Beyond the Couch: AI in Psychology

Ernest Wayde
  • 4.4 (5)
  • Social Sciences
  • Biweekly

Beyond the Couch: AI in Psychology bridges the gap between psychology and artificial intelligence, offering psychologists across all specialties clear, actionable insights into how AI is transforming the field. Whether you're a clinician, researcher, educator, organizational psychologist, or working in any psychological specialty, this podcast delivers expert perspectives on ethical integration, practical applications, and future developments to help you confidently navigate the digital transformation of our profession. Presented by ABPP and Wayde AI, with sponsorship from the National Register of Health Service Psychologist, this collaboration brings together psychological expertise and technological innovation to explore how AI can enhance psychological work while maintaining professional standards and human connection. Subscribe now to join a growing community of forward-thinking psychologists who are shaping the future of our profession.

  1. 4d ago

    AI in Psychology: Clinical Judgment, Ethics, and the Future of Mental Health Care with Australian Psychologist Dr. Erika Penney

    In this episode of Beyond the Couch: AI in Psychology, Dr. Ernest Wayde sits down with Dr. Erika Penney, principal clinical psychologist at Schema Therapy & Supervision Australia, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping psychological practice, clinical education, and mental health care. She explains why psychologists and educators need to rethink traditional approaches to AI, including how clinical training can prepare future psychologists to use these tools responsibly while maintaining independent clinical competence. The conversation examines AI’s potential to support psychologists through administrative tasks, AI scribes, research, literature reviews, and between-session therapeutic work, while emphasizing the importance of clinical judgment, critical thinking, and human connection. Dr. Penney also discusses how clients are already using AI for emotional support, companionship, and advice. She highlights the importance of approaching clients' AI use without judgment and helping them critically evaluate AI-generated guidance. She encourages psychologists to strengthen their digital literacy, pursue ongoing professional development, and preserve the relational skills essential to effective psychological care. Takeaways: -AI Is Changing Psychological Practice and Education. -AI Should Support, Not Replace, Clinical Judgment. -Privacy, Security, and Ethics Are Essential in AI Use. -Psychologists Need Ongoing AI Education and Training. -Clinicians Must Understand How Clients Use AI for Mental Health Support. -Human Connection Remains Essential to Effective Therapy. Connect with Dr. Erika Penney Website:https://drerikapenney.com.au/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-erika-penney-5b862b108/ Connect With Us https://www.waydeai.com/ https://www.facebook.com/waydeaillc https://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/ info@waydeai.com Subscribe https://the-waydeai-brief.beehiiv.com/ Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:22 - Meet Dr. Erika Penney 02:21 - From Complex Trauma to Digital Mental Health 05:05 - Preparing Psychologists for AI 07:05 - AI, Learning, and Clinical Competence 10:22 - Learning From AI Failures 11:45 - AI Adoption Among Psychologists in Australia 13:57 - AI in Australia's Healthcare Systems 15:12 - Privacy, Data Security, and Client Confidentiality 17:58 - Discussing AI Use in Therapy 22:39 - AI Scribes and Clinical Workflows 25:02 - AI for Between-Session Therapeutic Practice 28:27 - AI and the Future of Preventive Mental Health Care 33:15 - Preparing for the Future Through AI Professional Development

    AI in Psychology: Clinical Judgment, Ethics, and the Future of Mental Health Care with Australian Psychologist Dr. Erika Penney

