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Beyond the Couch: AI in Psychology: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Ernest Wayde
Beyond the Couch: AI in Psychology bridges the gap between psychology and artificial intelligence, offering psychologists across all specialties clear, actionable insights into how AI is transforming the field. Whether you're a clinician, researcher, educator, organizational psychologist, or working in any psychological specialty, this podcast delivers expert perspectives on ethical integration, practical applications, and future developments to help you confidently navigate the digital transformation of our profession.
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- 1 weeks ago31 min
AI and Mental Health: The Promise, Risks, and Future of AI Therapy with Dr. Hiba Arnaout
In this episode of Beyond the Couch: AI and Psychology, Dr. Ernest Wayde sits down with Dr. Hiba Arnaout, a postdoctoral researcher at the Ubiquitous Knowledge Processing (UKP) Lab at TU Darmstadt. Dr. Arnaout’s research focuses on natural language processing, knowledge graphs, digital mental health, scholarly AI, and responsible AI. She discusses how AI is already being used for mental health support, particularly when people face barriers to traditional therapy, and explores how AI could help improve access and support therapists with tasks such as therapy session summaries and clinical insights. The conversation also examines the risks of AI in mental health, including hallucinations, unreliable information, and challenges in evaluating AI-generated outputs. Dr. Arnaout discusses the growing use of AI as a therapist or companion and emphasizes the importance of systematic evaluation, human oversight, and collaboration between psychologists and computer scientists to develop safer, clinically grounded AI tools. Takeaways: AI can expand access to mental health support when therapy is hard to reach. People are already using AI for therapy, coaching, companionship, and emotional support. Hallucinations create real risks in mental health and clinical use. AI should be systematically evaluated before being trusted for specific tasks. LLMs can help scale evaluation, but human oversight still matters. AI should be judged by the task it performs, not simply as “good” or “bad” for mental health. Connect with Dr. Hiba Arnaout Website: https://hibaarnaout.com/ Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/hiba-arnaout-a93996147 Connect With Us https://www.waydeai.com/ https://www.facebook.com/waydeaillc https://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/ info@waydeai.com Subscribe https://the-waydeai-brief.beehiiv.com/ Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 02:35 - From Computer Science to Mental Health AI Research 04:47 - The Rise of ChatGPT in Mental Health 06:40 - Four Directions of AI for Psychology 09:17 - What Does AI Safety in Mental Health Actually Look Like? 13:50 - Can AI Improve Access to Mental Health Support? 16:50 - Hallucinations: A Major Risk in AI Mental Health Tools 18:43 - Can AI Find Insights Therapists Might Miss? 19:22 - The Challenge of Evaluating Subjective Clinical Decisions 21:48 - AI Explainability: Why Did the Model Reach That Conclusion? 24:15 - Why Psychologists Must Be Part of AI Development 26:10 - Where AI Shows the Most Promise in Mental Health 28:34 - Why AI Should Support Therapists, Not Replace Them 30:05 - Dr. Hiba’s Advice: Evaluate AI Before You Trust It
- 2 weeks ago22 min
AI Is Moving Faster Than Governance. What Should Healthcare Do?
In this episode of Beyond the Couch: AI in Psychology, Dr. Ernest Wayde examines what happens when AI capabilities and adoption move faster than the systems designed to govern them. Drawing connections between recent AI cybersecurity testing, rapid AI adoption in healthcare, shadow AI, and evolving clinical workflows, he argues that responsible AI governance must extend beyond vendor approval, security reviews, and initial validation. Organizations also need to understand what AI systems can access, what actions they can take, how their capabilities change, and how unexpected behaviors will be identified after deployment.Dr. Wayde also explores a less visible dimension of AI risk: how repeated reliance on artificial intelligence may change human judgment, skills, and professional practice over time. For psychologists and other healthcare professionals, this raises important questions about clinical reasoning, interviewing, risk assessment, training, and the expertise needed to recognize when an AI-generated recommendation does not fit the situation. The goal is not to stop AI adoption, but to build ongoing governance that captures its benefits while continuously monitoring risks to patients, professionals, workflows, and the capabilities humans still need to preserve.Takeaways:AI adoption is moving faster than governance.AI governance must extend beyond initial approval and security reviews.Responsible AI governance must account for human behavior and professional skills.The goal is not to stop AI adoption, but to manage its evolving risks responsibly.AI risk is not limited to malicious behavior.Shadow AI is already part of the governance challenge.Connect With