[Opinion Piece] Can AI Therapy Fill the Gap in Mental Health Care? A Critical Look

The author, Molly, tried AI therapy after having a panic attack and was initially skeptical about its effectiveness. Despite her reservations, the AI therapist guided her through breathing exercises that helped ease her panic attack. However, Molly felt uneasy about the AI's attempts to simulate human-like interactions, such as saying "let's do this together," which made her feel like she was not having a genuine therapeutic experience. While she acknowledges that AI therapy can be a convenient and accessible option for mental health support, she has concerns about its limitations, particularly in handling more complex issues and nuances that human therapists can provide.

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