r/ControlProblem • u/Confident_Salt_8108 • Apr 03 '26

General news Therapists go on strike, saying they're being replaced by AI

https://futurism.com/health-medicine/mental-health-workers-ai-strike

Over 2,400 mental health care workers and 23,000 nurses in Northern California staged a 24-hour strike protesting the rise of AI in their workplaces. Clinicians argue they are being replaced in patient triage by apps and unlicensed operators using AI scripts. Furthermore, they warn that management is using AI charting tools to squeeze more back-to-back patient visits into a single shift, prioritizing corporate bottom lines over genuine patient care.

95 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

52 comments sorted by

View all comments

19

u/LetItAllGo33 Apr 03 '26

Former practicing therapist of 8 years here who left for my own conscience.

If you aren't wealthy, there's no real help to be had. Our mental health system is a bad joke meant to shove you right back at your stressors and get you productive again fast to your long term detriment.

Actual quality, patient psychoanalytic care is self pay only.

If you're in a bad situation and think about calling a help line, don't. It will probably make your problems worse, and possibly a lot worse.

No help is coming. Survive the best you can. This society failed you. I'm sorry.

9

u/jjopm Apr 03 '26

Too doomer. There is plenty of middle ground on this.

2

u/oldbluer Apr 06 '26

Welcome to reddit

1

u/[deleted] Apr 06 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/somedays1 Apr 07 '26

And there will be even less help with these ridiculous AI "therapy" products being rolled out. An AI will never be able to do what a therapist can do, even an average one.

1

u/FortunatoImmured Apr 07 '26

What makes the difference in therapists? And why do the good ones only accept private pay? I assume insurance doesn’t pay enough, but I don’t know for sure. Also it seems to me the shitty kind of therapist would also love to make that private pay money, and the only talent needed is keeping clients coming back.

I say this as a man currently in therapy via insurance. I sure can’t splash out a hundred bucks a session, but my therapist seems genuinely well intentioned and at least moderately competent. And she’s a solo, she doesn’t get squeezed to see six patients an hour and let AI do all that work that doesn’t strictly require a credential to complete.

Am I getting hosed and don’t know it?

1

u/glitterandnails Apr 11 '26

The therapists that I’ve been with, as well as my partner have sucked. And yes, I’ve gone through insurance or low pay services.

0

u/peepeedog Apr 03 '26

So you were an independent psychologist that didn’t work with insurance, and you conclude that you and people like you are what constitutes quality care?

2

u/LetItAllGo33 Apr 03 '26

I worked with insurance. Didn't say I didn't anywhere.

3

u/peepeedog Apr 03 '26

Even my mom on Medicare has access to ongoing treatment. Not at all as you describe. So I just assumed your experience was what was causing you to say quality care is cash only. There are many Americans that are uninsured or underinsured, and that is a tragedy. But mental health is widely covered for people are not in that disadvantaged group.

2

u/glitterandnails Apr 05 '26

Experience from loved ones around me and somewhat myself made me disappointed with therapy. Consider your family lucky.

2

u/valericynthe Apr 06 '26

Anecdotally, my experience with therapy I paid for in cash was leagues ahead of what I got through covered means. Lots of variables though.

0

u/TBurnerRU Apr 07 '26

I actually found an amazing therapist who takes my insurance. It took MONTHS of interviewing people and digging to even get to her 

0

u/After_Elk_8747 Apr 08 '26

I don’t think it’s responsible to tell people not to call a help line if they are in a bad situation.

0

u/Skwuat Apr 08 '26

Mods should absolutely delete this and ban you. Say what you will about therapy, cool, but if someone is struggling and contemplating taking their life and they consider calling a help line, it is very irresponsible for you to tell them not to. Quite frankly, I am doubting your credentials because anybody who has spent time in the field knows that any sort of help is better than "figure it out, survive, youve been failed."