can you use ai as therapy? a heartfelt exploration.

Today, we’re having a conversation that’s becoming more and more relevant in the world we live in. It’s one I’ve been holding close to my heart for a while. We’re talking about AI and emotional support. And more specifically… can you use AI as therapy?

Now, this isn’t a debate. It’s not a warning or an endorsement. It’s a gentle, soul-led exploration. Because the truth is, the way we seek support is changing and I think that’s worth talking about with curiosity, openness, nuance, and care.

We are living in a time where access to therapy can feel out of reach for so many people. Financially, emotionally, geographically. The waitlists are long. The cost can be high. And not everyone is ready to open up to another human being just yet. So when something like AI comes along, something that is accessible, non-judgmental, and always available, it makes sense that people are turning toward it. I get it. Truly.

There’s comfort in having something that’s there at 2am when sleep won’t come. There’s ease in typing out what’s on your heart without having to find the right words or explain your history. There’s safety in expressing yourself without the fear of being judged. For some, it can feel like a lifeline, a quiet, constant space to practise using their voice, to be witnessed, even if just digitally.

I’ve seen it with clients, I’ve seen it with friends, and I’ve felt it myself. That moment where you write something out and receive back a reflection, a prompt, a reminder… and something in you softens. It might not change everything. But in that moment, it helps. And sometimes, that’s enough.

This is the space where AI has begun to weave itself into our emotional landscapes. Not as a therapist, but as a tool. A companion of some kind. A digital witness that can help you come home to yourself in small and gentle ways.

There are real gifts it offers. Reflective journaling prompts that ask questions you hadn’t thought to ask yourself. Soothing words when your nervous system is on edge and everything feels too much. Simple reframes that remind you the story in your head might not be the full truth.

AI can guide you toward grounding exercises, mindfulness cues, or breathwork reminders. It can mirror back the things you’re struggling to articulate and help you make a little more sense of your emotions. For some, it becomes a part of their daily rhythm. A kind of check-in, a supportive voice, a quiet place to land.

And that matters. It really does.

But. And this is an important but, it has limits. And those limits really start to show when we’re talking about deeper healing, trauma, and emotional safety.

AI can offer compassionate language, but it cannot offer true empathy. It can suggest a breathwork practice, but it cannot attune to your breath in real-time. It can repeat supportive phrases, but it cannot feel your trembling voice, or your tears, or your silence.

It doesn’t know how your body holds trauma. It doesn’t understand the way your voice changes when you're dissociating. It can’t sense when you need to pause, or when something is too much or when your nervous system is overwhelmed and shutting down. It cannot sit beside you and hold space when your grief becomes too big for words.

And this is where the sacred and very real power of human therapy lives.

As a holistic counsellor, I have witnessed what happens when someone is finally met, fully, gently, without needing to be fixed. There is something so incredibly healing about being in the presence of another human who doesn’t turn away from your pain. Who hears not just your words but the spaces between them. Who feels with you, who holds silence with you, who offers presence not just through conversation, but through energy.

This is what real therapy offers. Not just insights or advice. But a relationship. A safe container that allows you to unfold slowly. A space where your nervous system begins to feel safe enough to explore the parts of you that have been hidden or hurt or held tightly for far too long.

And when that space is created with skill, care, and attunement, something incredible begins to happen. You start to soften. You begin to rebuild trust, with yourself, with others, with life.

That’s not something AI can replicate.

Human therapy allows for body-based healing. In my work, I bring together the mind, the body, and the soul because true healing is never within just one part of us. I use somatic approaches to help you connect with what’s happening beneath the surface. I support you in regulating your nervous system, in naming what your body remembers even when your mind can’t find the words.

This kind of depth, this kind of intuitive, whole-body healing, AI isn’t designed for that. It can suggest, it can reflect, but it cannot walk beside you through the storm.

That said, I want to be clear. There is no shame in using AI as a supportive tool. If you’ve been reaching for it, it doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It doesn’t mean you’re avoiding healing. It doesn’t mean you’re weak or disconnected or bypassing.

It simply means you’re doing the best you can. You’re seeking something that helps you feel seen. Something that offers a little light in the dark. And that’s deeply human.

I actually believe there is space for both. It doesn’t have to be either/or. It can be both/and.

You can use AI to guide your journaling practice. To help you make sense of what you’re feeling when things feel blurry. To offer you grounding cues when your mind is racing. To remind you to breathe when everything feels tight in your chest.

And you can also choose to work with a real human. A therapist. A counsellor (or holistic counsellor like me!). Someone who will not just respond, but hold space. Someone who will see the deeper patterns and help you rewrite them. Someone who will help you come home to yourself in a way no script or prompt ever could.

When we use AI with intention, with discernment, with care, it can absolutely be a part of our healing toolkit. But it’s just that… a part. Not the whole.

Healing doesn’t come from any one tool. It comes from creating a supportive ecosystem around you. A rhythm of practices, people, spaces, and choices that hold you in your becoming. That nurture both your resilience and your tenderness. That support your mind, your body, and your soul.

So, if you’ve been turning to AI, let that be okay. Let that be enough, for now. And if you feel ready to go deeper, to be truly held in your healing, I’m here. Human therapists are here.

As a holistic counsellor in Australia, I work with beautiful souls like you to gently tend to the parts of yourself that have felt unseen. Through a whole-body approach, I support your mind, your body, and your soul. I hold space for the patterns you’re ready to shift, the stories you’re ready to rewrite, and the version of yourself you’re ready to step into.

This isn’t surface-level work. This is coming home to yourself. And if your heart is whispering that it’s time, I’m walking with you.

There is no wrong way to seek support. There is only what feels true for you. Whether that’s a chat with AI, a breath in the dark, or a session with someone who truly sees you… trust what you need. Honour where you are.

And always remember, you are worthy of support that holds you deeply. You are worthy of connection that feels safe and soft. You are worthy of a life that doesn’t just look good but feels like coming home.

With love & support,

Shorina | Mindful Soul Collective

Holistic Counsellor, Wellbeing Coach & Business Mentor

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If this resonated, I’d love to support you further! You’ll find everything you need, from free resources to information on working with me, right here.