  2. Oct 20

    AI, Artificial Intimacy, and the Illusion of Empathy with Dr. Sherry Turkle

    In this episode of Beyond the Couch: AI in Psychology, Dr. Ernest Wayde sits down with Dr. Sherry Turkle, MIT professor, clinical psychologist, and author of Artificial Intimacy, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping human connection, empathy, and relationships. Drawing on decades of research into the emotional impact of technology, Dr. Turkle explains how AI chatbots can create the feeling of being understood without the lived experience or mutual engagement that defines human empathy. She examines how emotionally responsive AI companions may change our expectations of relationships, making human interactions seem increasingly difficult by comparison. The conversation explores the psychological risks of AI companionship, particularly for children, adolescents, and people experiencing loneliness, as well as Dr. Turkle's concerns about chatbots being used for therapy or emotional support between sessions. She questions whether AI's reassuring responses can substitute for the challenge, accountability, and genuine understanding found in human relationships. Dr. Turkle also calls attention to the importance of investing in social infrastructure rather than relying on technology to address isolation, emphasizing why preserving human connection matters for psychological well-being and society. Takeaways -AI can simulate empathy without sharing the human experience behind it. -Constant AI reassurance may reshape expectations of real relationships. -Children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to artificial intimacy. -AI companionship may discourage the interpersonal skills needed for human connection. Connect with Dr. Sherry Turkle Website: https://sherryturkle.com/ Connect With Us https://www.waydeai.com/ https://www.facebook.com/waydeaillc https://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/ info@waydeai.com Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 02:20 - Dr. Sherry Turkle's Journey into AI and Psychology 05:27 - Artificial Intimacy and the Shift Toward AI Relationships 07:00 - The Psychological Risks of AI Companionship 08:12 - Simulated Empathy vs. Human Empathy 11:44 - How AI Affects Human Relationships and Social Skills 12:49 - Feeling Understood by AI vs. Being Understood 15:39 - Emotional Dependence and AI Safety Risks 19:22 - Recognizing Vulnerability to AI Companionship 20:38 - AI Engagement, Advertising, and Influence 22:42 - Can AI Support Therapy and Human Relationships? 24:19 - The Risks of AI Reassurance Without Accountability 27:34 - Loneliness, Vulnerable Populations, and Social Infrastructure 29:14 - Final Thoughts and Connecting with Dr. Turkle 29:56 - Closing Advice: Make a Friend

    AI, Artificial Intimacy, and the Illusion of Empathy with Dr. Sherry Turkle

  3. Oct 13

    AI in Mental Health: Why Clinical Judgment Still Matters with Dr. Caitlin Stamatis

    In this episode of Beyond the Couch: AI in Psychology, Dr. Ernest Wayde sits down with Dr. Caitlin Stamatis, a clinical psychologist who has spent more than a decade working across digital mental health, behavioral health research, and technology, and now leads research at Slingshot AI. Dr. Stamatis shares how her skepticism of AI began to shift after seeing purpose-built mental health systems and emerging research such as the Therabot trial. They explore where AI may extend mental health support, from personalized clinical materials and assessment tools to support between traditional appointments, while examining why the vocabulary of therapy is not the same as clinical judgment. The conversation also examines the harder questions surrounding mental health AI: sycophancy, engagement-driven business models, reassurance seeking, clinical risk, privacy, evidence generation, and how to evaluate generative systems that continuously change. Dr. Stamatis argues that psychologists have important roles throughout the AI lifecycle, including defining safety policies, evaluating model responses, measuring real-world outcomes, integrating AI into care systems, and challenging developers when tools fall short. Rather than requiring psychologists to become less skeptical, she sees informed skepticism and clinical expertise as necessary for shaping safer, more useful mental health AI. Takeaways: -Sounding like a therapist is not the same as clinical judgment. -Psychologists can help define safe and effective AI responses. -Engagement-driven business models may conflict with patient outcomes. -Mental health AI needs continuous evidence and safety evaluation. -AI may support people between sessions or when care is unavailable. -Skeptical clinicians can help identify risks and improve AI tools. Connect with Dr. Caitlin Stamatis Website: https://drstamatis.com LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/cstamatis Connect With Us https://www.waydeai.com/ https://www.facebook.com/waydeaillc https://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/ info@waydeai.com Chapters: 00:00 - Cold Open: Clinicians and AI Safety 00:53 - Intro 02:10 - Dr. Caitlin Stamatis’ Journey to Mental Health AI 05:30 - From AI Skepticism to Seeing Its Potential 07:34 - Why Clinical Judgment Still Matters 10:15 - Business Models, Engagement, and Patient Outcomes 12:33 - AI Sycophancy and Responsible Use 15:28 - The Role of Psychologists in AI Safety 18:43 - Evaluating AI as the Technology Changes 20:54 - Setting a High Bar for Mental Health AI 22:39 - AI in Clinical Practice 25:13 - How Psychologists Can Shape AI Development 25:58 - Rethinking Models of Mental Health Care 28:39 - Why AI Skeptics Are Needed 30:37 - Outro

