The Future of Therapy: Can AI Replace Humans?
Atypical Podcast With Amie Archibald-Varley and Jordan Varley
Release Date: 09/16/2025
The Future of Therapy: Can AI Replace Humans?
Atypical Podcast With Amie Archibald-Varley and Jordan Varley
Have you ever used chatGBT or AI to ask it questions about mental health or therapy? What happens when technology tries to solve our mental health challenges? This week on Atypical Podcast, Amie and Jordan Varley get candid about the rise of AI in therapy. They discuss the good—like making support more accessible—and the not-so-good, including the dangers of replacing real human understanding with an algorithm. From tackling stigma to questioning whether a machine can ever truly empathize, this episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the future of mental health care. If you or...
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Atypical Podcast With Amie Archibald-Varley and Jordan Varley
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Atypical Podcast With Amie Archibald-Varley and Jordan Varley
*Note: This is NOT a shaming podcast episode.... In the hyper-connected world, every click, like, and share carries a surprising weight, especially for those in professions built on trust. This week on ATYPICAL podcast with Amie Archibald-Varley RN, MN, we dive into the fascinating and often brutal "digital court of public opinion," sparked by the recent viral "kiss cam" incident involving CEO Andy Byron. His very public moment serves as a potent reminder that in our increasingly transparent society, no one truly lives in a glass house, and the stones we throw online can shatter careers. We'll...
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Atypical Podcast With Amie Archibald-Varley and Jordan Varley
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info_outlineHave you ever used chatGBT or AI to ask it questions about mental health or therapy?
What happens when technology tries to solve our mental health challenges? This week on Atypical Podcast, Amie and Jordan Varley get candid about the rise of AI in therapy. They discuss the good—like making support more accessible—and the not-so-good, including the dangers of replacing real human understanding with an algorithm. From tackling stigma to questioning whether a machine can ever truly empathize, this episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the future of mental health care.
If you or somebody you know needs help, please call 9-8-8 or 9-1-1.. Help is always available.
Chapters
00:00 Exploring AI in Mental Health
08:10 The Risks of AI Therapy
16:47 The Human Element in Therapy
24:58 The Future of Mental Health Support
Takeaways
AI is increasingly being used in mental health therapy, but it raises significant concerns. Accessibility and affordability are major barriers to traditional therapy. Stigma and shame can prevent individuals from seeking help, making AI an appealing option. AI lacks the ability to provide nuanced understanding and emotional support. There is a need for oversight and regulation of AI in mental health. Bias in AI can lead to stigmatizing responses for vulnerable populations. Human connection is irreplaceable in therapy and mental health support. AI should be used as a tool to augment human therapy, not replace it. Compassion and empathy are crucial in mental health care. Society must advocate for better mental health resources and support systems.
Links to Articles: https://mashable.com/article/chat-gpt-safeguards-suicide-crisis-line
https://hai.stanford.edu/news/exploring-the-dangers-of-ai-in-mental-health-care
https://technologymagazine.com/news/ai-chatbots-risk-mental-health-crisis-stanford-study-warns
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/aug/30/therapists-warn-ai-chatbots-mental-health-support
https://www.statnews.com/2025/09/11/fda-dhac-digital-health-ai-mental-health/
https://www.rand.org/news/press/2025/08/ai-chatbots-inconsistent-in-answering-questions-about.html
Keywords: AI, mental health, therapy, accessibility, affordability, stigma, oversight, bias, human connection, compassion
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