Intro:

Like many other humans on the planet, I can see the seductive quality of using AI. However, a report by Zao-Sanders (2026) documented that the top reason people use LLMs is for therapy and companionship. As a Clinical Psychologist, this worries me because the more we connect and speak to these tools, the less we speak to real humans. From my perspective, the real value of therapy comes from a human-to-human relationship.

This guide offers an honest look at what I believe the real difference is between a real therapist and using an AI tool such as ChatGPT as a substitute for human support. 

The key takeaways:

• People are turning to AI for mental health support for three key reasons; they’re affordable, they’re responsive, they’re addictive
• AI can’t replace therapists because they’re not human, they cannot replicate empathy, energy, body language, transference 
• AI can be useful alongside therapy in terms of identifying ongoing themes or perhaps reflecting back from therapy sessions

When to reach out sooner: 

If you're thinking about harming yourself or can't keep yourself safe, contact Samaritans (116 123), NHS 111 (option 2), or 999 in an emergency. This page is not a substitute for crisis support.

Why are people turning to ChatGPT for mental health support?

I think people are using AI tools for emotional support and ‘therapy’ for three simple reasons.

1. They are affordable

For a very small fee, or even no fee there is a pseudo ‘being’ available 24 hours a day and seven days a week. This type of support from a human is unaffordable to many. If we think about AI, it bridges the gap between what your friends/family can offer and what a therapist can offer. It is external to your life, it is available for middle of the night spirals and it has some level of emotional intelligence. Therefore, for many who are unable to afford therapy, this can be an easy access substitute. 

2. They respond immediately

We now live in a world where the pace is very fast.  If we want to purchase something, it can arrive the next day. Similarly, if we hear about a news story, we can access all the available information within five minutes. This immediate pace of life has given AI tools seamless access to meeting our on-going needs for connection. Humans are social beings and we rely on connection and safety signals from others. Without connection, we essentially wilt away. 

3. They are addictive

AI tools are designed to be addictive. Their responses are often validating and mimic the emotional support that therapists are trained to deliver. They offer enough emotional support, which makes you feel good in that moment, and so you feel motivated to return. 

Can ChatGPT replace a therapist?

To be explicit, no ChatGPT or AI can’t replace a therapist, because a therapist is fundamentally human. 

AI simply can’t replicate:

• Body language
• Empathy
• Energy
• Transference (the unconscious direction of feelings onto another person)

When we interact with another human, we are feeding off an energy they are giving. We all experience it, and it's not always something we consciously recognise or can put into words. But, therapists are trained to pay attention to this and as a result, we start to think and wonder in ways that are highly relevant to the energy our client is sharing. 

An AI tool can’t do this, and it is a vital part of therapy and therapeutic change that AI simply can’t and never will replicate. 

What AI is genuinely useful for

AI can serve some very clear and basic functions. Within the therapy world, it can deliver emotional support and validation in the current moment. For example, if someone is feeling anxious and panicked and their thoughts are spiralling, AI tools are trained enough to regulate the emotion and calm someone down. I also think AI tools are great ‘summarisers’, they can organise and prioritise information fast and efficiently. I think this can be useful alongside therapy in terms of coping mechanisms, or identifying ongoing patterns.

But, as a Clinical Psychologist, I am not sure I would recommend the use of AI as a therapeutic tool. I am not anti-AI, but I worry about the reliance we have on technology as a whole.

Every time we receive information from a screen, our nervous system is activated to process it, and make sure it isn't a threat. Our bodies are not built to cope with this level of information and this constant low-level threat detection requirement. Ideally you would reach out to your friend, or your family for validation and support. Or wait and sit with your feelings, rather than spiralling into problem-solving thoughts.

Where AI falls down (the limits that matter)

As I mentioned, AI is trained to be addictive and designed to encourage people to come back and use the platform again and again. 

AI tools are good at emotionally validating people. But understanding your emotions and life experiences is not just about someone agreeing with you. It can also be about being curious, asking the right questions that might make someone understand their experiences at an even deeper level. It is also about gently challenging beliefs that perhaps don’t serve us anymore or are holding us back, things human therapists are trained to do. AI tools also take everything you say very literally, they do not understand tone, intonation or nuance and they definitely pick up on what you aren’t saying, like a human therapist can. 

I imagine AI will continue to develop skills that create the illusion of this. But without full human connection, this will remain quite tokenistic and superficial. Human-to-human connection just can’t be replicated with a technological learning model. 

Why the relationship is the thing AI can’t copy

When we use AI as a companion or therapeutic companion, this isn't a real connection. This is simply an interaction with information.

One of the most powerful aspects of therapy is the human-to-human connection that is formed within the session. The therapeutic journey and individual change are carried by the relationship that is formed. AI will only go so far; it can't replicate what is needed for real effective therapy. The type of therapy that stays with you, that transforms how you think and feel. For me, that's the only therapy that matters.

So how should you actually use AI (if you want to)?

I think that AI can be useful alongside therapy in terms of identifying ongoing themes or perhaps reflecting back from therapy what you are learning about yourself.

But I worry about reliance, people becoming addicted to checking in with ChatGPT.
Therapy is the opposite, it is designed for the client to become self-reliant, you don’t need to run everything by a therapist for the rest of your life. 

Your no-pressure next step

If you’ve previously used AI as a stand in therapist, you might benefit from a chat with a human therapist next, to see how that feels too.

At Pear, we pair you with a therapist based on your specific needs, giving you the best chance at working with a therapist you’ll click with, a connection that AI really can’t replicate.

You can also have a free discovery call with your potential therapists first, so you feel confident before you start therapy. 

Start your free pairing.

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