    AI in Mental Health: Why Clinical Judgment Still Matters with Dr. Caitlin Stamatis

  4. Oct 6

    AI Beyond the Therapy Session: Human Connection, Family Care, and AI with Dr. Shiri Sharvit

    In this episode of Beyond the Couch: AI in Psychology, Dr. Ernest Wayde sits down with Dr. Shiri Sharvit, a clinical psychologist, researcher, technology entrepreneur, CEO and cofounder of Resolve Together, and Distinguished Professor of Research at Palo Alto University. Drawing on more than two decades in clinical psychology and years of work integrating technology into behavioral healthcare, Dr. Sharvit explores what makes generative AI different from earlier digital interventions and how it can support clinicians with documentation, assessments, continuous support, and care between sessions. She argues that human connection, clinical judgment, and understanding people in context must remain central even as more routine work is delegated to AI. The conversation also explores family-based care and Resolve Together’s model of combining human health coaches with an AI companion to support patients and families outside traditional clinical encounters. Dr. Sharvit discusses why AI companions should not be treated as substitutes for human relationships, including their limitations around lived experience, empathy, accountability, and their tendency to reinforce users rather than always challenge them therapeutically. She also calls on psychologists to become more involved in AI education, design, evaluation, advocacy, and regulation so behavioral science, clinical ethics, and real-world workflows help shape how these systems are developed and used. Takeaways -Human connection and clinical judgment must remain central as AI enters psychological care. -AI can extend support beyond the traditional therapy session. -Routine clinical tasks can be delegated so clinicians can focus more on relationships. -AI companions can mimic emotion, but they cannot replicate human lived experience or accountability. -Psychologists should help design and evaluate AI, not wait until the technology is already built. -Responsible AI requires clear use cases, guardrails, education, and appropriate regulation. Connect with Dr. Shiri Sharvit Website: http://www.resolvetogether.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirisharvitphd/ AI Integration in Behavioral Healthcare: A Practical Framework for Clinicians: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41347-025-00532-z Connect With Us https://www.waydeai.com/ https://www.facebook.com/waydeaillc https://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/ info@waydeai.com Chapters 00:00 - Intro 02:13 - Dr. Shiri Sharvit’s Journey from Clinical Psychology to AI 06:53 - What Makes Generative AI Different from Earlier Digital Tools 09:49 - Why AI Still Feels Foreign to Many Clinicians 12:40 - What Should Stay Human in Psychological Care 14:44 - Bringing Families Into AI-Supported Care 18:07 - How Resolve Together Extends Care Beyond the Clinic 19:15 - A Human and AI Hybrid Care Team 21:41 - How Human-to-AI Handoffs Work 22:37 - What Providers and Families Are Experiencing 24:23 - Will AI Replace Therapists? 27:50 - How Clinicians Can Prepare to Use AI Responsibly 29:43 - Why Psychologists Need to Help Shape AI 31:45 - AI Companions, Engagement, and Appropriate Boundaries 34:00 - Final Advice: Protect Human Relationships

    AI Beyond the Therapy Session: Human Connection, Family Care, and AI with Dr. Shiri Sharvit

  5. Sep 22

    AI and Mental Health: The Promise, Risks, and Future of AI Therapy with Dr. Hiba Arnaout

