AI For Mental Health: Thoughts from Anxiety Counselling Calgary Therapists
AI’s View of How People View AI: Anxiety Counselling Calgary Therapists Weigh In
According to ChatGPT itself (why not get AI involved in a discussion about AI?), here is a summary of how AI is being received and viewed by people to date with some comments from our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists:
“People's views on AI are diverse and shaped by a range of factors, including personal experiences, cultural context, and the evolving state of technology. Here are some common perspectives:
Optimism and Enthusiasm: Many view AI as a transformative force that can solve complex global problems, drive innovation, and improve quality of life. AI's potential for advancements in fields like healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability is widely appreciated.
Concerns about Job Displacement: A significant portion of the population is worried about AI replacing human workers in various industries, potentially leading to job losses and economic inequality. This concern is especially pronounced in sectors like manufacturing, transportation, and customer service. Our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists have had some people changing their career trajectories and decision-making because of the real or anticipated effect AI may have on their industry.
Fear of Loss of Control: Some people are apprehensive about the power and autonomy that AI systems may gain, particularly as they become more sophisticated. There's anxiety about AI making decisions without human oversight, potentially leading to unintended consequences or misuse. Our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists anticipate that anxiety about AI may be a growing area of mental health in the coming years, though has not been very pronounced to date.
Ethical and Privacy Issues: Many are concerned about how AI systems are designed, particularly when it comes to data privacy, surveillance, bias, and fairness. There's a growing debate on how to ensure AI respects human rights and is developed ethically. This is certainly something our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists hear and are very conscientious of in their own integration of AI.
Curiosity and Fascination: For some, AI sparks curiosity and excitement about the future. People are fascinated by the possibilities of AI, whether it's for creating art, enhancing personal assistants, or exploring new frontiers of scientific research. Our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists are hearing this too, with people wondering how AI can be incorporated into many aspects of their lives, including mental health.
Skepticism: Some individuals are skeptical about AI's capabilities, viewing it as overhyped or as a tool that is not as transformative as portrayed by the media and tech companies. They may also question its long-term effectiveness or reliability in solving real-world problems. Our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists wonder if this might be the case, especially for AI in healthcare. We shall see!
Overall, AI is seen as a double-edged sword: a powerful tool with the potential for both great benefits and serious risks. Public opinion continues to evolve as AI technology advances and its societal implications become clearer.”
Views of Anxiety Counselling Calgary Therapists
We are sitting in the curious category about the potential for AI to support mental health. From a professional perspective, we have considered how AI can help with:
Content creation (for newsletters, blogs, social media, etc.)
Editing professional correspondence (like emails)
Creating website content
Supporting note production (while there are quite a few platforms that are offering AI note technology, concerns around privacy, confidentiality, and data protection make this area particularly sticky and controversial and is not something we have executed to date, but it is a point of curiosity and has come up in anxiety counselling Calgary therapist consultations)
While AI has not revolutionized our work yet, we are eager to see what it can offer. Therapists are passionate about health improvement and benefit from being open to tools that can be added to people’s wellness kits.
Perhaps we are naive, but our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists are hopeful and not in despair that AI will replace the human connection that makes therapy so special. We are approaching AI as a complementary tool, much like self-help resources, groups, or other practitioners, rather than something to compete with.
As our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists are embracing a mindset similar to, “We don’t need to beat them, so let’s join them,” here are some ways that you may benefit from incorporating AI into your life to improve your mental health.
AI To Make Life Easier: Tips from Anxiety Counselling Calgary Therapists
Life has a lot of demands. Demands are stressful. Stress has a detrimental impact on our physical and mental health and can contribute to our experience with depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, and more. It is worth considering using AI to support you with any of the following:
1. Smart assistants to help with tasks and time
Voice Commands: AI-powered assistants (like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant) can help you manage your calendar, set reminders, send messages, and answer questions, all via voice.
Task Management: AI can assist in managing to-do lists, helping you prioritize tasks, and suggesting schedules based on your habits and preferences. Our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists have found that this can help people be more efficient and effective with their time, which lowers stress and frustration.
2. Home automation to increase efficiency, remove tasks from our mind, and lower financial costs and associated stress
Smart Homes: AI can control smart devices such as thermostats, lights, security systems, and appliances to make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient. Our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists have observed that this can help with stress and anxiety because if you suddenly remember that you forgot to turn on the dishwasher or turn off a light, this can be done remotely and is one less thing on your mind throughout the day.
Voice-Controlled Devices: Use voice commands to control everything from music and lighting to adjusting room temperature or checking the weather. This can improve overall quality of life and help people feel more comfortable in their space, say our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists.
3. Personalized recommendations to reduce the stress around decisions and purchases
Shopping: AI can analyze your preferences and suggest products you might like, saving you time and effort when browsing online.
Entertainment: Services like Netflix or Spotify use AI to recommend shows, movies, and music based on your past preferences, making it easier to find new content. These are great mindfulness tools and it can be nice to have more time to enjoy them and spend less time seeking them out, according to our anxiety counselling Calgary team.
4. Automating Routine Tasks
Email Filtering: AI can help you organize and prioritize emails, filtering out spam or categorizing messages to make your inbox easier to manage. This can be used in addition to or separately from a professional organizer if this, or other areas of organization, cause stress and are difficult to manage. This can be particularly true for those with anxiety and/or neurodivergence, as our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists have observed.
Scheduling: AI-powered calendar apps can automatically schedule meetings, find the best times for events, and send reminders for upcoming appointments.
5. Physical Health & Fitness for tracking, accountability, and goals
Tracking & Coaching: AI-powered apps can track your exercise, monitor your health data, and offer personalized fitness routines and/or meal plans.
