AI vs Counsellors: Who Wins the Mental Health Battle?
Will Robots Replace Your Therapist? Let’s ChatGPT About That
“Hello. How are you feeling today?”
“Like a malfunctioning toaster.”
“I’m here to help. Would you like a motivational quote?”
“…Not really.”
And there we have it. Welcome to the shiny new world of AI-driven mental health support, where chatbots can cheer you on, apps ask you how your day was, and virtual therapists are one click away from diving into your childhood. It’s 2025, and artificial intelligence (AI) hasn't taken over the world just yet—but they’re definitely eyeing our therapy chairs.
So, should we, as human counsellors, start panicking? Will AI soon be administering mindfulness exercises and trauma-informed care with the same sensitivity as your favourite therapist?
Let’s chat about that question—with curiosity, compassion, and a good sense of humour. Because while artificial intelligence might be brilliant at chess and terrifying at karaoke, mental health, I believe, is a slightly different beast.
The Rise of AI in Mental Health Support
To be fair, technology has done wonders for mental health accessibility. Mental health apps can track moods, offer CBT-based tools, remind you to drink water (thanks, but it's coffee o’clock), and even send alerts when things look wobbly. Chatbots like Woebot and Wysa have made impressive strides in offering basic emotional check-ins.
And for many, especially those who find traditional therapy difficult to access—due to cost, location, stigma, or schedule—these tools are a lifeline. A digital door is still a door, right?
At Bent Couch, we celebrate anything that helps people feel seen, heard, and supported. But we also know that there's a difference between talking to someone and connecting with them. This distinction could potentially account for the irreplaceability of human counsellors.
Can AI Feel Human Connection?
Depending on how much data it digests for breakfast, AI can mimic language, identify patterns in your speech, and even produce emotionally intelligent responses. But empathy isn’t just about knowing the right thing to say. It's about being with someone in their pain, confusion, or joy—with no agenda apart from presence.
AI doesn’t flinch when you cry, but not because it’s brave—it’s just not programmed to care. It doesn’t sit in silence with you during a moment of reflection. It doesn’t lean in slightly when it senses you’re about to share something big. It doesn’t say, “That sounds bloody hard,” and mean it.
Human counsellors are trained to hold space in a way that’s gentle, curious, and deeply attuned to emotional nuance. Sometimes, it’s not about fixing the problem—it’s about not being alone with it.
The Case for AI as a Supportive Tool
Now, don’t get us wrong—AI has a place in the therapeutic ecosystem. A really useful one, too.
It can help with admin tasks (we’re looking at you, overdue invoices and last-minute cancellations). It can offer resources, log journals, flag high-risk indicators, and even assist therapists in noticing client patterns over time.
In fact, we use digital tools at Bent Couch every day. Our online counselling sessions rely on technology. We share self-help workbooks, send check-in messages, and yes, even write the occasional blog post with AI’s help.
But the key difference? These tools are assistive, not replacements. They help counsellors focus more on what really matters: the therapeutic relationship.
Why Connection Can’t Be Coded
Connection is messy. It’s full of facial twitches, pauses, sighs, awkward laughter, and spontaneous “Wait—can I say this out loud?” moments. It’s unpredictable. It’s raw. It’s human.
For LGBTQIA+ individuals in particular—many of whom have faced marginalisation, shame, rejection, or identity trauma—a safe, affirming human connection is absolutely vital.
Try asking ChatGPT what it was like to come out as a gay father after 25 years of marriage. Or how it feels to navigate masculinity as a trans man in regional Australia. AI can quote articles, but it can’t look you in the eye and say, “Me too.”
As counsellors, our commitment is to provide real, inclusive, and human-centred support. We’re not here to outwit algorithms—we’re here to witness lives. There’s a difference.
A Counselling Session with AI: A Preview
Let’s imagine, for fun, what a future AI-led therapy session might look like:
Client: I'm really struggling with loneliness.
AI: Loneliness is a common issue. Would you like a joke to lighten the mood?
Client: Um…
AI: Knock knock.
Client: Who’s there?
AI: Error. System overload.
Bless it. It's trying.
The Future of Counselling: Human-Driven, Tech-Supported
In the grand debate of “AI vs. Counsellors”, maybe it’s not about who wins. Maybe it’s about learning to work together—just like peanut butter and jam, or drag shows and Sunday brunch.
AI isn’t coming for your counsellor’s job. It’s here to support the background bits so your counsellor can do more of what they do best—being with you in all your glorious, complicated humanness.
So, will robots replace your therapist? Not likely. But they might help them schedule appointments, send follow-up resources, and remember your dog’s name. And honestly, that’s not too shabby.
Counselling is more than a conversation. It’s a relationship built on trust, empathy, and authentic connection. And while technology can support our work, it can’t replicate the warmth of a human sitting across from you saying, “I see you. You matter. You’re not alone.”
At Bent Couch, we’re proud to blend innovation with intuition, online flexibility with real-world compassion, and digital tools with deeply human hearts.
So no, your next therapist probably won’t be a robot. But they might work alongside one—and still offer you the warmest, most human space you’ve ever known.
Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ve got a counselling session with a real person—no charging cables required.
If you're looking to talk to a real person rather than AI then reach out directly to me at Bent Couch Counselling. Book your free Discovery Call today with AI we will talk soon, human to human.
Shaun
