AI, therapy and the people in your life
Can I use an AI app instead of seeing a therapist?
By Siri Bandagiriye · For everyday stress, loneliness and hard days, an app can be real support. For depression that won't lift, trauma, thoughts of self-harm, or anything that's getting worse, please see a professional. An app can help you take that step.
For everyday stress, loneliness and hard days, an app can be a genuine support. For depression that won't lift, trauma, thoughts of self-harm, or anything that is getting worse, please see a professional.
A simple test: if what you're carrying is affecting your sleep, work, school or relationships for more than a couple of weeks, talk to a doctor or counsellor.
An app can help you get there. It can even help you rehearse what to say.
What the research says
The APA's first recommendation is not to rely on AI chatbots or wellness apps to deliver psychotherapy or psychological treatment.1
In Canada in 2022, 1 in 3 people with a mood, anxiety or substance use disorder reported unmet or partially met needs for mental health care, with counselling the most unmet.2
In a 2025 test of therapy-style responses, human therapists answered appropriately 93% of the time; several leading AI models scored under 80%.3
Written by Siri Bandagiriye
I've been a Buddhist monk and mindfulness teacher for 30 years, and for six years a chaplain with Correctional Service Canada, sitting with people in crisis. I built Saati in Halifax as a companion for the ordinary hard days. If you'd like to see what it's like, it's free to try.
References
- American Psychological Association, Health Advisory on generative AI chatbots and wellness apps (2025)
- Statistics Canada, Mental disorders and access to mental health care (2023)
- Moore et al., Expressing stigma and inappropriate responses prevents LLMs from safely replacing mental health providers (FAccT) (2025)