How Sailor Health Uses AI in Therapy

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is becoming more involved in healthcare — particularly mental health services. AI can effectively support mental healthcare through tools like documentation, reminders, and between-session support. However, it’s not a replacement for talk therapy or a licensed human therapist.

Many mental health platforms, such as Sailor Health, use AI to support clinical workflows by automating administrative tasks (like documentation) so therapists can spend more time focused on patient care.

For older adults, it’s critical to understand the relationship between AI and psychotherapy, as the evolving technology can either enhance or worsen the therapeutic experience. 

What people usually mean by AI therapy

AI therapy is a broad term for a multitude of services. There are chatbots (like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini), mental health apps, AI companions, AI-supported therapy platforms, and behind-the-scenes tools used by clinicians. These technologies use AI to generate information about mental health conditions, share coping strategies, or summarize clinical notes from a therapy session.

What’s important to understand is that when you seek mental health advice from ChatGPT or another chatbot, it’s an entirely different experience from what you’d get from a therapy session with a licensed therapist. While some platforms have put guardrails in place, unregulated AI therapy tools can be unsafe and therefore aren’t a replacement for professional therapy.

AI therapy has been a major topic of conversation for some time, but many older adults and their caregivers are only now becoming more familiar with it. 

Several factors are driving this new interest in this form of virtual mental healthcare, including:

• Access barriers to licensed mental health professionals
• Loneliness and social isolation
• Financial concerns
• Waitlists
• Genuine curiosity

The term “AI therapy” can be confusing to some because it’s used to describe several different technologies. You might automatically think the term means you’ll work with a faceless or AI-generated version of a “real therapist.” While this might be the case in some instances, AI can be used in various ways that keep the human-to-human interaction at the forefront of care.

How AI can support therapy without replacing therapists

So, how does AI therapy actually work? For clinicians, it can be a supportive tool for organizing session notes and supporting documentation, and for capturing key themes — all of which can help reduce administrative burden. AI can also help therapists put as much focus as possible on their patients — not remove them from care.

On the patient’s side, carefully implemented AI tools that can support treatment may include:

• Appointment reminders
• Symptom tracking
• Guided exercises
• Homework follow-through
• Journaling or reflection prompts
• Preparation in organizing questions/thoughts for next session

At Sailor Health, therapy is delivered by real licensed therapists. AI is present as an assistive layer but never as a replacement for trained mental health professionals.

Why people use AI for mental health support

Many people turn to AI chatbots and other technologies for mental health support for several reasons, including:

• 24/7 availability
• Can feel more private
• Free or low-cost
• Can feel less intimidating than speaking with a therapist

For older adults, AI may feel useful when they’re lonely, worried, embarrassed, or unsure if their feelings are “valid enough” for professional help. 

While AI can feel comforting, getting mental health guidance from a chatbot is not the same as receiving an accurate clinical assessment or treatment. A licensed therapist is always the best route for addressing any mental health concerns. And if an AI helped you put what you’re feeling into words, you can take that information and share it with a clinician.

The risks of using AI as a therapist

There are many reasons why AI therapy can be bad for your mental health:

• It can offer the wrong advice.
• It can be biased.
• It can overvalidate, mirroring user prompts and affirming poor choices or behaviors.
• It doesn’t have any clinical accountability.
• It’s not subject to the same privacy protections as healthcare providers.
• It can prevent you from building real human connections, leading to social isolation.
• It can miss signs of self-harm or suicide and may give dangerous advice rather than emergency support.

Many AI chatbots are “people pleasers.” They’ll agree to just about anything you say, reinforcing your perspective instead of gently challenging it. A good therapist will validate your feelings and experiences, but will offer critical feedback that can put you on the path toward healing. 

This is especially true for older adults, who may be experiencing depression, anxiety, loneliness, or grief. They need relational support — not an instant response from an unlicensed and unregulated AI tool.

AI in mental health is not necessarily “bad,” but it’s critical to use discernment if you engage with it for health-related reasons.

How to use AI more safely if you already use it

If you’ve already been using AI therapy, you don’t have to stop completely. 

You just need to put guardrails in place, such as:

• Avoiding sharing any sensitive information, such as medical data or financial details.
• Verifying any advice with your clinician.
• Not using chatbots or other tools to get a mental health diagnosis.
• Not relying on it during a medical crisis.

When chatting with an AI chatbot, you can use the following prompts to help guide the conversation safely:

• “I’m feeling overwhelmed. Can you suggest any evidence-based grounding techniques?”
• “What questions should I ask at my next therapy session?”
• “Help me summarize what I want to discuss in therapy.”
• “Can you help me list patterns I’ve noticed this week?”
• “I had a rough day. Can you help me journal what happened by asking one question at a time?”
• “What does the research say about spousal caregiver burnout?”