    In this episode of Beyond the Couch: AI and Psychology, Dr. Ernest Wayde sits down with Dr. Hiba Arnaout, a postdoctoral researcher at the Ubiquitous Knowledge Processing (UKP) Lab at TU Darmstadt. Dr. Arnaout’s research focuses on natural language processing, knowledge graphs, digital mental health, scholarly AI, and responsible AI. She discusses how AI is already being used for mental health support, particularly when people face barriers to traditional therapy, and explores how AI could help improve access and support therapists with tasks such as therapy session summaries and clinical insights. The conversation also examines the risks of AI in mental health, including hallucinations, unreliable information, and challenges in evaluating AI-generated outputs. Dr. Arnaout discusses the growing use of AI as a therapist or companion and emphasizes the importance of systematic evaluation, human oversight, and collaboration between psychologists and computer scientists to develop safer, clinically grounded AI tools. Takeaways: AI can expand access to mental health support when therapy is hard to reach. People are already using AI for therapy, coaching, companionship, and emotional support. Hallucinations create real risks in mental health and clinical use. AI should be systematically evaluated before being trusted for specific tasks. LLMs can help scale evaluation, but human oversight still matters. AI should be judged by the task it performs, not simply as “good” or “bad” for mental health. Connect with Dr. Hiba Arnaout Website: https://hibaarnaout.com/ Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/hiba-arnaout-a93996147 Connect With Us https://www.waydeai.com/ https://www.facebook.com/waydeaillc https://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/ info@waydeai.com Subscribe https://the-waydeai-brief.beehiiv.com/ Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 02:35 - From Computer Science to Mental Health AI Research 04:47 - The Rise of ChatGPT in Mental Health 06:40 - Four Directions of AI for Psychology 09:17 - What Does AI Safety in Mental Health Actually Look Like? 13:50 - Can AI Improve Access to Mental Health Support? 16:50 - Hallucinations: A Major Risk in AI Mental Health Tools 18:43 - Can AI Find Insights Therapists Might Miss? 19:22 - The Challenge of Evaluating Subjective Clinical Decisions 21:48 - AI Explainability: Why Did the Model Reach That Conclusion? 24:15 - Why Psychologists Must Be Part of AI Development 26:10 - Where AI Shows the Most Promise in Mental Health 28:34 - Why AI Should Support Therapists, Not Replace Them 30:05 - Dr. Hiba’s Advice: Evaluate AI Before You Trust It

    AI and Mental Health: The Promise, Risks, and Future of AI Therapy with Dr. Hiba Arnaout

  6. Sep 15

    AI Is Moving Faster Than Governance. What Should Healthcare Do?

    In this episode of Beyond the Couch: AI in Psychology, Dr. Ernest Wayde examines what happens when AI capabilities and adoption move faster than the systems designed to govern them. Drawing connections between recent AI cybersecurity testing, rapid AI adoption in healthcare, shadow AI, and evolving clinical workflows, he argues that responsible AI governance must extend beyond vendor approval, security reviews, and initial validation. Organizations also need to understand what AI systems can access, what actions they can take, how their capabilities change, and how unexpected behaviors will be identified after deployment. Dr. Wayde also explores a less visible dimension of AI risk: how repeated reliance on artificial intelligence may change human judgment, skills, and professional practice over time. For psychologists and other healthcare professionals, this raises important questions about clinical reasoning, interviewing, risk assessment, training, and the expertise needed to recognize when an AI-generated recommendation does not fit the situation. The goal is not to stop AI adoption, but to build ongoing governance that captures its benefits while continuously monitoring risks to patients, professionals, workflows, and the capabilities humans still need to preserve. Takeaways: AI adoption is moving faster than governance.AI governance must extend beyond initial approval and security reviews.Responsible AI governance must account for human behavior and professional skills.The goal is not to stop AI adoption, but to manage its evolving risks responsibly.AI risk is not limited to malicious behavior.Shadow AI is already part of the governance challenge. Connect With Us https://www.waydeai.com/ https://www.facebook.com/waydeaillc https://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/ info@waydeai.com Subscribe https://the-waydeai-brief.beehiiv.com/ Chapters: 00:05 - When AI breaks expected boundaries 01:24 - Why AI governance matters now 03:00 - What happened in OpenAI's sandbox testing 06:00 - Anthropic and unintended access to real systems 07:02 - How AI can cause harm without malicious intent 08:20 - Why these AI failures matter for healthcare 09:54 - AI adoption is outpacing governance 11:12 - The governance gap and shadow AI 13:13 - Why initial security reviews are not enough 14:10 - Expanding the definition of AI governance 14:55 - How AI may change human performance 16:55 - Clinical judgment, skill preservation, and AI reliance 18:55 - Human performance as a governance issue 19:35 - Why AI governance must be ongoing 20:28 - Monitoring unintended consequences after implementation 21:36 - Getting AI's benefits without becoming casual about risk 21:57 - Closing

