When AI Therapy Goes Wrong: Understanding Risks and Red Flags

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere, from the apps that track our steps to the chatbots that answer our customer service questions. Recently, AI has entered the world of mental health, with platforms advertising themselves as low-cost “virtual therapists.”

While these tools can provide some support, using AI as a replacement for therapy carries serious risks. Here’s why relying on AI for mental health can be unhealthy and what red flags to watch for.

1. Lack of Human Empathy

Therapy isn’t just about advice. It’s about connection. Healing happens in the relational space between two people: eye contact, attunement, empathy, and safety.

AI can generate words that sound compassionate, but it doesn’t feel or respond to human emotions in real time. Without authentic empathy, clients may feel dismissed or unseen.

2. Oversimplified or Harmful Advice

AI pulls responses from patterns in data, not from personal knowledge of your history, trauma, or needs. It might suggest generic coping skills when what’s required is urgent intervention.

For someone in crisis, this could delay or prevent life-saving help.

3. No Ethical or Legal Accountability

Licensed therapists follow strict ethical codes to protect clients from harm. If something goes wrong, there are governing boards, licensing bodies, and clear standards of care.

AI programs have no such accountability. If an AI tool gives harmful advice, there’s no one responsible.

4. Privacy Risks

Therapy sessions are confidential and protected by law, such as HIPAA in the U.S. AI platforms often collect data to improve their systems, meaning your private struggles could be stored, shared, or even sold.

Knowing your deepest feelings aren’t truly private can make healing harder.

5. Built-In Bias

AI reflects the data it’s trained on. If the dataset includes bias, the responses may unintentionally reinforce harmful stereotypes about gender, culture, race, or mental health, causing additional harm instead of healing.

6. False Sense of Security

The biggest risk is believing that using an AI chatbot is therapy. It may feel supportive in the moment, but it cannot replace the human relationship, ethical safeguards, and clinical expertise that make therapy effective.

Red Flags to Watch For

• The app calls itself a “therapist” or full replacement for counseling
  

• It discourages seeking professional mental health care
  

• There’s no clear privacy or data protection policy
  

• Responses feel dismissive, confusing, or “off”
  

• You feel worse, more isolated, or invalidated after using it

Final Thoughts

AI can be a useful tool to practice mindfulness, track moods, or provide education. But it is not therapy. Healing requires human connection, ethical responsibility, and individualized care.

If you’re struggling, don’t settle for a chatbot. Reach out to a licensed therapist who can truly listen, understand, and guide you through the complexity of your story.

At Thrive Postpartum, Couples & Family Therapy, we offer trauma-informed, compassionate therapy tailored to your needs. Contact us today to connect with a real therapist who can walk alongside you.

Schedule a free consultation today.