If you decide to seek professional help, you should disclose your AI use. A therapist can help you sort the chatbot’s useful reflection from unhelpful guidance.

Please note that AI is not appropriate for immediate danger, suicidal thoughts, or urgent mental health emergencies. In these instances, please dial 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.

What to look for in responsible AI-supported therapy

There is such a thing as responsible AI-supported therapy, which can look like:

• A licensed clinician leading the care.
• AI use being disclosed clearly.
• Privacy practices being easily understood.
• Patients knowing what is automated vs. human work.

If you choose a therapy platform that uses AI, review its privacy policy to understand how your personal information is being collected, stored, and used. Reputable mental health platforms should explain how they protect your information and what safeguards they use.

Sailor Health offers Medicare-therapy for older adults with real therapists. In addition to human-led care, AI technology supports access and continuity of care while keeping the patient-therapist relationship at the forefront.

When it comes to AI and psychotherapy, the goal isn’t to choose between technology and human care. The safest approach is using technology to make human care easier to access and sustain. 

How Sailor Health keeps human connection at the heart of care

While AI can be a helpful tool for organizing your thoughts or finding a quick grounding exercise, it can never replace the warmth, empathy, and clinical insight of a real human relationship. If you’ve been relying on chatbots because they feel convenient or accessible, it may be time to experience what real, personal therapy can do.

Sailor Health makes human-led care easy to access from home. We offer therapy by video or phone call (including landlines) so you can connect comfortably without worrying about driving, waiting rooms, or complex tech setups. Our therapists are experienced older adults themselves who understand the unique life transitions, health changes, and emotional challenges that come with age, ensuring you get care tailored to your specific life stage.

We believe getting quality mental healthcare should be simple and stress-free. Sailor Health matches you with a therapist based on your needs and preferences, with no long waiting lists—you may even be able to begin therapy within 24 hours of signing up. We accept Medicare, and most of our Medicare patients have a $0 copay.

If you’ve been using technology as a way to explore your mental health, connecting with real human support is easier than you may think. Reach out when you’re ready, and we’ll help you take that first step toward a therapist who truly understands.

AI therapy FAQ

Is AI therapy the same as talking to a real therapist?

No. AI chatbots can only offer basic emotional support, a space to vent, and journaling prompts. They lack the clinical accuracy, legal accountability, and genuine human empathy.

Can AI diagnose depression or anxiety?

No. AI cannot officially diagnose any mental health condition.

Why do people use AI for therapy instead of seeing a therapist?

Some people like that AI is available 24/7, is free or low-cost, and can be less intimidating than talking to a therapist.

What are the biggest risks of using ChatGPT like a therapist?

Using ChatGPT like a therapist can pose several risks, including overvalidation, mishandling of mental health crises, and a lack of data privacy or confidentiality.

Can AI help between therapy sessions?

Yes. Under the guidance of a human, licensed therapist, AI can help prepare for future sessions, create journal prompts, and share evidence-based coping strategies. 

Should I tell my therapist if I use AI for mental health support?

Yes. Disclosing your use of AI for mental health support to your therapist can help them discern any misinformation the tool may have told you.

Is AI therapy safe for older adults?

Yes. With the guidance of a licensed mental health professional, using AI to support therapy can be safe for older adults.

Can AI help with loneliness in seniors?

Possibly. AI may help reduce loneliness in older adults by offering companionship, practical reminders, and engagement. However, it should supplement human-led therapy.

Is AI therapy private or HIPAA compliant?

It depends. AI chatbots and other free tools are not private or HIPAA-compliant. However, if a licensed mental health company uses AI-supported tools, there should be legal protections for patient information.

Does Medicare cover therapy with a real therapist if AI tools are also used?

Yes. Medicare can cover mental health therapy with a licensed human therapist, even if the therapist uses back-end AI tools, such as assisted note-taking or documentation support.

References

1. Habicht, J., Dina, L., McFadyen, J., Stylianou, M., Harper, R., Hauser, T. U., & Rollwage, M. (2025). Generative AI–Enabled Therapy Support Tool for Improved Clinical Outcomes and Patient Engagement in Group Therapy: Real-World Observational Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e60435. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11933774/ 
2. Jesudason, D., Bacchi, S., & Bastiampillai, T. (2025). Artificial intelligence (AI) in psychotherapy: A challenging frontier. Australasian Psychiatry, 33(4), 629–632. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12314210/