Tuesday, August 11, 2026
New research shows more than a third of therapy patients are turning to chatbots for support, and psychologists are split on whether that is good news.
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A few years ago, using a chatbot for emotional support sounded strange. Today it is common. Over three-quarters of licensed psychologists say their patients have brought up using artificial intelligence, whether to vent, ask questions, or look for a diagnosis. More than a third say some patients now treat a chatbot as an additional mental health professional, alongside their human therapist.
This shift didn’t happen because people stopped valuing human connection. It happened because AI is available at two in the morning, it is often free, and it never seems too busy to listen. The question worth asking is not whether people will keep doing this. They will. The real question is what it means for the quality of care people receive, and where this is all headed. We know that when AI can’t find an answer for something, it may make up an answer. Will that happen? And how will it handle requests for information on suicide? Lawsuits have already been lodged in this matter, as well as suicides related to romantic relationships with chatbots.
What the Numbers Actually Show