Can AI Really Support Mental Health — Or Is It Making Things Worse?

Can AI really support mental health — or is it quietly changing how we connect, feel, and heal?

In this thought-provoking episode, psychotherapist Susie Masterson explores the growing role of AI in mental health and therapy, including tools like ChatGPT. We unpack the benefits, risks, and ethical dilemmas of using artificial intelligence for emotional support — especially for women and vulnerable communities.

We talk openly about algorithmic bias, false empathy, emotional dependency, and why AI can sometimes collude with harmful thoughts rather than challenge them. Susie also explains why human connection still matters deeply, and how technology may be reshaping relationships, vulnerability, and self-regulation in ways we don’t always notice.

This conversation is honest, nuanced, and essential listening if you’re curious (or concerned) about the future of AI, therapy, and human connection.

In this episode, we cover:

👉 How AI is being used for mental health support 👉The lack of regulation around AI therapy tools 👉 Why dependency on AI can affect emotional processing 👉 Algorithmic bias — and how it impacts women and underrepresented groups 👉 The illusion of empathy and connection in AI 👉 Ethical concerns in AI development 👉 Whether AI could increase isolation and disconnection 👉 How users can challenge and correct AI bias

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction to AI and Mental Health 04:18 – The Role of AI in Therapy 12:45 – Algorithmic Bias and Its Implications 20:57 – AI’s Impact on Women and Vulnerable Populations 29:17 – The Future of Relationships in an AI World 36:40 – Navigating the Messiness of Life with AI

If this episode made you pause, question, or rethink your relationship with technology, please like, subscribe, and share — it really helps get these conversations out into the world.

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A big shoutout also to Time Capsule Productions: https://www.timecapsuleproductions.co.uk/

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