    AI Is Moving Faster Than Governance. What Should Healthcare Do?

  7. Sep 1

    The Future of AI in Mental Health: Safety, Therapy, and Human Judgment with Dr. Alyssa Dietz

    In this episode of Beyond the Couch, Dr. Ernest Wayde sits down with Dr. Alyssa Dietz, a clinical psychologist whose career spans academia, clinical practice, digital therapeutics, and technology-enabled mental health care. Dr. Dietz shares how her work evolved from researching digital interventions and training future therapists to developing and evaluating AI-supported mental health tools. She discusses how AI can help expand access to evidence-based care, where it performs well in areas such as skills training and pattern matching, and why human clinical judgment, context, and nuance remain essential. The conversation also explores what responsible AI looks like in mental health care, including continuous safety testing, monitoring for model drift, and identifying both obvious and subtle risks such as self-harm, reinforcing delusions, avoidance behaviors, and overly sensitive safety responses. Dr. Dietz explains how psychologists can contribute to designing, evaluating, and supervising AI systems through their expertise in research, assessment, psychometrics, human behavior, and clinical care. She also reflects on how psychologists' roles may evolve as AI takes on more skills training and support functions and encourages psychologists to keep learning and remain open to technology, business, and new professional opportunities. Takeaways: -AI Can Expand Access to Mental Health Care, But It Cannot Replace Human Understanding. -Safety in Mental Health AI Requires Continuous Monitoring, Testing, and Calibration. -AI Can Support Skills Training While Humans Provide Clinical Judgment and Nuance. -Psychologists Are Uniquely Positioned to Help Design, Evaluate, and Govern AI Tools. -The Future Role of Psychologists May Include More AI Supervision and Strategic Clinical Oversight. -AI and Business Literacy Can Help Psychologists Shape the Future of Mental Health Technology. Connect with Dr. Alyssa Dietz LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alyssa-dietz-phd-8a99bbaa Website: https://www.ieso.ai/ Connect With Us https://www.waydeai.com/ https://www.facebook.com/waydeaillc https://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/ info@waydeai.com Subscribe https://the-waydeai-brief.beehiiv.com/ Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 02:00 - Meet Dr. Alyssa Dietz: From Clinical Psychology to AI 03:29 - Lessons From Digital Therapeutics 06:44 - Why Safety Matters in AI Mental Health Tools 08:54 - When AI Safety Systems Overreact 11:15 - How Psychologists Can Use AI in Their Workflow 15:05 - AI, Human Oversight, and Escalation to Care 18:48 - Psychologists and AI Safety, Evaluation, and Research 21:18 - What Psychologists Need to Know About Business 24:49 - Behavioral Health Tech and Therapists in Tech 26:18 - Dr. Dietz’s Transition From Psychology to Tech 29:41 - The Value of Psychologists in AI Development 32:18 - AI Insights for Clinicians: Dropout and Symptom Prediction 33:41 - Dr. Dietz’s Advice: Never Stop Learning

