I had lunch with my friend Christine on Friday, and we caught up about some really cool projects she’d just finished. I told her how I use artificial intelligence in my writing and daily work with clients. Every now and then, I catch myself thinking, “This is it. I’m living in the future.” It feels like that moment in “The Jetsons” when George is talking to a robot or flying his car to work, except my version involves using AI to streamline my clinical notes and improve this blog. Don’t get me wrong—I'm not quite floating around in space. But I’ll admit that using AI to handle the tedious task of documentation specifically feels like a leap into that futuristic, automated world I imagined as a kid.
The shift has been nothing short of transformative. Freed.AI has taken one of the more time-consuming aspects of my work—writing and organizing clinical notes—and simplified it in a way that frees me up for what I care about most: working directly with people. But as incredible as it’s been, I know that not everyone feels the same optimism about artificial intelligence. There’s a lot of anxiety about what AI might do to our jobs, relationships, and even humanity. And while I’m no tech expert, I can at least speak to my own experience. So far, AI has been nothing but a tool that makes my work easier, not one that replaces what I do.
There’s this fear that AI will take over, that robots and computers are coming for our jobs—and sure, we’ve seen some pretty advanced developments in various fields. But from where I’m sitting, AI is not a threat, especially in mental health. It’s an assistant. It helps, but it doesn’t do the actual work. In my case, using Freed.AI means I spend less time writing and more time thinking about my clients and their needs. That’s a significant shift. The tool I’ve been using makes it faster to take care of the administrative details, but the human connection—the essential part of what I do—remains completely untouched by the technology.
As much as “The Jetsons” dazzled us with flying cars and Rosie the Robot handling the housework, it never completely removed the human experience. Even with all their gadgets, the Jetson family still had conflicts, relationships, and emotional bonds. That’s where I think we’re headed with AI. It’s making things easier and faster but not replacing the most important parts of life—the human interactions that ground us.
That’s especially true in mental health. No matter how efficient or advanced AI becomes, it’s not replacing the experience of sitting in a room with someone, listening to them, understanding their story, and offering support. That can’t be coded. I could have the most advanced AI system in the world doing my documentation, organizing my schedule, even analyzing patterns in my clients’ symptoms, but none of that takes away the core of what I do: being present with people.
I think that’s why AI actually calms me more than it worries me. Instead of making me fear for my job, it’s freeing up my time to do more things that matter. It’s like the mundane tasks are handled by the robot assistant, leaving me to do the real work. Freed.AI hasn’t removed me from the equation; it’s allowed me to focus more on the things only I can do—making connections, understanding nuances, and offering empathy. It’s given me more time to be human, not less.
And I think that’s the critical point in all this AI anxiety. Yes, technology is moving fast, and yes, things are changing. However, in areas like mental health, where human connection is the entire point, AI will always be a tool, not a replacement. It’s like having Rosie clean up while George Jetson handles the rest of life. The robot doesn’t replace him; it just makes things easier.
There’s also something deeply comforting in the fact that no matter how advanced AI gets, it will never be able to replicate the human experience. Algorithms can analyze data and predict patterns, but they can’t understand the subtleties of emotion. They don’t know what it feels like to sit with someone in their grief or share in their joy. AI might be able to write notes for me or remind me of appointments, but it can’t offer the compassion or the intuition that comes with real human interaction. And that’s why I’m not worried about it. The essence of what I do—listening, empathy, and connection—will always be something AI can’t touch.
So, while I’m living in a time that feels futuristic, complete with my own digital assistant for clinical notes, I’m reminded every day that there’s still so much that only humans can do. AI is helping me work smarter, but it’s not taking away what’s most important about my work. At the end of the day, people come to therapy for that connection, that understanding. And no matter how advanced AI becomes, it’ll never be able to replicate that.
The future is about balance. We can embrace the tools that make life easier while holding on to the parts of our work and ourselves that can’t be automated. And maybe that’s what makes this time so exciting—not that AI is here to replace us, but that it’s here to help us be even better at what only we can do.
Besides, I’ve seen Terminator 2. I will be friends with the robots in case they turn on us.
(I pay for Freed.AI and, therefore, have not been compensated for this post, and the praise for the product is honest and legitimate. However, if you are a therapist or service provider and want to use Freed.AI to assist in your work, use this coupon code to get $50 off for you and for me! CODE: YVRZ5BAG )
This content is for educational and entertainment purposes and is not the same as therapy. If you need to talk to someone, go to PsychologyToday.com or one of the many online therapy platforms available and start treatment with a professional today!
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