Ushttps://www.waydeai.com/https://www.facebook.com/waydeaillchttps://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/info@waydeai.comSubscribehttps://the-waydeai-brief.beehiiv.com/Chapters:00:05 - When AI breaks expected boundaries01:24 - Why AI governance matters now03:00 - What happened in OpenAI's sandbox testing06:00 - Anthropic and unintended access to real systems07:02 - How AI can cause harm without malicious intent08:20 - Why these AI failures matter for healthcare09:54 - AI adoption is outpacing governance11:12 - The governance gap and shadow AI13:13 - Why initial security reviews are not enough14:10 - Expanding the definition of AI governance14:55 - How AI may change human performance16:55 - Clinical judgment, skill preservation, and AI reliance18:55 - Human performance as a governance issue19:35 - Why AI governance must be ongoing20:28 - Monitoring unintended consequences after implementation21:36 - Getting AI's benefits without becoming casual about risk21:57 - Closing
- Sep 1, 202634 min
The Future of AI in Mental Health: Safety, Therapy, and Human Judgment with Dr. Alyssa Dietz
In this episode of Beyond the Couch, Dr. Ernest Wayde sits down with Dr. Alyssa Dietz, a clinical psychologist whose career spans academia, clinical practice, digital therapeutics, and technology-enabled mental health care. Dr. Dietz shares how her work evolved from researching digital interventions and training future therapists to developing and evaluating AI-supported mental health tools. She discusses how AI can help expand access to evidence-based care, where it performs well in areas such as skills training and pattern matching, and why human clinical judgment, context, and nuance remain essential.The conversation also explores what responsible AI looks like in mental health care, including continuous safety testing, monitoring for model drift, and identifying both obvious and subtle risks such as self-harm, reinforcing delusions, avoidance behaviors, and overly sensitive safety responses. Dr. Dietz explains how psychologists can contribute to designing, evaluating, and supervising AI systems through their expertise in research, assessment, psychometrics, human behavior, and clinical care. She also reflects on how psychologists' roles may evolve as AI takes on more skills training and support functions and encourages psychologists to keep learning and remain open to technology, business, and new professional opportunities.Takeaways: -AI Can Expand Access to Mental Health Care, But It Cannot Replace Human Understanding.-Safety in Mental Health AI Requires Continuous Monitoring, Testing, and Calibration.-AI Can Support Skills Training While Humans Provide Clinical Judgment and Nuance.-Psychologists Are Uniquely Positioned to Help Design, Evaluate, and Govern AI Tools.-The Future Role of Psychologists May Include More AI Supervision and Strategic Clinical Oversight.-AI and Business Literacy Can Help Psychologists Shape the Future of Mental Health Technology.Connect with Dr. Alyssa DietzLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alyssa-dietz-phd-8a99bbaaWebsite: https://www.ieso.ai/Connect With Us https://www.waydeai.com/https://www.facebook.com/waydeaillchttps://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/info@waydeai.comSubscribe https://the-waydeai-brief.beehiiv.com/Chapters: 00:00 - Intro02:00 - Meet Dr. Alyssa Dietz: From Clinical Psychology to AI03:29 - Lessons From Digital Therapeutics06:44 - Why Safety Matters in AI Mental Health Tools08:54 - When AI Safety Systems Overreact11:15 - How Psychologists Can Use AI in Their Workflow15:05 - AI, Human Oversight, and Escalation to Care18:48 - Psychologists and AI Safety, Evaluation, and Research21:18 - What Psychologists Need to Know About Business24:49 - Behavioral Health Tech and Therapists in Tech26:18 - Dr. Dietz’s Transition From Psychology to Tech29:41 - The Value of Psychologists in AI Development32:18 - AI Insights for Clinicians: Dropout and Symptom Prediction33:41 - Dr. Dietz’s Advice: Never Stop Learning
- Aug 25, 202631 min
AI in Mental Health: Why Human Connection Still Matters with Prof. Munmun De Choudhury
In this episode of Beyond the Couch: AI in Psychology, Dr. Ernest Wayde sits down with Prof. Munmun De Choudhury, J. Z. Liang Professor of Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech and a leading researcher in computational social science, human-computer interaction, and digital mental health. Her work focuses on understanding how digital technologies and online interactions shape mental health and well-being.The conversation explores one of the biggest questions facing psychology today: How can we embrace AI in mental health without losing the human connection at the center of care?Prof. De Choudhury explains why mental health is fundamentally a human experience and why AI should be viewed as a tool that enhances, not replaces, the work of psychologists. She discusses practical ways AI can support clinicians, from summarizing information and identifying insights to helping psychologists better understand aspects of a client's digital life.The discussion also examines the rise of AI companions and "AI buddies," particularly among young people, and what these new forms of relationships could mean for human connection. Prof. De Choudhury highlights both the potential benefits and risks, including emotional overreliance and the possibility of developing unrealistic expectations about relationships.The episode also explores her research into AI safety, cultural competency, language barriers, emotional overreliance, and using AI to encourage young people to seek appropriate mental health support. The conversation ultimately emphasizes the importance of AI literacy, responsible oversight, and ensuring that psychologists have a meaningful seat at the table when AI systems are designed and developed.Takeaways: -AI Should Enhance Human Connection, Not Replace It.