Psychotherapists and AI: A Mixed Bag

This is how psychotherapists feel about AI...

(Spoiler alert...it's a mixed bag). The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society asked their 18,500 members to share insights. Here's what they found...

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗜
"For many practitioners, the most significant consideration is not whether they themselves use AI, but that clients already are. Members spoke about clients using AI for reflection, reassurance, or to talk things through outside sessions. Many described responding with curiosity, inviting clients to bring AI-generated reflections into the therapy room and exploring them together. Many others indicated that they found this concerning." 

𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀
"Members describe using technology to break tasks into manageable steps, create check lists and routines, support planning and executive functioning, and generate visual or image-based material to support emotional expression."

𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀
"Interestingly, some of the strongest critiques came from members with significant technical expertise in AI, who warned about false confidence, confabulation, echo chambers, and the psychological risks of anthropomorphizing machines. There was a clear recognition that how we engage with technology now will shape public trust, professional identity, and client safety in the years ahead."

You may want to follow along with NCPS - they're a professional home for counselors and psychotherapists dedicated to supporting members and the public through quality training, accreditation and ethical practice.