Is AI Replacing Therapy? Why People Prefer ChatGPT Over Therapists Sometimes

My clients often tell me they’ve been using ChatGPT as a space to talk about their challenges.

I don’t say much. Not because I didn’t have a reaction — but because I didn’t want to give the default therapist response.

Yes, I’ve seen the posts.

“AI is not therapy.” “Don’t use ChatGPT as your therapist.”

And I agree — it’s not.

But the fact that more and more people are turning to it made me pause and ask:

Why?

What is it about talking to an AI that feels easier, safer, or more accessible for some people?

Over the last few months, I’ve spoken to several people — not just clients, but friends, acquaintances — who shared how they’re using AI to express themselves.

And a pattern started to emerge.

Many say it’s the accessibility — there’s no need to schedule, wait, or worry about cost.

Some describe the relief of not being judged or analysed.

Others speak about how it simply feels easier — to start typing without performance pressure or fear of being misunderstood.

And some feel genuinely seen by the responses they receive. Not always, not perfectly — but enough to feel accompanied in moments of overwhelm.

This doesn’t mean AI is flawless or fully equipped to understand human complexity. It certainly isn’t.

But it made me wonder:

What are people really seeking when they turn to AI before turning to therapy?

Sometimes, it’s clarity.

Sometimes, it’s the act of putting something into words when there’s no one else around.

Sometimes, it’s about avoiding the vulnerability that can come with face-to-face connection — especially when trust has been broken in the past.

And sometimes, it’s because therapy feels too big a step when you’re just beginning to feel your feelings.

When my client told me, I sensed they expected me to correct them.

To tell them why they shouldn’t do that.

But instead, I chose curiosity — toward them, and toward the larger question this brings up for us as therapists.

What makes someone choose AI over a human? And what can we learn from that choice?

We often carry professional pride — a deep belief that the therapeutic space we offer is irreplaceable.

And it is.

But what if that pride blinds us to the realities of people’s lives?

Not everyone can afford therapy.

Not everyone feels ready to speak to a human.

And not everyone has had safe or helpful experiences with mental health professionals.

So, instead of warning my client, I focused on something else:

What is this space giving them?

What need is it meeting?

And how can I, as a therapist, understand and hold space for that — without judgement?

Because the truth is:

It doesn’t have to be either/or.

Is AI replacing therapy? Maybe not — but it can be a starting point.

A space to hear yourself think.

A place to experiment with honesty, especially when honesty has felt dangerous before.

And when used wisely, it can complement therapy — not compete with it.

Because there are things therapy offers that AI cannot:

• The presence of someone who sees you, not just your words

• A trained capacity to help you explore what's underneath your patterns, not just soothe the surface

• A relationship where rupture and repair are possible

• Accountability and holding, especially when the work gets hard

• Deep witnessing, the kind that comes not from algorithms but from human attunement

Therapy is not just about advice or tools — it’s about connection, reflection, and healing in the presence of another.

That said, we, as therapists, can also learn to use AI mindfully.

To support clients between sessions.

To offer tools or journaling prompts.

To notice what clients are exploring elsewhere, and gently bring it into the room.

And for individuals — it’s helpful to ask:

• Is this space helping me understand myself better — or am I going in circles?

• Am I feeling less alone — or more confused?

• Is this helping me feel safer to reach out for help — or delaying it?

There’s no shame in using what’s accessible.

There’s wisdom in knowing when it’s enough — and when it’s time to seek more.

I’m still holding these questions.

Not with fear or defensiveness, but with openness.

If people are choosing AI, what does that say about the world we’ve built — and the therapeutic spaces we offer?

And how can we evolve, not in competition with machines, but in deeper service of human needs?

Hey there, thanks for reading my blog. If you’re new here, you might consider checking out my other blog posts too. Happy Reading!