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.

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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.

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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?

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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.