Virtual Health Assistants: AI can help manage medications, remind you of doctor appointments, or even offer symptom checkers for minor health concerns.
6. Financial Management
Expense Tracking: AI tools can analyze your spending habits and offer insights on how to save money or stay within a budget. This can be particularly helpful for those with addiction issues, anxiety, and/or neurodivergence where challenges with finances can be more pronounced.
Investment Advice: AI-powered tools can recommend investment options and help you monitor your financial portfolio with minimal input.
7. Travel Assistance
Navigation: AI can help with real-time traffic updates, routing, and even parking, ensuring you save time when getting from place to place. Our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists have noticed that this reduces stress and can help with time management, which can be particularly important for those with ADHD and/or anxiety.
Trip Planning: AI tools can automatically suggest the best travel destinations, routes, and activities based on your preferences. This can save on time and reduce the risk of too many options, which can create overwhelm for those living with anxiety, according to anxiety counsellors.
8. Content Creation
Writing Assistance: AI can help with writing, whether it’s drafting emails, creating lists, or checking for grammar and spelling errors. This can be an important time saver and help those with anxiety and perfectionism feel more comfortable and confident in what they are creating.
9. Transportation & Driving
Navigation & Traffic Alerts: AI in GPS systems can provide real-time traffic updates, suggest alternate routes, and help avoid delays. Those with anxiety can find it soothing to have information and knowledge about new destinations ahead of time, which can be supported using AI technology.
AI Mental Health Support: Tips From Anxiety Counselling Calgary Therapists
Our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists have some suggestions for how AI can be used specifically to support your mental health journey.
1. Chatbots and Virtual Therapists
AI-powered chatbots (like Woebot, Replika, and Wysa) provide conversational support and guidance. These tools use natural language processing (NLP) to understand and respond to users’ emotions, helping them manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. They provide a non-judgmental space to talk about feelings, offer coping strategies, and track emotional progress. Our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists have noticed that these tools seem to function best for people when used as a complement, not replacement, for peer support, friends and family support, as well as professional support. People value the advice from these tools but may miss the human care and personal element that in person relationships offer.
2. Mental Health Monitoring and Diagnostics
AI can assist in the early detection of mental health conditions by analyzing patterns in a person’s speech, behaviour, and interactions on digital platforms. Machine learning models can identify signs of depression, anxiety, or mood disorders by recognizing linguistic cues in texts, social media posts, or even through vocal tone analysis in conversations. This can help clinicians make quicker, more accurate diagnoses.
3. Personalized Treatment Plans
AI can analyze large amounts of data from various sources, including clinical records, therapy sessions, and patient histories, to help create personalized treatment plans. It can predict which treatments (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication, or lifestyle changes) are most likely to benefit an individual, based on similar cases and data. Our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists can see this being a growing area of mental health for people and practitioners alike, though right now seems to be in early days with a lot of refinement needed.
4. Predicting Mental Health Crises
AI can be used to monitor changes in behaviour and deviations from the normal patterns that may signal an impending mental health crisis, such as suicidal ideation or severe anxiety. Predictive models can analyze patterns over time and send alerts to caregivers or mental health professionals to intervene before the crisis escalates. This can be helpful information for the individual as well as for anxiety counsellors and therapists you are working with.
5. Mental Health Chat and Support Communities
AI can power online communities or support networks where users interact, share experiences, and offer advice. These AI-driven platforms can moderate conversations, detect harmful content, and provide useful resources based on the users' concerns, all while maintaining a safe and supportive environment. This can be a great starting point for those who have not explored community groups or supports before, as well as for people who are already into their mental health journey and would like some complementary support. Our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists encourage people to have as many diverse tools as possible to support themselves and this can be a helpful addition.
6. Cognitive Enhancements and Neurofeedback
AI can also be used in conjunction with neurofeedback techniques, where users' brain activity is monitored and adjusted in real-time using AI algorithms. This can be applied in therapeutic settings to treat conditions like ADHD, PTSD, and other anxiety disorders.
7. Virtual Reality and AI Integration for Exposure Therapy
AI can be integrated with virtual reality (VR) to provide controlled environments for exposure therapy. For example, individuals with phobias or PTSD could gradually be exposed to distressing stimuli in a virtual world, with AI algorithms adjusting the exposure intensity based on the person’s responses. Our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists see this being helpful as it can be customized to the individual’s experience and feelings in a more nuanced way.
What our Anxiety Counselling Calgary Therapists Are Seeing
On average, our therapists are seeing people ask questions about relationships and mental health symptoms to AI for clarity and answers in the absence, or in conjunction with, a human professional. This can be a helpful support outside of, and perhaps instead of, therapy for those in mild circumstances.
For example, our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists have had people talk to AI about:
“Tell me more about attachment theory in relationships.”
“I am not liking dating. How come this might be?”
“I am having low motivation, mood, and lack of interest in life. What is going on?”
“Am I depressed?”
“How can I get through a craving?”
“How can I deal with a panic attack?”
Summary About AI & Mental Health from Anxiety Counselling Calgary Therapists
Our anxiety counselling Calgary therapists have not yet seen AI be a suitable replacement for human intervention, but can see value as a supportive tool in helping people establish self-care activities for themselves, providing something to talk to (almost like verbal journaling), and as somewhere to get feedback from between sessions.
If you are still looking for the human touch when it comes to your mental health, Sana Psychological is a practice located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and offers in person and virtual support for you and your family. We also have a host of free resources for you to support addiction and mental health recovery. Connect with us today to explore how we can help.
