UberTherapy: The New Business of Mental Health

Elizabeth Cotton

Stories of UberTherapy is a series of six recorded conversations with therapists, social justice activists, trade unionists and progressive tech campaigners to ask if a MuchBetter.Help is possible. Each episode is based on the six chapters of UberTherapy: The New Business of Mental Health exploring key stories around our relationships with technology and AI and the impact on our states of mind. Conversations explore the rise of platform-based care, the datafication of human distress and the growing tension between access and depth and asks how we might construct alternatives. The podcast series is hosted by Elizabeth Cotton, author of UberTherapy and founder of Surviving Work, and Linda Michaels, founder of Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN). To follow the work of a MuchBetter.Help sign up here: https://www.muchbetter.help/ To read UberTherapy published by Bristol University Press (2025) go here: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/ubertherapy

  1. Episode 1

    Chapter 1: Angerland — Todd Essig and Amy Levy

    Episode 1: Angerland with Todd Essig (psychoanalyst) & Amy Levy (psychoanalyst), co-chairs of the American Psychoanalytic Association’s Committee on AI on how to use our psychoanalytic minds to understand the future of therapy. Key themes include the concept of 'optimum friction' in therapy, the potential benefits and drawbacks of AI therapists, and the importance of maintaining a human-centered approach in mental health care. Practitioners will find valuable insights into how to engage with the realities of AI in therapy while remaining attuned to the emotional needs of clients. This episode serves as a thought-provoking resource for therapists, counsellors, and psychologists seeking to understand the future of mental health care in an increasingly digital world.

  2. Episode 2

    Chapter 2: UberTherapy — Alex Hanna and Emily M. Bender

    Episode 2: UberTherapy with Alex Hanna (DAIR) & Emily Bender (University of Washington), authors of The AI Con, to explore the hype around AI. Key themes include the distinction between automation and artificial intelligence, the socio-political context of AI technologies, and the ethical considerations that arise when integrating these tools into mental health practices. Practitioners are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences with technology in therapy and to engage in conversations about the future of mental health care in an increasingly automated world. This episode serves as a vital resource for therapists seeking to navigate the intersection of technology and mental health with a critical lens.

  3. Episode 3

    Chapter 3: Psychic Pilates — China Mills, Emily Yue and Sarah Waters

    Episode 3: Psychic Pilates with China Mills (Deaths by Welfare), Emily Yue (Healing Justice London) & Sarah Waters (University of Leeds), researchers and activists working together on work related suicide help us to understand the weaponisation of work, welfare and mental health under austerity. Key themes include the critical examination of the mental health system, the role of activism in advocating for change, and the importance of lived experiences in shaping our understanding of welfare and justice. Practitioners are encouraged to reflect on their own practices and consider how they can contribute to a more equitable mental health landscape, fostering environments that prioritize healing and inclusion. The episode serves as both an educational resource and a source of inspiration for therapists, counsellors, and psychologists committed to social justice in their work.

  4. Episode 4

    Chapter 4: Do You Have To Marry A Rich Man To Be A Therapist? — James Farrar and Hilda Poulson

    Episode 4: Do you have to marry a rich man to be a therapist? with James Farrar (Worker Info Exchange) & Hilda Poulson (National Union of Healthcare Workers), to learn the lessons of organizing Uber drivers and the Kaiser Permanente hunger strike. Listeners will gain insights into the importance of organizing for better working conditions and patient access, as well as the role of unions in advocating for mental health professionals. The episode serves as a call to action for therapists to unite and address the systemic issues affecting their profession, emphasizing that meaningful change is possible through collective efforts and advocacy.

  5. Episode 5

    Chapter 5: Therapeutic Tinder — Julia Macintosh and Jumanah Younis

    Episode 5: Therapeutic Tinder with Jumanah Younis (Psychotherapist) & Julia MacIntosh (Centre for Mad Culture UK), writers and activists on how to talk about money, love and care in a way that doesn’t cause self-harm. Key themes include the value of self-organization within communities, the impact of personal narratives on political consciousness, and the necessity of fostering relationships that honor individual capacities. Listeners will take away insights on how to practice activism without self-harm, the significance of mutual care in therapeutic settings, and the importance of addressing the undervaluation of care work in society. This episode encourages practitioners to reflect on their own experiences and the ways they can contribute to a more equitable mental health landscape.

  6. Episode 6

    Chapter 6: RealTherapy — Elizabeth Lunbeck and Jon Allen

    Episode 6: RealTherapy™ with Jon Allen (Psychologist) & Elizabeth Lunbeck (Harvard University), practitioners, teachers & writers thinking about how we keep doing the deep work. Key themes include the duality of structure and improvisation in therapy, the historical concerns surrounding the human element in psychotherapy, and the ethical considerations of integrating AI into therapeutic practices. Practitioners will gain insights into how to navigate these changes and reflect on the future of therapy in an increasingly digital world, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the therapeutic relationship amidst technological advancements.

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About

Stories of UberTherapy is a series of six recorded conversations with therapists, social justice activists, trade unionists and progressive tech campaigners to ask if a MuchBetter.Help is possible. Each episode is based on the six chapters of UberTherapy: The New Business of Mental Health exploring key stories around our relationships with technology and AI and the impact on our states of mind. Conversations explore the rise of platform-based care, the datafication of human distress and the growing tension between access and depth and asks how we might construct alternatives. The podcast series is hosted by Elizabeth Cotton, author of UberTherapy and founder of Surviving Work, and Linda Michaels, founder of Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN). To follow the work of a MuchBetter.Help sign up here: https://www.muchbetter.help/ To read UberTherapy published by Bristol University Press (2025) go here: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/ubertherapy

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