An NPR All Things Considered segment reported on a growing trend: therapists are beginning to ask their clients about AI chatbot use as part of routine intake and ongoing session conversations. As usage of tools like ChatGPT and other conversational AI products for emotional processing becomes more common, clinicians are starting to treat it as clinically relevant information.
Some therapists described using these conversations as material — asking clients what drew them to an AI tool, what they discussed, and what the experience was like. Others expressed concern about clients processing difficult material without clinical guidance.
The piece notes that there are no standardized clinical guidelines yet for how to address AI use in therapy.
This shift in clinical practice reflects something important: AI-assisted emotional support is already happening, whether or not therapists are involved. The question for clinicians is whether to engage with it — and how.
Asking about AI use is a starting point, but the more interesting opportunity is for therapists to be part of how their clients use these tools. When the AI is connected to the therapeutic work — reinforcing skills, reflecting on session themes, supporting practice between appointments — it functions as an extension of care rather than a parallel track.
Clinicians who address this proactively are better positioned to shape how their clients engage with AI in ways that are safe and therapeutically useful.