The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy

The Advances in Artificial Intelligence for Mental Health: An interview with Dr. Alyssa Dietz

Listen Later
The Advances in Artificial Intelligence for Mental Health: An interview with Dr. Alyssa Dietz

Curt and Katie chat with Dr. Alyssa Dietz, a clinical psychologist and digital mental health expert, about the evolving role of AI in therapy. Dr. Dietz discusses how AI can enhance therapy by delivering evidence-based care, particularly in structured approaches like CBT, while acknowledging its limitations with complex, multi-diagnosis cases. She emphasizes the need for collaboration between therapists and AI developers to ensure ethical, patient-centered innovation in digital mental health.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk with Dr. Alyssa Dietz about Advances in AI for Therapy

Artificial Intelligence has already come for mental healthcare. The question is, what should therapists be doing about it? We dig into what AI therapy looks like from the inside, from a clinician’s perspective.

AI’s Growing Role in Therapy
  • AI can enhance therapy but won’t replace human therapists soon.
  • AI is particularly effective in skills-based therapies like CBT.
  • AI currently struggles with complex diagnoses and comorbidities.
  • The most active users of digital mental health tools are 50-60 years old, surprising many industry experts.
    • How AI is Changing the Therapist’s Role
    • AI can automate administrative tasks and support therapists in data-driven decision-making.
    • Although tech and insurance folks say we can use AI to work at the "top of our license," this approach could lead to therapist burnout.
    • Clinicians should work alongside AI developers to ensure ethical, patient-centered care.
    • AI’s judgment and decision-making remain limited, requiring human oversight.
      • Evaluating AI’s Effectiveness & Ethical Considerations
      • The tension between innovation, regulation, and evaluation in AI-driven therapy.
      • Importance of clear safety protocols and escalation (emergency) measures for client care.
      • AI must be rigorously tested for safety and effectiveness.
      • Understanding how AI products are trained and evaluated is critical for therapists before incorporating these clinical tools into your practice.
        • AI and Complex Diagnoses
        • Current AI models struggle to address comorbidities effectively.
        • Need for personalization and context-driven interventions.
        • Future AI tools must move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.
          • How Therapists Can Adapt to AI in Mental Health
          • Educate yourself on AI’s capabilities and limitations.
          • Stay informed through online courses, conferences, and tech-focused therapist groups.
          • Engage with organizations like the Digital Medicine Society to understand responsible AI use.
          • Connect with the "Therapists in Tech" Slack group to network with others in the space.


            • Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

            Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

            Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

            Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

            Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

            ...more
            View all episodesView all episodes
            Download on the App Store
            The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie VernoyBy Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT
            • 4.3
            • 4.3
            • 4.3
            • 4.3
            • 4.3

            4.3

            237 ratings

            More shows like The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy

            View all
            The One You Feed by Eric Zimmer

            The One You Feed

            2,551 Listeners

            The Trauma Therapist by Guy Crawford Macpherson

            The Trauma Therapist

            540 Listeners

            Psychology In Seattle Podcast by Kirk Honda

            Psychology In Seattle Podcast

            1,134 Listeners

            Therapy Chat by Laura Reagan, LCSW-C

            Therapy Chat

            676 Listeners

            Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson by Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson

            Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

            2,507 Listeners

            Therapist Uncensored Podcast by Sue Marriott LCSW, CGP & Ann Kelley PhD

            Therapist Uncensored Podcast

            1,386 Listeners

            The Couples Therapist Couch by Shane Birkel

            The Couples Therapist Couch

            277 Listeners

            Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast by David Puder, M.D.

            Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast

            1,350 Listeners

            Light Up The Couch by Clearly Clinical

            Light Up The Couch

            327 Listeners

            The One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast by Tammy Sollenberger

            The One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast

            281 Listeners

            Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories by Craig Heacock MD

            Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories

            470 Listeners

            IFS Talks by Aníbal Henriques, Tisha Shull & Alexia Rothman

            IFS Talks

            191 Listeners

            Therapy in a Nutshell by Therapy in a Nutshell -Emma McAdam

            Therapy in a Nutshell

            570 Listeners

            Dear Therapists with Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch by iHeartPodcasts

            Dear Therapists with Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch

            2,361 Listeners

            Trauma Rewired by Jennifer Wallace & Elisabeth Kristof

            Trauma Rewired

            346 Listeners