Speaking of Psychology Can AI help solve the mental health crisis? With Vaile Wright, PhD
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Jul 16, 2025 Vaile Wright, PhD, a licensed psychologist and senior director of the Office of Healthcare Innovation at APA, discusses the transformative power of AI in mental health care. She explores the rise of chatbots, emphasizing their role in expanding accessibility while addressing ethical concerns. Wright dives into the balance of AI support versus human empathy in therapy, the distinctions between digital therapeutics and wellness apps, and the evolving landscape of mental health care as AI tools become integrated into treatment models.
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Slow Uptake of AI in Therapy
- AI tools in mental health are mostly used to assist providers with administrative tasks like note-taking and patient education.
- Despite many products, less than 5% of practitioners use generative AI daily due to slow adoption and cautious approach.
Choosing Safe Digital Therapeutics
- Choose digital therapeutics that are evidence-based, FDA-cleared, and prescribed after provider evaluation.
- Avoid wellness apps with no regulation, as they may lack proven effectiveness and data privacy safeguards.
AI's Role in Mental Health Shortage
- AI won't create more mental health providers but can make existing ones more efficient and reduce burnout.
- It may improve reimbursement processes and enable preventive care to reduce crisis-driven treatment demand.