AI is already part of many clients' support systems, so therapists benefit from learning to work with it.

Approach clients' AI use with curiosity, not judgment, so they keep talking about it openly.

Chatbots can inform, but empathy, attunement, and trust are what make human therapy heal.

Clear boundaries and honest talk about privacy help clients use AI and therapy together.

As a therapist, I have noticed a growing number of clients using artificial intelligence (AI) before reaching out to a licensed psychotherapist. This trend — where an AI chatbot may be the first place humans ask questions about anxiety, relationships, trauma, depression, or other emotional concerns — is growing.

A 2026 study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that 19.2% of adolescents and young adults surveyed in 2025 had used an AI chatbot for mental health advice, compared with 13.1% in 2024. Among those who used chatbots for mental health advice, most described the experience as at least somewhat helpful.

When I first noticed this trend in my practice, I felt uneasy. How accurate is the information clients receive? What about privacy and safety? And could AI eventually replace therapists?

From Unease to Acceptance

Over time, I realized I needed a different approach: acceptance. AI is here to stay. Rather than viewing it only as a dubious threat, therapists may need to learn how to work with clients who are using it. AI is increasingly becoming part of clients' emotional and informational support systems. Some enter therapy after asking a chatbot about symptoms, relationships, coping strategies, or possible........

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