How AI Is Changing Access to Complementary and Talking Therapies
For most of us, health care used to mean one thing: you booked an appointment, travelled to a clinic, and sat in a room with a professional. Over the last few years, that picture has started to shift. Telehealth is now routine, people track their sleep and steps on their phones, and many quietly test out mental health apps before they ever speak to a therapist.
The newest layer in that mix is artificial intelligence (AI). It now sits inside symptom checkers, chatbots, journalling apps, and even meditation tools. For some, this feels exciting. For others, it’s unsettling, especially when we’re talking about something as personal as mental health and complementary therapies.
Used well, AI doesn’t replace human care. Instead, it can make it easier to reach the kinds of holistic support that already work: talking therapies, complementary treatments, and practical lifestyle changes.
Why people are turning to AI first
When I talk to clients about how they found help, a familiar pattern comes up:
- “I didn’t know what kind of therapy I needed.”
- “I wanted to try something on my own before seeing anyone.”
- “The wait for a psychologist was long, so I downloaded an app.”
AI tools fit neatly into that first, tentative step. Someone might ask a chatbot, “Why can’t I sleep?” or “Is there anything natural I can try for anxiety?” Before they ever book in with a practitioner, they’re already reading about mindfulness, acupuncture, yoga therapy, CBT, or counselling.
That doesn’t mean the AI has all the answers. What it does do is lower the barrier to curiosity. At midnight, when the mind is racing and most clinics are closed, a simple, non-judgemental conversation can nudge a person from vague worry toward concrete options.
Helping people understand their options
One of the strengths of AI is its ability to organise information quickly. Instead of trawling through dozens of articles, a person can ask:
- “What’s the difference between counselling and CBT?”
- “How does acupuncture help with chronic pain?”
- “Is meditation actually useful for stress?”
When AI is trained responsibly, it can summarise the basics of these approaches in plain language. For example:
- Explaining that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and is often used for anxiety and depression.
- Describing how complementary therapies like acupuncture, massage, yoga therapy, or naturopathy fit into a holistic plan rather than replacing medical care.
- Outlining how mindfulness and meditation can help regulate the nervous system and improve emotional awareness.
This kind of overview doesn’t equal a professional assessment, but it can stop people feeling lost. They arrive at their first appointment with better questions, clearer expectations, and a sense of what they’d like to try.
Supporting, not replacing, talking therapies
Talking therapies are built on trust, nuance, and human connection. AI can’t recreate the feeling of sitting with someone who really gets you. What it can do is support the work that already happens in the therapy room.
Here are a few examples of how clients use AI alongside therapy:
Between-session reflection
After a counselling session, someone might ask an AI assistant to help them summarise the key points they want to remember, or to generate journalling prompts based on themes they’re working on – like boundaries, self-criticism, or grief.
Practising skills
A person learning CBT might use AI to role-play challenging unhelpful thoughts, or to suggest different ways of reframing a situation they’re stuck on.
Gentle reminders
AI tools can nudge people to practise breathing exercises, mindfulness, or sleep hygiene – the simple habits that make a huge difference but are easy to forget in a busy week.
From the therapist’s side, AI can also help with practical tasks like drafting letters, summarising session notes, or creating easy-to-read handouts. That frees up more time and energy for the relational work humans do best.
Where complementary and holistic therapies fit in
Many people don’t want a purely “talking” approach. They’re drawn to complementary therapies that work with the body as well as the mind: acupuncture, massage, yoga therapy, naturopathy, herbal medicine, and more.
AI can play a role here too, as long as it stays within safe limits:
Education, not diagnosis
AI can explain what a therapy is commonly used for, what a typical session looks like, and what the evidence base suggests – while still encouraging people to speak with qualified practitioners and their GP.
Integrating lifestyle changes
When someone is already receiving complementary treatment, they can use AI tools to plan supportive routines: balanced meals, movement, sleep routines, or stress-management practices that align with their therapist’s recommendations.
Finding suitable practitioners
Platforms like Therapy Near Me and other directories can be used alongside AI. The AI can help someone clarify what they’re looking for, then they can search for real clinicians or complementary therapists who match those needs and locations.
The key is that AI should point towards safe, evidence-informed care – not pretend to offer the treatment itself.
Safety, boundaries, and sensible limits
For all its promise, AI in mental health comes with real risks:
- It can sound confident while being wrong.
- It might miss red flags around self-harm or crisis.
- It has no legal duty of care, no ability to call emergency services, and no professional registration.
That’s why clear boundaries matter. Some practical guidelines:
- Don’t use AI in an emergency.
If you’re thinking about harming yourself or someone else, contact local crisis services, your doctor, or a trusted person. AI can’t keep you physically safe. - Use it as a companion, not a therapist.
Let AI help you explore ideas, practise skills, or organise information – but make important decisions with real professionals. - Be cautious with personal details.
Avoid sharing identifying information or anything you would be devastated to see misused. Read privacy policies and choose reputable platforms. - Notice how it affects you.
If you consistently feel more anxious, hopeless, or dependent after using a tool, step back and talk to a clinician about it.
A more balanced future for digital health
The most helpful way to think about AI in complementary and talking therapies is as part of a team, not the star of the show.
On that team you might have:
- Your GP or specialist doctor
- A counsellor, psychologist, or psychotherapist
- Complementary therapists such as acupuncturists, massage therapists, naturopaths, yoga or meditation teachers
- Supportive friends, family, or community groups
- And in a limited, carefully-used role, AI tools that make it easier to learn, reflect, and stay engaged with your own wellbeing
When each piece is used for what it does best, people are more likely to get the layered, holistic support they need: mind, body, and environment.
AI isn’t going to replace a calm voice in the treatment room, the warmth of a safe touch in massage, or the grounded guidance of a skilled yoga therapist. But it may help more people reach those supports sooner, with more clarity and confidence.
As with all complementary and talking therapies, the heart of good care remains the same: respectful relationships, informed choices, and a willingness to see the whole person, not just their symptoms. AI can help us move information around more quickly, but it’s still human beings who do the actual healing work, one conversation, one session, and one small change at a time.
Author bio:
Alexander Amatus is Business Development Lead at TherapyNearMe.com.au, Australia’s fastest growing national mental health service. He works at the intersection of clinical operations, AI-enabled care pathways, and sustainable digital infrastructure.
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