work, or relationship repair requires attuned, safe, embodied presence. It can’t be scripted.
4. Stay with you through silence
Sometimes healing happens in the pauses. A human therapist can hold space while you sit in discomfort. AI tries to fill the silence.
What We’re Seeing at Mellow Therapy
At our practice in Culver City, we’re noticing more clients referencing conversations they’ve had with AI.
Some say it helped them feel heard when no one else was available. Others say it gave them “quick fix” answers that didn’t really land.
And some say it made them realize what they were missing: a real connection.
So What’s the Right Balance?
We’re not anti-AI. In fact, we believe it can enhance therapy when used intentionally.
AI might help you:
- Track moods between sessions
- Organize thoughts you want to bring to therapy
- Practice CBT techniques between appointments
But when it comes to true healing, growth, and transformation, nothing replaces the feeling of being seen by a real person, someone who remembers your story, understands your patterns, and holds space for the parts of you that don’t fit into a prompt.
Final Thoughts: Therapy Is More Than Advice, It’s Relationship
AI can generate insights. But healing comes through relational repair, something that can only happen with another human being.
So if you’ve been curious about AI therapy, try it out. And notice what’s missing. If you’re craving deeper connection, emotional safety, or a space to be your full, complicated self, that’s what we’re here for.
