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Posted April 27, 2026 Reviewed by Jessica Schrader
You just watched the episode of South Park when the character Randy Marsh uses ChatGPT for encouragement and advice, in front of his wife Sharon. Though you’re entertained by the comedy, you might also think about how often you use a chatbot to have a surrogate human conversation.
Because large language models offer such human-like responses, some have wondered whether they should save themselves money and time, turning to AI for their comfort and guidance instead of a trained therapist. In an era where some cannot access mental health care, it is understandable that the question is emerging.
The American Psychological Association’s health advisory on this topic in November of 2025 suggests various reasons people turn to chatbots, but it also outlines in detail why this is potentially dangerous, citing a variety of reasons, for example, cases of AI psychosis. (1)
Here are five reasons you might wonder if turning to a chatbot should replace your therapist, alongside important considerations.
One more item to consider: If you’re having difficulty with your current therapist, this might be an opportunity to process the difficulty in the therapy. Very often, these conversations lead to new learning, breakthroughs and chances to practice communicating.
If you want to use AI as an adjunct between sessions, still consider discussing this with your therapist, so you can take advantage of the benefits and while minimizing the risks.
To find a therapist, please visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.
References
EXPERT ADVISORY PANEL of the APA (2025). Use of generative AI chatbots and wellness applications for mental health: An APA health advisory. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/artificial-intelligence-machine-learning/hea…
Hua, Y., Siddals, S., Ma, Z., et al. (2025). Charting the evolution of artificial intelligence mental health chatbots from rule‐based systems to large language models: a systematic review. World Psychiatry 24(3), 383-394. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40948070/
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Pamela Garcy, Ph.D., is a psychologist and author in Dallas, Texas.
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Having friends protects you in multiple ways, from slowing cellular aging to deterring bullies to bolstering your self-esteem.
Self Tests are all about you. Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you a narcissist? Does perfectionism hold you back? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today.