Artificial intelligence is fast becoming an integral part of everyday life, revolutionising vast sectors of society, including retail, travel, education, finance, entertainment and healthcare.
It’s interwoven with so many aspects of modern living, powering smart home devices, allowing us to control lights, thermostats, and security systems remotely and personalising recommendations for our next Amazon purchase or box set viewing.
AI chatbot ‘therapists’ and digital health tools are transforming how individuals seek mental health support, something I wrote about in 2023 when AI began penetrating popular culture.
Since then, somewhat inevitably, people have started questioning whether traditional talking therapies, including psychodynamic therapy which I practice, will continue to hold relevance in the age of AI.
This isn’t about job security for me but I genuinely believe that talking therapy is more important than ever.
Whilst technology has meant humans are more connected than at any time in history, society is reporting elevated levels of loneliness and a growing mental health crisis.
The lack of quality emotional human connection is what’s causing many people to feel increasingly isolated.
Periods of human interaction are imperative for our emotional development and in a therapeutic setting, studies over the years consistently suggest that the quality of human connection between therapist and client is what’s fundamental to driving meaningful long term change.
Across thousands of hours sitting in front of clients, I’ve witnessed profound, psychological change and personal growth. These experiences alone convince me of the continued effectiveness of talking therapy.
It has the power to change lives and has stood the test of time since the 1800s, when Sigmund Freud, the godfather of psychodynamic therapy, first began practicing.
Debates about the future of talking therapy emerged following the development of anti-depressant medication in the mid-1950s.
Yet these medical treatments and talking therapies now complement each other. And as we progress further through the AI age, I believe both will continue to coexist alongside new artificial technologies.
Further reading
AI Therapy & Chatbots – We are born to connect
Anxious attachment – we need to talk about your smartphone
Talking therapy and its benefits
Get in touch
If you are interested in starting counselling, you can email me on andywestoncounselling@gmail.com
More information about me can be found, here.