Therapists dedicate their professional lives to helping others through some of the most difficult moments — grief, anxiety, trauma and personal crises. It’s their human touch, their ability to read emotions and their skill in creating a safe space for vulnerability that makes them indispensable.
Beyond their training, therapists excel at recognizing the unspoken — through gestures, expressions or changes in tone. This heightened awareness creates an environment of trust, allowing clients to feel secure enough to open up and share their most personal thoughts.
Robust evidence shows that the therapeutic alliance — that essential bond of trust, empathy and collaboration between therapist and client — is the bedrock of effective therapy. It’s within this space that clients feel truly heard, understood and supported as they navigate their mental health challenges. The therapist’s emotional attunement makes the client-therapist relationship so powerful, where they adjust their responses to meet the client’s unique needs, offering deeply personal and tailored guidance.
However, with the rise of technology, we face a fascinating question: Can artificial intelligence (AI) replicate the role of a therapist?
What is AI therapy?
AI therapy refers to using AI systems, such as chatbots or virtual assistants, to provide mental health support. They use machine learning algorithms to simulate human conversation, offering users guidance, coping strategies and emotional support.
For some people, it would be impossible to replace the personal connection with a therapist, but according to a recent Yahoo-commissioned survey, many people are open to (or at least curious enough to think about trying) these AI alternatives.
The survey, conducted by a research team at AYTM, gathered responses from 750 people with direct experience in therapy, either at the time of the survey or in the past. The survey found that 20.9% of respondents were open to AI therapy — surprisingly, 45.3% of them are over 45. This statistic contests the assumption that digital advances are primarily for younger, tech-savvy folks.
Emotional comfort and anonymity
Research consistently shows that stigma is a significant barrier preventing older adults from seeking mental health support. The fear of judgment or concern over “what others might think” often deters people from accessing the help they need.
For many, AI therapy offers a unique sense of emotional comfort due to its impersonal and anonymous nature. Norman explains, “Many people might appreciate how AI therapy is impartial and anonymous, allowing them to talk about private matters without fear of bias or judgment from a human therapist.”
Boa supports this idea, adding, “Shame and embarrassment are killers when it comes to mental health. Many presenting problems have components that people struggle to admit to themselves, never mind another person. They would rather ‘stoically’ carry on than admit to them.” He further illustrates this with the example of substance misuse, noting that “it’s not unusual to find the diaries of the deceased filled with self-recrimination and self-loathing around their behavior, but they dare not admit it even to their closest friends or family.” This highlights how AI could be a safer outlet for discussing deeply personal issues.
“Furthermore, there may be events that they do not want to disclose,” Boa adds. “Classically, veterans don’t speak to anyone about their experiences. It might be easier — and there’s an argument to say it is actually therapeutic — to talk to GPT about past experiences.”
For older generations, many of whom grew up in a time when discussing mental health was less accepted or even taboo, the anonymity of AI therapy offers a novel opportunity. It allows them to confront long-standing emotional concerns in a less intimidating environment than traditional therapy settings.
AI therapy doesn’t appeal to everyone
Despite the growing interest in AI therapy, the majority of the survey respondents — 69.9% — said they wouldn’t try AI or chatbot-based therapy. This reluctance could be due to several factors.
Firstly, the lack of human connection. Therapy is inherently relational, and people may feel that AI, no matter how advanced, simply cannot replicate the nuance, warmth and deep understanding that come with human interaction.
Trust is also a significant concern, especially with rising fears about privacy and data security surrounding personal mental health information. People may be hesitant to share intimate details with virtual platforms, worried that their data could be used for purposes beyond therapy or shared with third parties.
Fears of digital breaches and data leaks further fuel this hesitation. In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged BetterHelp, a popular online therapy platform, with violating consumer trust by sharing sensitive client information, including therapy details, with advertising platforms like Facebook and Snapchat, despite assurances of confidentiality.
Then, there’s also the issue of technical literacy. Complex interfaces, perceived or real technological challenges and fear of technical failures might make many feel excluded from or overwhelmed by the idea of digital therapy.
In the end, while AI therapy is gaining traction, it’s clear that human connection and trust remain at the heart of the therapeutic process for the majority.
The take home
As technology reshapes health care, AI-driven therapy presents opportunities and challenges. For many older adults, the accessibility, affordability and privacy of AI-based mental health care offer a compelling alternative to traditional therapy. The rise in interest among this demographic defies common assumptions about technology adoption and signals a shift in attitudes toward mental health support.
However, the survey reveals that almost 8 in 10 people still hesitate to embrace AI therapy. This reluctance underscores the enduring value of human connection in therapy, where trust, empathy and the therapeutic alliance play an irreplaceable role. Privacy concerns, fears of data breaches and the potential loss of emotional depth in AI-driven interactions remind us that, while AI can offer support, it may never fully replicate the complexities of human understanding.
Thinking about exploring online therapy? Yahoo has gathered the leading choices for you, including best affordable online therapy providers, best online psychiatry platforms, best online therapy providers for anxiety, best online therapy for couples, best online therapy resources for the LGBTQ community and best culturally sensitive online therapy resources.
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Related: The in-person preference: Why traditional therapy still rules over online counseling alternatives
Content concerning mental health is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical or health advice. Consult a medical professional for questions about your health. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, call 911, local emergency services, or 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline).
