AI in psychology practice: considerations for mental health professionals

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a burgeoning technology that has infiltrated many modern industries. Besides its broader use in healthcare in Australia, the psychology field has also welcomed new developments in AI technology in many innovative ways.

From transcription and note-taking programs to diagnostic tools aiding in treatment plans, AI is revolutionising how mental health services are carried out and delivered. These digital advancements can also expedite administrative processes that would typically be a laborious but necessary component of clinical practice.

So, what is the right balance between technology and human interaction when utilising AI in psychology?

This article explores how AI technology can support psychology practice, including the current trends, industry guidelines and why humans remain invaluable in the mental health field.

Current AI uses in psychology practice

In the final quarter of 2024, 3.3 million Australians accessed various Medicare-subsidised mental health and psychology services. To view this figure in another way, the average daily appointment rate for this many people is 27,500 per day. In order for psychologists to keep up with the ongoing high demand for these services, AI technology has the potential to support them as they deliver high-quality mental health care to the community. Different generative AI tools can help streamline, refine and support various aspects of psychology practice.

Natural language processing technology

The emergence of natural language processing has changed the interfacing capabilities between humans and computers. These tools are used widely in other industries to improve customer service, automate repetitive tasks and extract insights from large volumes of text data.

So, what is natural language processing and how does this technology apply to the psychology profession?

Natural language processing is uniquely relevant to the psychology and mental health field, as this technology focuses on detecting nuanced language patterns from people over text, chat and other digital platforms. This technology can then understand, interpret and respond to text or speech in a way that is both meaningful and contextually appropriate to the user.

It’s used in various applications like chatbots, wearable health devices and virtual reality programs. Mood, sleep and diet tracking tools on smartwatches or phones are generally useful as self-measurement tools and are typically for personal use. However, these tools could also provide important data in a clinical setting for psychologists to help tailor an appropriate treatment.

For example, if a person uses a sleep tracking tool to measure their sleep quality, it may detect patterns of wakefulness and sleep depth by measuring body movements, heart and respiratory rate as well as body temperature. Poor sleep can directly impact mood and exacerbate mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression. Therefore, tracking sleep can provide valuable insights for both users and clinicians with regard to areas of health that could be addressed to improve a client’s mental health and wellbeing.

Health metric tracking tools may also be considered a more accurate record of a client’s symptoms and habits than their recall alone. Furthermore, they reveal long-term trends and may reinforce what’s working or needs changing with a given intervention.

Transcription and clinical support tools

While some technologies are used by clients, other AI tools are used by psychologists to support the consultation process.

Luke Lawrence, principal psychologist at Explore Psychology, reflects on his experience with AI technology in his private practice. He says there are lots of platforms available for psychologists, including client assessment and transcription tools that record audio directly from a session with the client’s consent. Audio transcription could be a valuable tool, as it helps the psychologist to be more present and attentive to their clients during their sessions.

Luke highlights that the use of AI in psychology practice can be helpful in the development of targeted, personalised treatment plans for clients, which alleviates the need for extra administrative work after each session.

“Having a documented treatment plan [already prepared] on the client’s file means I have to think less about what the next session might entail,” he says.

Relief from administrative tasks

AI technology can alleviate some of the tedious administrative work related to clinical practice. Automating tasks like appointment scheduling, invoicing and initial client screening can free psychologists up to focus more on providing care.

Luke explains that the resulting value of AI for his practice is that he can effectively see more clients in his schedule.

“It can save up to two to three hours of admin work per client,” he highlights.

Ethical considerations of the use of AI in psychology

The integration of AI in psychology practice raises some critical ethical considerations that are worth exploring.

Transparency

While the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) supports the safe use of AI in psychology practice, clients have a legal and ethical right to know when AI is used in their psychology sessions, as transparency is essential for maintaining trust in the therapeutic relationship. Without clear communication regarding the use of AI used in assessments, diagnoses, goal setting and treatment plan development, clients may feel misled or unsure about the authenticity of their treatment.

In light of this, obtaining informed consent if implementing any AI-based tools is a vital requirement. This helps clients feel confident and understand the extent to which AI contributes to their treatment process.

Data security

Most AI platforms store and process vast amounts of data, which could be problematic for psychologists as they are required to maintain client confidentiality. AI cybersecurity plays a vital role in ensuring that personal data remains secure, safeguarding both patient privacy and trust. Without security measures, professionals risk exposing confidential records to breaches, which could have devastating consequences for clients and puts the psychologist at risk of litigation with negative impacts on their business.

Strong AI cybersecurity protocols, such as encryption, secure authentication and regular system monitoring are essential to minimise these risks and uphold ethical standards in professional practice. Some AI tools can work offline, not connected to an external server, which may be more amenable to the nature of private consultations. However, it’s important that clients continuously consent to the use of AI within sessions and provide consent to the collection of their data.

It’s also wise to research different AI products that are suitable to use as well as programs and tools and stay up-to-date with cybersecurity risks. Establishing these regulations helps safeguard your practice and client’s sensitive information.

Accountability

When using AI technology in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment plan development for mental health clients, accountability remains a critical concern.

Practicing psychologists need to ensure they carefully oversee the AI outputs, as there is still an inherent risk of misdiagnosis or the generation of incorrect information. This may be due to the influences of biases in algorithms or the specific data that has been used to train them. Over-reliance on AI can lead to errors in judgement, potentially compromising the quality of care and client safety.

