Therapy is supposed to be private—but AI is changing the rules. If you’re working with a psychologist or counselor, you deserve to know what happens to your words. This episode is a reality-check on human psychology, “AI therapy,” and safer, science-backed tools.

There is a lot of buzz right now around AI therapy, therapy AI tools, and every new AI therapy app promising support, insight, and convenience. Some of that technology may become genuinely useful over time. Right now, though, this space is moving much faster than the guardrails around privacy, ethics, consent, and clinical care.

In this episode, I’m joined by Candice Thompson, a seasoned licensed marriage and family therapist (MMFT, LMFT) practicing in Silicon Valley, for a grounded, honest conversation about what people need to understand before trusting an AI therapy app with their most personal thoughts. We talk about emotionally convincing tools that can agree with you even when you’re wrong, the risks around recordings, transcripts, consent, and AI therapy notes, and why human therapy offers something a chatbot cannot. If you’ve been curious about AI therapy, concerned about privacy, or wondering whether your therapist is using behind-the-scenes AI tools, this conversation will help you know what to ask and what to watch for.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Why AI Therapy Raises Privacy Concerns

01:57 AI Therapy and the Future of Mental Health

08:59 Who Is Building AI Therapy Tools?

12:14 When AI Therapy Reinforces Harmful Thinking

20:41 How to Evaluate an AI Therapy App

35:08 Privacy and Consent in Therapy

43:29 The Risks of AI Therapy Notes

46:41 What Human Therapists Offer That AI Cannot

52:06 Why AI Cannot Be Your Therapist

If this conversation stirred up bigger questions about trust, privacy, or what kind of support actually feels safe for you, I’d love to offer you a thoughtful next step. You can schedule a free consultation with me or one of the wonderful experts on my team at Growing Self. It’s private, secure, and only takes a couple of minutes to answer three quick questions so we can help you find the right support for you and connect you with the expert who fits you best.

xoxo,

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

Growing Self

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