The Digital Therapist: Can AI Replace Human Counseling?
Several AI in mental health tools have emerged with global impact: Woebot Health , developed by psychologists at Stanford University, uses cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) principles. A 2017 study published in JMIR Mental Health found that Woebot significantly reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety in college students over just two weeks (Fitzpatrick et al., 2017).
, developed by psychologists at Stanford University, uses cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) principles. A found that Woebot significantly reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety in college students over just two weeks (Fitzpatrick et al., 2017). Wysa , an AI-enabled mental health app endorsed by the UK's National Health Service (NHS) , has more than 6.5 million users across 95 countries. It combines AI support with access to human therapists and has been used by the World Health Organization (WHO) for community mental health interventions during COVID-19.
, an AI-enabled mental health app endorsed by the , has more than across 95 countries. It combines AI support with access to human therapists and has been used by the World Health Organization (WHO) for community mental health interventions during COVID-19. Replika, an emotionally intelligent chatbot, gained attention when users began forming deep emotional bonds with their 'AI friends.' In some cases, users reported a decrease in loneliness, while others voiced concerns over developing psychological dependence on a non-human companion (The Washington Post, 2023).
These tools demonstrate how AI in mental health services is becoming more accessible and scalable.
Several factors explain the surge in usage of AI in mental health therapy: Accessibility: Available 24/7, regardless of location.
Available 24/7, regardless of location. Affordability: Free or low-cost compared to traditional therapy.
Free or low-cost compared to traditional therapy. Anonymity: Removes the stigma of seeking help.
Removes the stigma of seeking help. Crisis Support: Offers instant tools for anxiety and emotional regulation.
A 2021 report by The Lancet Psychiatry revealed that nearly one in three people worldwide lack access to mental health services. AI is emerging as a scalable solution to bridge this treatment gap.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when mental health issues surged, AI tools became lifelines. A study conducted by the University of Oxford (2021) reported that Wysa saw a 77% increase in global usage, with anxiety and stress-related queries peaking during lockdown periods.
Users from low-resource settings reported that the app helped them manage isolation and depressive symptoms when no therapist was available. Man chat with AI to express emotions
The core criticism remains: AI can simulate empathy—but cannot feel it. Machines process patterns, not emotions. While helpful in managing mood, they may:
Miss trauma cues
Misinterpret cultural context
Offer generic, impersonal responses
As noted by Dr. Sherry Turkle, psychologist and MIT professor:
'Empathy requires vulnerability and shared experience—machines cannot do that.'
( Reclaiming Conversation , Penguin Press, 2015)
Moreover, the FDA has yet to formally approve any AI mental health tool as a licensed therapy provider, highlighting the gap between innovation and regulation.
Leading mental health organizations, including the American Psychological Association (APA), emphasize that AI can complement but not replace human therapists. For example: Wysa partners with licensed clinicians who monitor user progress.
partners with licensed clinicians who monitor user progress. Woebot makes it clear it is not a crisis tool and recommends users reach out to emergency services when needed.
AI can assist with: Mood tracking and journaling
Daily check-ins and goal setting
Behavioral nudges using CBT or mindfulness
But severe cases—like PTSD, suicidal ideation, or trauma therapy—require a human touch.
With sensitive mental health data involved, the ethics of AI therapy are under scrutiny: A 2022 Mozilla Foundation report criticized mental health apps for poor data protection , stating that 28 out of 32 apps they reviewed shared user data with third parties.
criticized mental health apps for , stating that 28 out of 32 apps they reviewed shared user data with third parties. Many apps operate without transparent consent models , risking exploitation or data breaches.
, risking exploitation or data breaches. Algorithmic bias and lack of diversity in training data may lead to misinterpretation or exclusion of marginalized groups.
Countries like the UK, Canada, and the EU are now working on AI ethics frameworks to regulate digital therapy tools.
AI presents a groundbreaking opportunity to extend mental health care to billions who lack access. But as powerful as these tools may be, they are still limited by what they cannot replicate—human intuition, empathy, cultural understanding, and trust.
In the words of Dr. Thomas Insel, former Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):
'The therapeutic alliance—a relationship built on trust—is what heals. That's not something AI can replicate—yet.'
For now, the most promising path forward is a hybrid model: AI for scale and efficiency, humans for depth and compassion.
This article was written with the encouragement and inspiration of my professor, Professor Dr. Sobia Masood , whose guidance continues to shape my academic journey.
TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
22 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
More than 100 aid groups warn of starvation in Gaza as Israeli strikes kill 29, officials say
Advertisement Israel says it allows enough aid into the territory and faults delivery efforts by UN agencies, which say they are hindered by Israeli restrictions and the breakdown of security. Hamas has said it will only release the remaining 50 hostages it holds, around 20 of them believed to be alive, in exchange for a lasting cease-fire and an Israeli withdrawal. Israel has vowed to recover all the captives and continue the war until Hamas has been defeated or disarmed. In an open letter, 115 organizations, including major international aid groups such as Doctors Without Borders, Mercy Corps, and Save the Children, said they were watching their colleagues, as well as the Palestinians they serve, 'waste away.' The letter blamed Israeli restrictions and 'massacres' at aid-distribution points. Witnesses, health officials, and the UN human rights office say Israeli forces have repeatedly fired on crowds seeking aid, killing more than 1,000 people. Israel says its forces have only fired warning shots and that the death toll is exaggerated. Advertisement The Israeli government's 'restrictions, delays, and fragmentation under its total siege have created chaos, starvation, and death,' the letter said. WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus echoed that criticism, telling reporters that acute malnutrition centers in Gaza are full of patients and lack adequate supplies. He said rates of acute malnutrition exceed 10 percent and that among pregnant and breastfeeding women, more than 20 percent are malnourished, often severely. The UN health agency's representative in the occupied Palestinian territories, Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, said there were more than 30,000 children under 5 with acute malnutrition in Gaza and that the WHO had reports that at least 21 children under 5 have died so far this year. The Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected the criticism in the open letter and accused the groups of 'echoing Hamas' propaganda.' It said it has allowed around 4,500 aid trucks into Gaza since lifting a complete blockade in May, and that more than 700 trucks are waiting to be picked up and distributed by the UN. That's an average of around 70 trucks a day, the lowest rate of the war and far below the 500 to 600 trucks a day the UN says are needed, and which entered during a six-week cease-fire earlier this year. The UN says it has struggled to deliver aid inside Gaza because of Israeli military restrictions, ongoing fighting, and a breakdown of law and order. An alternative system established by Israel and an American contractor has been marred by violence and controversy. Advertisement White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Witkoff was headed to Europe to meet with key leaders from the Middle East to discuss the latest cease-fire proposal and release of hostages. 'We want this cease-fire to happen as soon as possible, and we want these hostages to be released,' Leavitt said. An official familiar with the negotiations said Ron Dermer, a top adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was traveling to Rome to meet Witkoff on Thursday. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive negotiations. The evolving deal is expected to include a 60-day cease-fire in which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in phases in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Aid supplies would be ramped up, and the two sides would hold negotiations on a lasting truce. Israel has continued to carry out waves of daily airstrikes against what it says are militant targets but which often kill women and children. Israel blames civilian deaths on Hamas because the militants operate in densely populated areas. One of the overnight strikes hit a house in Gaza City, killing at least 12 people, according to Shifa Hospital, which received the casualties. The dead included six children and two women, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it struck an Islamic Jihad militant, and that the incident was under review because of reports of civilian casualties. Shifa said another strike late Tuesday in Gaza City killed three children. A strike on an apartment in northern Gaza killed at least six people. Among the dead were three children and two women, including one who was pregnant, the ministry said. The military said it struck a Hamas operative. Advertisement In central Gaza, a strike in a densely populated part of the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp killed eight people and wounded 57, according to Awda Hospital, which received the casualties. Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people in the Oct. 7 attack and killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. More than 59,000 Palestinians have been killed during the war, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Its count doesn't distinguish between militants and civilians, but the ministry says that more than half of the dead are women and children. The UN and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties.
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Iconic horned species from Ethiopia may not survive this ‘time of lawlessness'
The walia ibex, with its distinctive large curved horns, is regarded as a national symbol in Ethiopia. It is also 'one of the most threatened mammals' on the brink of extinction, experts said. The species came close to extinction in 1966. Officials established the Simien Mountains National Park to protect the last 200 walia ibexes on Earth, where for decades, their population grew. Now, recent surveys show their numbers are approaching critical levels again, according to a study published July 21 in the journal Oryx. 'The war opened the door for poaching during this time of lawlessness,' a local resident told researchers. In 2015, researchers counted 865 walia ibexes in Simien Mountains National Park. In 2024, just 306 were documented, 194 of which were adults, the study said. One of the criterion for a species to qualify as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List is a 'mature' population below the threshold of 250 individuals, according to the study. 'Clear evidence of poaching, including snares and animal carcasses,' have been discovered in Simien Mountains National Park, the study said. Locals identify 'fundamental' drivers of poaching Researchers interviewed 'park personnel, village elders, farmers, local authority staff and militia' in the communities surrounding the ibex's habitat to investigate possible causes for the uptick in poaching. According to the study, more than 70% of people 'attributed the drop in walia ibex numbers to poaching, both for food and medicinal purposes,' citing COVID-19 and the 2021–2022 Tigray war just north of the park as 'fundamental' causes. 'COVID-19 has obstructed tourist flows, decreased revenues and halted patrolling activities and awareness,' an interviewee told researchers. Ibexes have historically been a major tourist attraction in Ethiopia, providing income for the region in addition to their ecological importance, the study said. Any instances of poaching, which have been rare over the last several decades, were reported to park rangers. Researchers theorize that as the number of annual visitors dropped from 32,000 to 4,300 between 2019 and 2023, the 'decrease in income from tourism may have eroded the previously positive relationship between communities and Park authorities, leading to an increase in poaching,' according to the study. Experts are creating an action plan to save the species, which involves mobilizing 'community ambassadors' with the goal of trust-building and improved communication, annual population censuses including the use of camera traps, and recategorizing the walia ibex as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, according to the study. The Simien Mountains are in the northwestern corner of Ethiopia near the border with Eritrea and Sudan.