    The Future of AI in Mental Health: Safety, Therapy, and Human Judgment with Dr. Alyssa Dietz

  8. Aug 25

    AI in Mental Health: Why Human Connection Still Matters with Prof. Munmun De Choudhury

    In this episode of Beyond the Couch: AI in Psychology, Dr. Ernest Wayde sits down with Prof. Munmun De Choudhury, J. Z. Liang Professor of Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech and a leading researcher in computational social science, human-computer interaction, and digital mental health. Her work focuses on understanding how digital technologies and online interactions shape mental health and well-being. The conversation explores one of the biggest questions facing psychology today: How can we embrace AI in mental health without losing the human connection at the center of care? Prof. De Choudhury explains why mental health is fundamentally a human experience and why AI should be viewed as a tool that enhances, not replaces, the work of psychologists. She discusses practical ways AI can support clinicians, from summarizing information and identifying insights to helping psychologists better understand aspects of a client's digital life. The discussion also examines the rise of AI companions and "AI buddies," particularly among young people, and what these new forms of relationships could mean for human connection. Prof. De Choudhury highlights both the potential benefits and risks, including emotional overreliance and the possibility of developing unrealistic expectations about relationships. The episode also explores her research into AI safety, cultural competency, language barriers, emotional overreliance, and using AI to encourage young people to seek appropriate mental health support. The conversation ultimately emphasizes the importance of AI literacy, responsible oversight, and ensuring that psychologists have a meaningful seat at the table when AI systems are designed and developed. Takeaways: -AI Should Enhance Human Connection, Not Replace It. -Mental Health Is Fundamentally a Human Experience. -AI Can Support Psychologists Without Replacing Their Clinical Expertise. -AI Literacy Is Becoming Essential for Psychologists, Educators, and the Next Generation. -Responsibility for AI Safety Must Be Shared Across Developers, Clinicians, Users, and Other Stakeholders. -Psychologists Need a Seat at the Table When AI Systems Are Designed and Developed. Connect with Prof. Munmun De Choudhury Website: http://www.munmund.net/ Georgia Tech Profile: https://ic.gatech.edu/people/munmun-de-choudhury Social Dynamics and Well-Being Lab: https://socweb.cc.gatech.edu/ Connect With Us https://www.waydeai.com/ https://www.facebook.com/waydeaillc https://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/ info@waydeai.com Subscribe https://the-waydeai-brief.beehiiv.com/ Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: AI, Mental Health & Human Connection 02:14 - From Computer Science to AI During an AI Winter 05:01 - Why Human Connection Matters in Mental Health 09:40 - The Future of Psychologists Working With AI 13:18 - How AI Relationships May Affect Human Relationships 16:18 - AI, Cultural Competency & Language Barriers 19:45 - Why AI Literacy Needs to Be Part of Education 22:13 - Who Is Responsible When AI Causes Harm? 23:40 - Why Psychologists Need a Seat at the AI Development Table 26:08 - How AI Can Complement a Psychologist’s Expertise 29:57 - Final Advice: Take a Deep Breath, AI Is Here

    AI in Mental Health: Why Human Connection Still Matters with Prof. Munmun De Choudhury
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Beyond the Couch: AI in Psychology bridges the gap between psychology and artificial intelligence, offering psychologists across all specialties clear, actionable insights into how AI is transforming the field. Whether you're a clinician, researcher, educator, organizational psychologist, or working in any psychological specialty, this podcast delivers expert perspectives on ethical integration, practical applications, and future developments to help you confidently navigate the digital transformation of our profession. Presented by ABPP and Wayde AI, with sponsorship from the National Register of Health Service Psychologist, this collaboration brings together psychological expertise and technological innovation to explore how AI can enhance psychological work while maintaining professional standards and human connection. Subscribe now to join a growing community of forward-thinking psychologists who are shaping the future of our profession.

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