Can AI Help with Healing?
Aleisha Parker, M.Ed.
As a therapist, I’m all about connection. Whether it’s through glitter jars, storytelling, or quiet moments of trust. Lately, I’ve been both curious and cautious about AI stepping into the world of mental health. Tools like chatbots and mood-tracking apps can offer helpful support, especially in moments when a therapist isn’t available. They can suggest coping strategies, help with scheduling, or even guide a breathing exercise. In that way, AI is like a flashlight in the dark—not the sun, but still useful.
But therapy is more than smart responses or perfectly timed advice. True healing comes from human connection. It comes from being seen, heard, and felt by another person. Therapists can read body language, sense the unspoken, and hold space for a child’s tears or a parent’s worries with compassion. AI can support mental health, but it can’t replace the attunement, warmth, and empathy that happen in real-life therapy.