Professionals weigh benefits and limitations
Professionals weigh benefits and limitations
https://www.kkco11news.com/2026/04/04/ai-therapy-professionals-weigh-benefits-limitations/
Publish Date: 2026-04-04 00:33:00
Source Domain: www.kkco11news.com
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) -Artificial intelligence has made its way into therapy as the technology continues to grow in different sectors.
Professionals in the mental health field have seen AI tools getting integrated to help streamline administrative parts of work like summarizing notes.
“The question is not if AI works or not because clearly it works and it can be helpful. The actual question is like where it’s helpful and where it’s not,” said Dr. Afarin Rajaei, a licensed marriage and family therapist.
AI use extends beyond providers
AI has not just been used by providers. People have been turning to their computers and AI for mental health support.
“In the clinical work, we have some people who go to therapy at the same time when they’re at home, they use ChatGPT or AI as a companionship when they are at home,” Rajaei said. “I think when we use AI as a tool and as a support to therapy, that could be okay with considering all these different consideration around ethical things and stuff like that, but it should not be a replacement of therapy.”
Colorado enacts new regulations
Additional regulations are being put in place as AI is getting used more. This includes multiple bills in Colorado that put boundaries on how mental health professionals can use AI in psychotherapy and regulate the use of AI by insurance companies.
“Without legislations and without policies, without all these people in the higher offices thinking about these things, it could be chaos,” Rajaei said. “I think that we should actually be quicker in having those policies.”
Some mental health experts say AI can be useful in some cases, but are also cautious about it and emphasize keeping the human connection in the process.
“I think us as human beings, we are social creatures and we are wired for that connection. And that connection that a human can provide to another human, that presence is just not valid and it’s not possible with AI at this point,” Rajaei said.
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