AI in mental health care is a hot topic for therapists right now, sparking both interest and concern. On the one hand, AI presents incredible opportunities to make mental health support more accessible and efficient. On the other, many of us wonder if the human connection at the core of therapy could be lost in the process. As we navigate this new era of mental health, it's important to educate ourselves about both the benefits and the limitations that AI brings to the field.
There are already promising examples of AI being used effectively in mental health care. A 2020 study published in JMIR Mental Health found that AI-driven chatbots, such as Woebot, can provide effective, scalable support for anxiety and depression. Participants reported feeling supported and understood by the chatbot, with a significant (22%) reduction in symptoms over two weeks of use. This kind of AI-based intervention offers accessibility to those who may not seek therapy due to stigma, cost, or geographic limitations, and it can act as a bridge to further treatment for those who need it.
However, not all research paints a positive picture. A 2021 study in Frontiers in Psychology highlights some of the concerns with AI in mental health, particularly regarding the lack of empathy and the potential for misdiagnosis. The study noted that while AI could process large amounts of data, its inability to understand context or emotions in the way a human therapist can was a significant drawback. The study primarily focused on qualitative concerns and interactions. The researchers concluded that while AI could serve as a supplement to traditional therapy, it should not replace human therapists.
In addition, a review in The Lancet Digital Health pointed out that although AI is highly effective at identifying patterns in data, such as predicting mental health crises based on past behaviors, it struggles with the nuanced decision-making and emotional complexity of human interactions. This limitation raises concerns about over-reliance on AI in critical situations where empathy and deep understanding are necessary.
This is why I believe the therapists who focus on holistic, integrative approaches—
those who see the full person, body and mind—will be the ones to thrive in the coming years.
AI may help a therapist in processing data and even providing early intervention,
but healing requires more than an algorithm.
It requires addressing the full spectrum of a person’s experience—mental, emotional, and physical.
A holistic mental health practice looks at the individual as a whole, acknowledging that the mind and body are deeply interconnected. This may be why incorporating yoga into therapy has been shown to be highly beneficial for both therapists and clients.
Research on Clinical Yoga Institutes techniques was published in International Journal of Yoga Therapy (2022) and found that clinicians who incorporate yoga into their practice reported not only improved outcomes for their clients but also better self-care and reduced compassion fatigue for themselves.
This study focused on clinicians’ perceptions of incorporating yoga into mental health practice. It found that 85% of clinicians reported improved outcomes for their clients when using yoga as a complementary therapy. Additionally, 80% of clinicians noted that incorporating yoga into their practice enhanced their own self-care and helped reduce compassion fatigue. This study highlights the dual benefit of yoga for both therapists and clients, supporting the idea that body-based practices can be a valuable addition to mental health care.
Yoga's ability to help regulate the nervous system and reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD is well-documented. It encourages mindfulness, grounding, and self-awareness—all of which are critical components of mental health care.
In addition to yoga, ayurveda and chakras which Clinical Yoga Institute teaches, other holistic medical practices, aka CAIM (complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine) therapies that may foster deeper healing opportunities for your clients include nutrition, meditation, and other body-based therapies like somatic experiencing or acupuncture.
This approach allows therapists to address trauma or mental health challenges not just at the cognitive level, but through the body, where many emotions and traumas are stored. By offering clients multiple ways to connect with their healing process, holistic practitioners can offer a more profound and complete path to recovery.
Ultimately, while AI will undoubtedly have a place in mental health care and may solve certain accessibility or data-driven challenges, it will never replace the need for therapists who are able to connect with clients on a deep, human level. As mental health professionals, those of us who integrate holistic, body-based approaches into our practices will continue to offer what AI cannot—a truly comprehensive approach to healing that sees and honors the whole person.