Practitioners also have an ethical responsibility and duty to protect their client’s privacy and ensure that any use of AI aligns with their legal and professional standards. Therefore, it’s important to ensure the AI tools used are fit for purpose and used appropriately within a clinical practice context.

AI use regulations and guidelines in psychology

Ahpra and the Australian Psychological Society (APS) are the governing authorities for psychology in Australia. Each has weighed in on the use of AI in psychology practice.

They acknowledge its positive benefits, highlighting the potential to alleviate the immense pressure on practitioners, which may help address parts of the current critical shortage of mental health professionals.

Ahpra’s key points on the ethical, legal and professional use of AI in healthcare are as follows:

• Regulation and use: AI tools in healthcare are regulated by the Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA) if they meet the definition of a medical device. However, general-purpose AI tools including transcribing tools are not regulated by the TGA. For this reason, it’s advisable to use these tools for their intended purpose to remain aligned with Ahpra requirements.
   
• Benefits: AI can potentially improve health outcomes by enhancing diagnostic techniques, although AI technology is not infallible as mentioned above. AI is useful in  reducing administrative burdens for practising psychologists, thereby improving patient care outcomes and reducing practitioner burnout.
   
• Professional obligations: Practitioners must remain accountable for safe and quality care, applying human judgement to AI outputs. They should understand AI tools, ensure client transparency and obtain informed consent when using AI that involves personal data.
   
• Ethical and legal considerations: Practitioners must ensure data privacy, address potential biases in AI, comply with relevant legislation and maintain appropriate and related professional indemnity insurance.

The APS sees great potential in the future utility of AI in the mental health profession. In their recent government submission, the APS has requested funding to support the development and delivery of training programs aimed at equipping the psychology and mental health workforce with the skills to integrate AI into their clinical practice. They have also outlined their intention to commence a psychologist-driven research initiative, exploring the broader psychological effects of AI technology among young Australians.

Why human connection is irreplaceable in psychology practice

AI technology can interpret data sets, help detect behaviour and mood trends and recognise the nuances of human language. However, the reasons that people seek mental health services extend beyond these informational insights. The use of AI in clinical psychology practice should therefore be at the discretion of the professional.

The therapeutic relationship between psychologists and their clients is the foundation of effective therapy, offering a unique human connection that AI technology cannot replace. Unlike machines, psychologists bring empathy, emotional understanding and the ability to adapt to the complexities of working with people individually.

Carl Rogers, the pioneering psychologist best known for developing client-centred therapy, emphasised the importance of empathy within the therapeutic process. He suggested that the attitude of the therapist, their genuine understanding and the human connection they provide, rather than the specific techniques, were the more important indicators for therapeutic success. Building trust and conveying emotional presence allows clients to feel safe, validated and heard, which are essential elements people need to foster healing and personal growth.

While AI may provide tools for analysis or support, it cannot replicate the nuanced emotional presence or the shared experience of being understood by another human being. A psychologist witnessing subtle indicators in the form of non-verbal communication, such as the nervous tapping of feet or closed posture, can perceive a deeper layer of distress within the client.

The therapeutic relationship is where transformation happens, as it is through the considered balance of compassion and professional insight that clients are empowered to find solutions and discover their innate capacity to thrive and succeed.

Is there an ideal role for AI in mental health care?

Will AI replace psychologists? To answer this question, it helps to understand the role of technology and humans in the context of mental health care services. Psychologists are the human element at the heart of mental health care. AI technology serves as an adjunctive tool to support their work.

AI excels at handling time-intensive, tedious and repetitive admin work or conducting preliminary screenings. At the same time, human therapists excel at building rapport, deciphering emotions and offering empathetic support to clients during times of need.

When psychologists and AI systems work together, they can enhance the quality of client care and streamline processes while preserving the irreplaceable human aspect that defines mental health care.

Begin your future psychology practice with postgraduate study

As AI technology progresses, taking the time to research and consider what AI tools may be helpful in your practice and ultimately, to your clients can help ensure you continue to meet the growing demands of the mental health profession.

If you have an existing bachelor’s degree and are interested in a career as a psychologist, pursuing postgraduate study online is the first step toward this rewarding career. The Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Bridging) is an APAC-accredited course and a pathway to further study to become a registered psychologist. The Graduate Certificate of Psychology provides another pathway to becoming a psychologist. Applicants can apply with a prior bachelor’s degree in any field or a minimum of five years’ relevant professional experience in any industry.

Studying these postgraduate psychology degrees provides foundational skills and knowledge that are highly relevant to integrating AI in psychological practice.

Both courses have research methodology and statistical analysis units, which are valuable for interpreting data generated by AI tools used in psychological assessments, predictive modeling and measuring client progress over time. Due to AI's growing presence in psychology fields, understanding ethical issues such as privacy, informed consent and AI biases is essential. These courses help you develop and utilise the ethical framework necessary for integrating AI tools responsibly and safely into psychological practice.

These foundational skills can help better prepare you to incorporate and critically assess AI tools within your practice, ensuring that your approach remains relevant and effective in the evolving psychology field.

GlobalHealth Education’s university partners offer healthcare courses in a range of fields, including social work, public health, counselling, nursing, psychology, leadership and mental health. Choose a course and enquire to speak to a Student Enrolment Advisor for further guidance with the enrolment process.