Your Therapist Has a Server Problem: When Patients Bring AI to Therapy

Reflect w/ Ed Fassio — where AI tells the stories that matter. The APA just dropped a survey that should stop everyone in their tracks. 77% of licensed psychologists say their patients have brought up using AI for emotional support. 35% report patients are actively using chatbots as a substitute for therapy. And 97%, nearly all of them, say these chatbots may "inadvertently reinforce negative behaviors or delusional beliefs." This isn't a fringe story anymore. People are bringing their AI companions to therapy. And their therapists are alarmed. Not because AI is evil, but because it's good enough to feel helpful while potentially making things worse. We dig into the APA's 2026 Chatbots and Mental Health Survey, the clinical concerns about emotional echo chambers, and what happens when the line between tool and companion disappears. Your Move: If you're using AI for emotional support, treat it like a journal, not a therapist. It reflects back what you give it. That's a feature, not a diagnosis. — Reflect w/ Ed Fassio | reflectpodcast.com