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Covid-19 drug company liquidates assets in Chapter 11 bankruptcy
When the Covid-19 public health crisis began in the U.S. with the first confirmed case of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus in Washington state on Jan. 20, 2020, the terrifying pandemic was underway, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would report its first confirmed death from the virus on Feb. 29. By March 3, 2020, CDC reported 60 confirmed cases in 12 states. On March 13, the first Trump administration declared a national emergency, and states started implementing shutdowns on March 15, according to the CDC's timeline of Covid-19 events. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Biotechnology firms Pfizer-BioTech and Moderna Therapeutics began developing Covid-19 vaccines in March 2020, and by November 2020, each company's Covid-19 vaccine would be found 95% effective in clinical trials. Related: CVS rival pharmacy chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Another biotech firm, Regeneron, in November received approval of an antibody treatment to significantly reduce virus levels within days. In December 2020, Covid-19 vaccinations began, and by Dec. 24, 1 million people had been vaccinated in the U.S. CDC said that by June 1, 2022, the U.S. reported over 84 million Covid-19 infections and over 1 million deaths. About a year later, Pfizer reported on its website that on May 5, 2023, the World Health Organization declared an end to the Covid-19 public health emergency, while the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services did the same on May 11, 2023. The healthcare industry's response to the Covid-19 pandemic was so effective that beginning on May 1, 2024, hospitals were no longer required to report Covid-19 hospital admissions, hospital capacity, or hospital occupancy data to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Healthcare Safety Network, according to the CDC website. The end of the crisis also ended the need for massive amounts of Covid-19 drugs. With the Covid-19 pandemic subsiding, companies that stepped forward to develop vaccines, drugs, and treatments during the crisis are now facing declining demand for their services to develop Covid-19 products. With no dire need for Covid-19 products, some drug companies have been forced to downsize or even shut down operations because of a lack of business opportunities. Essential drug manufacturer Aluchua Government Services Inc., which developed Covid-19 therapy drugs under U.S. government contracts, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with plans to wind down operations and sell its assets. Related: Giant healthcare company files Chapter 11 bankruptcy seeking sale The Aluchua, Fla.-based pharmaceutical company filed its petition in the U.S Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, listing $50 million in assets and $100 million to $500 million in liabilities. The debtor's largest creditors include United States International Development Finance Corp., owed $246 million; Defense Contract Management Agency, owed $11.95 million; and Sigma-Aldrich Inc. $1.33 million. Aluchua was founded in 1999 to develop new drugs and to increase efficacy of existing ones. In 2013, it was awarded a greenfield contract with the U.S. Department of Defense, and in February 2020, it was awarded a contract to develop an advanced monoclonal antibody therapy against Covid-19 infection. The Covid-19 drug was one of several that the debtor partnered with the U.S. government to develop and produce drugs, vaccines, and treatments. The debtor needed to file for Chapter 11 protection after demand for its services began to decline in late 2023 and certain government contracts were wound down or scaled back, according to Aluchua's Chief Restructuring Officer Janet R. Naifeh of FTI Consulting Inc. Aluchua's efforts to replace its government business with commercial contracts failed, which forced it to scale down production and lay off 125 employees from January through April 2025. It reduced its staff by another 67 employees on June 20 and July 1, which, combined with the earlier layoffs, amounted to termination of 80% of its workforce. The company employed 13 full-time and three temporary workers as of the petition date. The company marketed itself for sale beginning in February 2025, but was unable to complete a transaction and decided its only viable option was to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, wind down its business, and sell its assets. Related: Iconic retail chain closing its remaining stores in bankruptcy The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