-Mental Health Is Fundamentally a Human Experience.-AI Can Support Psychologists Without Replacing Their Clinical Expertise.-AI Literacy Is Becoming Essential for Psychologists, Educators, and the Next Generation.-Responsibility for AI Safety Must Be Shared Across Developers, Clinicians, Users, and Other Stakeholders.-Psychologists Need a Seat at the Table When AI Systems Are Designed and Developed.Connect with Prof. Munmun De Choudhury Website: http://www.munmund.net/Georgia Tech Profile: https://ic.gatech.edu/people/munmun-de-choudhurySocial Dynamics and Well-Being Lab: https://socweb.cc.gatech.edu/Connect With Us https://www.waydeai.com/https://www.facebook.com/waydeaillchttps://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/info@waydeai.comSubscribe https://the-waydeai-brief.beehiiv.com/Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: AI, Mental Health & Human Connection02:14 - From Computer Science to AI During an AI Winter05:01 - Why Human Connection Matters in Mental Health09:40 - The Future of Psychologists Working With AI13:18 - How AI Relationships May Affect Human Relationships16:18 - AI, Cultural Competency & Language Barriers19:45 - Why AI Literacy Needs to Be Part of Education22:13 - Who Is Responsible When AI Causes Harm?23:40 - Why Psychologists Need a Seat at the AI Development Table26:08 - How AI Can Complement a Psychologist’s Expertise29:57 - Final Advice: Take a Deep Breath, AI Is Here
- Aug 18, 202633 min
Think First, AI Second: Why Human Judgment Still Matters in Psychology with Dr. John Gavazzi
In this episode of Beyond the Couch, Dr. Ernest Wayde sits down with Dr. John Gavazzi, board-certified clinical psychologist, ethics educator, and former President of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, to explore how psychologists can responsibly integrate artificial intelligence into clinical practice without compromising professional judgment or quality of care.Drawing decades of experience in ethics, mental health law, and clinical decision-making, Dr. Gavazzi explains why AI should enhance, not replace, the thinking process of psychologists. He introduces the concept of "Think First, AI Second," arguing that clinicians must remain the originators of thought, using AI only after applying their own expertise and clinical reasoning.The conversation explores the growing use of AI by both clinicians and clients, examining why people are turning to AI for emotional support, how psychologists can adapt when clients bring ChatGPT into therapy, and what must be preserved as AI becomes increasingly embedded in mental health care. Dr. Gavazzi also discusses cognitive offloading, automation bias, ethical accountability, AI literacy, and practical ways clinicians can redesign their workflows while maintaining professional competence.Ultimately, this episode reinforces that while AI is becoming an invaluable tool for psychology, human connection, ethical responsibility, and clinical judgment remain irreplaceable.Takeaways Psychologists Should Think First and Use AI Second.AI Can Support Clinical Work, But It Cannot Replace Human Judgment.Cognitive Offloading Can Weaken Clinical Skills Over Time.AI's Fluency Should Never Be Mistaken for Accuracy.Clients Are Already Bringing AI Into Therapy Sessions.Connect with Dr. John Gavazzi Website: ethicalpsychology.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johngavazziEmail Address: john.gavazzi@gmail.comConnect With Us https://www.waydeai.com/https://www.facebook.com/waydeaillchttps://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/info@waydeai.comSubscribehttps://the-waydeai-brief.beehiiv.com/Chapters00:00 - Intro02:00 - Meet Dr. Gavazzi and His Background in Ethics & AI03:36 - The "Think First, AI Second" Framework07:10 - What Psychology Must Preserve in the Age of AI09:12 - Simulated Empathy vs. Human Connection12:00 - Can AI Really Show Empathy?13:46 - The Risk of Cognitive Offloading17:50 - Fluency Doesn't Mean Accuracy20:00 - How Therapists Should Respond to Clients Using AI22:57 - When Clients Bring ChatGPT into Therapy24:50 - Teaching Future Psychologists to Work With AI27:16 - How Much AI Knowledge Do Psychologists Need?30:16 - Applying Ethics to AI in Clinical Practice32:55 - Final Advice: Think First, AI Second
- Aug 11, 202630 min
Building AI for Mental Health: A Computer Scientist’s Perspective with Zainab Iftikhar
