AI Therapy Is Here—and It’s Shockingly Better Than Human Help

byMo Hassan -

The (Artificial Intelligence) Therapist Will See You Now — And Might Be Better Than a Human.

The (Artificial Intelligence) Therapist Will See You Now — And Might Be Better Than a Human


What if your next therapist wasn’t a human... but a hyper-trained AI bot? Wild, right? But hold onto your seat—because new research is saying that this might not just be the future—it might be the upgrade.

A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine dropped a bombshell: with the right training, AI therapists can be just as effective—maybe even more effective—than human clinicians. Yeah, read that again.

This wasn’t some fluff piece either. It was the first-ever randomized clinical trial on AI therapy, led by a research team at Dartmouth College. Their mission? Solve a real, growing crisis: America simply doesn’t have enough mental health providers to go around.

“One of the things that just doesn’t scale well is humans,” said Nick Jacobson, a clinical psychologist behind the project.

He’s not wrong. Stats show there’s only one licensed mental health clinician for every 340 people in the U.S. No wonder waitlists are months long and burnout is everywhere.

Real Talk: Not All AI Therapy Is Created Equal

Now, before you go downloading the first mental health app in the App Store, let’s keep it real—there are a lot of shady bots out there. Some have produced sketchy results. Some even led to self-harm. So yeah, there’s a dark side.

But this bot? It was different. Jacobson and his team spent over five years training their AI therapist using evidence-based clinical practices. Think of it like a personal trainer—but for your brain—and one that actually studied.

After plenty of trial and error, the bot was ready for prime time. The team tested it on around 200 individuals, many struggling with depression, anxiety, and even early signs of eating disorders. Half of them got therapy from the AI. The results? Seriously impressive.

“The effects we saw mirrored the gold standard of psychotherapy,” said Jacobson. “It matched results we typically only see in the best clinical treatments available.”

People Actually Bonded with the Bot (Yes, Really)

Here’s where it gets kind of wild: participants didn’t just use the bot—they actually formed strong emotional bonds with it.

“They trusted it,” said Jacobson. “They felt like they were working together with it on their mental health.”

That’s huge—because in traditional therapy, the strength of the therapist-patient bond is one of the biggest predictors of success. So if people are forming that kind of connection with AI, it’s a game-changer.

Therapy That Doesn’t Sleep

Another advantage? AI therapists don’t have office hours. They're always on. People were literally messaging the bot in the middle of the night, working through insomnia or spiraling thoughts—and getting actual, science-backed help.

“We saw people accessing it at all hours,” Jacobson said. “They were getting their needs met in real-time.”

Try doing that with your 9–5 therapist.

But Let’s Not Throw Out the Humans Just Yet

Now, before human therapists start sweating, experts say don’t panic—this isn’t a hostile takeover. The American Psychological Association (APA) is keeping a close eye on the AI therapy boom. They’ve criticized many current apps for being unregulated and risky.

But they’re actually praising this new study.

“This therabot checks so many boxes we’ve been waiting for,” said Vaile Wright from the APA’s Office of Health Care Innovation. “It’s based in real psychological science, shows solid results, and was built by experts.”

That said, this tech isn’t ready to hit the App Store just yet. Researchers say it still needs more testing and trials before it’s released into the wild.

And Wright adds that therapists shouldn’t feel threatened—we need all the help we can get.

“This isn’t about replacing humans,” she said. “It’s about expanding access. We need quality therapists—human or bot.”

💸 How to Make Money Off “Therapist AI” (Even If You're Not a Therapist)

Alright, let’s get real. You don’t need a Ph.D. or a couch in a fancy office to tap into the booming AI mental health market. AI therapy tools are on fire right now—think apps like Woebot, Replika, and Mindsera. And here’s the play: people want affordable, accessible mental health help without booking a $200/hour session. That’s where YOU come in.

Here’s how to cash in:

1. Launch a Niche Blog or YouTube Channel Around Mental Wellness & AI

Start creating content like:

  • “Best AI Therapy Apps for Anxiety in 2025”

  • “I Tried ChatGPT as My Therapist—Here’s What Happened”

  • “Top Free AI Tools for Depression Support”

Monetize it with:

  • Google AdSense

  • Affiliate links to paid apps (many of them offer referral commissions)

  • Your own low-ticket digital products (journals, mood trackers, etc.)

🔥 Pro Tip: Rank for keywords like “AI therapist app,” “therapy chatbot,” or “mental health AI tools”—those terms are trending.

2. Create a Curated Directory of AI Wellness Tools

Build a Notion site, a simple Gumroad product, or even a free blog post that becomes the go-to list of AI therapy tools for a specific group (college students, moms, remote workers, etc.).

Then charge for:

  • Premium versions

  • Affiliate links

  • Email opt-ins you can market to later

3. Package AI Therapy Prompts & Sell Them

You’d be shocked how many people want ready-made ChatGPT prompts for journaling, anxiety management, mindfulness, and emotional regulation.

Make a $5-$15 PDF like:

  • “50 AI Prompts to Calm Your Mind Fast”

  • “Journal with ChatGPT: 30 Days of Mental Clarity”

Sell it on Gumroad, Etsy, or your site.

4. Launch a Mental Health Accountability Club

Use a free tool like Discord or Telegram. Combine:

  • Daily prompts generated by AI

  • Weekly group check-ins

  • Guest sessions with real therapists

Monetize it via a low-cost subscription model ($5-$10/month), and scale it fast with TikTok content about your journey.

5. White-Label an AI Mental Health Bot

Platforms like Mindsera, Character.ai, and even GPT-powered white-label solutions let you build your own branded AI therapist clone. You can niche it down to:

  • Burnout recovery for startup founders

  • Stress relief for single moms

  • Mindfulness for gamers

Charge a monthly fee. Run it on your site. Done.

🧠 Bottom Line: This Isn’t Just the Future—It’s the Now.

Mental health + AI is printing money for smart creators. You don’t need to be licensed—you need to be resourceful. Offer tools, curation, community, and clarity in a noisy, stressed-out world.

Wanna be the middleman who connects overwhelmed people with AI relief that actually works? Good. Let’s build.

Final Thoughts: Therapy Is Evolving—Are We Ready?

In a world where getting a therapist feels like winning the lottery, AI might not just be a lifeline—it could be a revolution. But like all revolutions, it needs the right guardrails.

The big question now is: Would you trust a bot with your mind?

Let’s talk in the comments 👇

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Mo Hassan

"Hey there! I’m Mo Hassan, the creator of 20STR.com—your go-to source for making money online, business trends, and side hustles that actually work. As an entrepreneur and content creator, I break down the latest strategies, trends, and money-making opportunities so you can stay ahead of the game. I also share insights on Instagram (@bonjk.official), where I talk about business, passive income, and the hustle mindset. Follow along as we build wealth, one smart move at a time!"

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