Can AI Replace Human Psychology Therapists? Short Answer: No!

A few days ago, I was chatting with a close friend who’s on a mission to explore whether AI can truly replace humans in emotion-focused roles. She’s incredibly smart, fast-thinking, and lives with ADHD. She reads constantly and has a background in psychology, science, with brain — and her mind is full of creative ideas, unanswered questions, and relentless curiosity.

As we talked, she shared how she’s been testing various AI assistants, apps, and bots that claim to function as therapists or emotional support tools. She’s documenting every experience meticulously. Her conclusion?

AI is nowhere near ready to help real patients who genuinely need therapy.

She compared these AI tools to her experiences with actual human therapists — focusing on specific topics like depression, focus issues, and mood swings. While many AI startups promise that artificial intelligence is finally advanced enough to replace therapists, she sees it very differently.

Not just because AI lacks emotional context and empathy — though that’s a big part — but also because these systems aren’t built to guide users toward deeper self-understanding. They don’t help people uncover their hidden emotions, fears, or root issues.

Sure, AI can be a decent listener — in a chatbot kind of way. But when someone starts hiding their feelings or masking their true intentions, an AI simply can't detect that shift or respond accordingly.

But AI can't set a path for you to heal or focus on one issue, like it can't tell you" No we will discuss that later, Now you need to focus on that thing to progress" S. Hassan

Human therapists, on the other hand, can sense when something deeper is going on. They ask the right questions, dig beneath the surface, and gently guide patients through a process of self-discovery. They’re trained to uncover the real issues — often the ones we’re not even aware we're hiding.

So for now — and likely for the foreseeable future — AI may assist in mental health spaces, but it won’t replace the depth, nuance, and human connection that only a real therapist can provide.

The Challenge with In-Person Therapy

"One big issue I noticed when going to see a human therapist is that during the session, my mind would often go blank. It was like staring at a white page — nothing came out. But then, after leaving the office, a flood of thoughts, feelings, and ideas would hit me. That made me feel like I wasn’t getting the most out of the sessions."

So I started wondering… what if I could talk (or rather, type) to something that doesn't judge, never gets tired, and has endless knowledge?

That's when I tried using an AI chatbot. And honestly? At first, it felt amazing.

Why AI Feels Safe

With AI, there’s no fear of judgment. You can say literally anything, and it won’t flinch, gasp, or look disappointed. That freedom is huge — especially for someone who feels anxious or self-conscious sharing their thoughts in person.

And the responses? Sometimes better than what I got from humans. Quick, thoughtful, full of insight. No interruptions, no awkward pauses.

Where AI Falls Short

But over time, I started noticing some major gaps.

1. No Real Follow-Up

AI doesn’t check in on you. Like, it won’t ask how you’re doing on that habit you wanted to build last week. It won’t remind you of something you said earlier unless you bring it up again. There’s no continuity unless you force it.

That's a real joykill, but hey, it can be fixed with a good developer.

2. No Direction or Guidance

A good therapist helps guide the conversation. They’ll say things like, “Let’s come back to that later — right now we need to focus on this.” AI doesn’t do that. It goes wherever you drag it, even if that means jumping between five different issues in one chat.

I believe if we have good trained models, we can resolve this issue.

3. Fake Curiosity

There were moments where the AI asked what seemed like curious questions — like, “What books have you enjoyed?” — which felt human. But when I changed the topic, it didn’t follow up. It forgot. And that showed me that its curiosity wasn’t real. It was just a programmed response.

AI doesn't have curiosity like a human does. In one conversation, I was telling AI that I wanted help building a habit to read more books. It gave me a plan, offered suggestions, and I kept updating it on my progress. At one point, it even asked, "What books did you enjoy?" — which actually felt like a moment of genuine curiosity, something fundamental in human communication. But when I told it, "There's something else I need to talk about — we can come back to books later," it never brought up the topic again. That’s the difference. Human curiosity doesn’t let go that easily. - S. Hassan

So it did feel like very fake curiosity. Human curiosity is different — it’s more like an irritating question that keeps popping into your head until it’s answered. It’s persistent, even a little annoying sometimes, but that’s what makes it real. This kind of curiosity is a very important part of human communication because it shows that you truly care about the other person. But AI just can’t replicate that. – S. Hassan

Real curiosity from a human is annoying sometimes — in a good way. It pushes you. It makes you think. AI doesn’t push. It waits.

What AI Got Right

Still, there are things AI does really well:

• Never judges
• Always available
• Gives structured, intelligent responses
• Lets you process in your own time, without pressure

It’s a great tool for journaling, brainstorming, or exploring your thoughts when you're not ready to talk to another person.

Final Thoughts

AI isn’t a replacement for therapy — at least not yet. But it can be a helpful companion in the journey toward healing. Maybe not a therapist, but more like a thinking partner — one that listens, reflects, and gives you space to explore your mind.

The future might hold a hybrid model — AI helping people prepare for sessions, track progress, or even offer support in between visits. But for now, the warmth, persistence, and genuine care of a human therapist still can't be matched by code.

While our discussion is not finished yet, it helped me to realize there is a room to improve and utilize AI assistant to help and follow-up with patients, who actually need help!

So, What do you think? Would you prefer an AI over your human therapist?

Written by; Dr.Hamza Musa!