‘My AI Therapist Told Me to Get Help’: How counseling on campus has been impacted by AI use

In the midst of an artificial intelligence boom and an exam season, are AI therapists replacing human therapists for Barnard students? 

Photo by Gabriela Valentin/The Barnard Bulletin

By Arianna Edelman

November 2, 2026

The artificial intelligence (AI) boom has led to an enormous increase in generative AI tools. About 66% of the global population uses AI on a daily basis, relying on softwares like Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Claude for a multitude of tasks. 

On a college campus, Barnard students witness significant AI use for homework, projects, or studying. However, beyond the classroom, people have begun to turn to AI for quick and easy access to get their questions answered, whether it is about the weather forecast, dinner recipes, or even to figure out how they are feeling. According to a study published in JAMA Network Open, about one in eight U.S. adolescents and young adults turn to AI for mental health advice. 

Mental health therapy is a great resource, but only when one can access it. Due to stigma, expensive prices, lack of insurance coverage, and fragmented care, it can be challenging to consistently see a therapist for many Americans. Additionally, America has faced an ongoing mental health crisis for years, specifically in the post-pandemic times. A recent study found that over the course of one year, adults aged 18-29 years reported the highest number of mental health crises. Due to this, we can begin to understand the need for mental health advice. One can imagine that for young adults facing mental health challenges, AI is an accessible, simple, and easy solution to finding answers or guidance. 

Professor Kenneth Light, a senior lecturer in both the Neuroscience & Behavior and Psychology Departments at Barnard, told The Barnard Bulletin that the “biggest pro [of AI therapy] would be accessibility.” 

“It’s a little bit easier to pop up a chatbot than it would be to get insurance involved and make an appointment,” he explained, comparing AI therapy’s “smaller hurdle” to traditional methods of getting therapy.

While a robot may be able to provide logically sound advice, it does not provide the empathy that typically accompanies a therapy session with a human. Professor Light reiterated the significance of the interpersonal relationship element of therapy as he explained that although AI therapy could be a “wonderful ideal,” it is not at that point just yet. He said that AI chatbots model “how people think, and our brains do more than just think. More than just thinking skills are necessary for a good therapy session. There probably needs to be some kind of real empathy, which I don’t know that AI is or will ever be capable of.”

Although it may seem adequate to ask ChatGPT “Why am I feeling sad?” or “How can I feel better?”, a fundamental element of counseling is missing in this reliance on a robot: human connection. Abigail Liska (BC ’27), founder and president of the Psych Society at Barnard and Columbia, told The Bulletin that although she thinks AI “is a good tool to use occasionally,” users should “always take [its advice] with a grain of salt.” She said that the “core components of therapy are having a therapeutic relationship … it’s a human-to-human connection, which is so important to build trust.” 

AI also lacks the necessary “humanness” of traditional therapy. Students at Barnard have access to “effective, compassionate care” from the Rosemary Furman Counseling Center. The Furman Center offers both short-term individual and group counseling for students, as well as urgent same-day appointments. 

Despite the convenient nature of turning to AI for therapy, it is important to remember the fundamental aspect of empathy that the robotic programs lack. As students grapple with anxiety-inducing exams, assignments, and extracurriculars and are constantly relying on AI technologies, it is that much more important to cultivate human-to-human connections. If you are struggling, one great conversation with a friend may be just the thing you require to find the support that can turn your day, week, or year around.