In this episode, Dr. Ernest Wayde sits down with Zainab Iftikhar, a PhD candidate in Computer Science at Brown University whose research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and AI for mental health. As the first computer scientist featured on the podcast, Zainab offers a unique perspective on how mental health AI systems are designed, evaluated, and used in the real world.The conversation explores why people turn to AI for emotional support, the benefits and risks of mental health chatbots, and what happens when users begin to rely on these systems in place of human connection. Zainab shares insights from her research on emotional dependency, therapeutic boundaries, and the challenges of building AI that supports well-being without causing harm.The episode also examines the critical role of clinicians, researchers, and developers in shaping the future of mental health technology. Together, they discuss how AI can serve as a valuable support tool while preserving human relationships and clinical expertise that remain at the heart of effective care.Takeaways:Human connection remains essential in therapy.AI is designed to agree with users.Overreliance on AI can create dependency.Long-term AI use deserves closer evaluation.Psychologists should help shape mental health AI.Safe AI requires clinician-developer collaboration.Connect with Zainab Iftikhar Website: https://zainabiftikhar.com/Connect With Us https://www.waydeai.com/https://www.facebook.com/waydeaillchttps://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/info@waydeai.comSubscribehttps://the-waydeai-brief.beehiiv.com/ Chapters:00:00 - Intro02:56 - Journey Into AI & Mental Health Research04:30 - Evaluating AI in Mental Health Contexts08:05 - How People Actually Use AI for Mental Health11:30 - Designing Safer AI for Mental Health Use14:06 - Role of Psychologist Collaboration in AI Design16:07 - Evaluating Long AI Conversations vs Single Responses21:30 - Will AI Replace Therapists?25:47 - Example of AI Helping Emotional Regulation28:41 - Final Tip: Challenge the AI’s Bias
- Aug 4, 20269 min
Psychology in the Age of AI - What Comes Next?
In the Season 3 premiere of Beyond the Couch: AI in Psychology, Dr. Ernest Wayde explores a question that is becoming increasingly urgent for psychologists, clinicians, educators, researchers, and organizational leaders: now that artificial intelligence is already part of our professional and personal lives, what is psychology responsible for?Reflecting how the AI conversation has evolved over the past year, Dr. Wayde argues that the question is no longer whether AI is coming; it is already here. From clients consulting chatbots before therapy sessions to students using AI in education, clinicians leveraging AI for documentation, and researchers navigating new questions around authorship and integrity, AI is actively shaping the way psychological work is conducted.This episode introduces the central framework that will guide Season 3: Preserve, Redesign, and Guide. Dr. Wayde examines which aspects of psychology must remain firmly rooted in human expertise, such as professional judgment, ethical accountability, and contextual understanding. He also challenges listeners to consider where traditional workflows may need to evolve as AI creates new opportunities for efficiency and innovation.Takeaways:AI Is No Longer a Future Issue; It Is Already Part of Psychological Practice.Clients, Students, Researchers, and Clinicians Are Already Using AI in Meaningful Ways.The Greatest Risk May Be When AI Becomes Invisible in Everyday Workflows.Psychology Must Distinguish Between What Should Be Preserved and What Can Be Redesigned.AI Creates Opportunities to Improve Efficiency, Access, and Workflow Design.Psychologists Have a Responsibility to Guide AI Use Responsibly and Ethically.Connect With Ushttps://www.waydeai.com/https://www.facebook.com/waydeaillchttps://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/info@waydeai.comSubscribehttps://the-waydeai-brief.beehiiv.com/Chapters:00:00 - Intro01:50 - Why the Conversation About AI Has Changed03:25 - Lessons from Season 2: Questions That Still Matter05:27 - The Season 3 Framework: Preserve • Redesign • Guide8:09 - Using AI to Improve Effectiveness and Efficiency
- May 19, 202639 min
Teaching Students to Think With AI, Not Around It with Dr. David Williamson Shaffer
In this episode of Beyond the Couch, Dr. Ernest Wayde sits down with Dr. David Williamson Shaffer, learning scientist, educator, and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming education, writing, critical thinking, and the future of learning.Dr. David Williamson Shaffer shares his journey from classroom teacher to leading researcher in learning analytics and AI in education. He reflects on how the rise of computers, the internet, and now generative AI have fundamentally changed the way humans think, learn, and interact with information.The conversation explores why traditional education systems may no longer fit a world shaped by AI, how educators can rethink assignments and classroom learning, and why the goal should not be preventing AI use but teaching students how to collaborate with it responsibly. He also discusses the importance of critical thinking, ethical AI use, AI literacy, and why learning with technology may matter more than learning without it.The episode also dives into practical examples of AI in classrooms, the risks of overreliance on AI, responsible use in academic writing and research, and why educators, clinicians, and researchers must actively engage with AI instead of avoiding it.Takeaways:AI Is Reshaping How Humans Learn, Think, and Solve Problems.Traditional Education Models Were Not Designed for an AI-Driven World.The Goal Should Be Learning How to Work With AI, Not Simply Avoiding It.Critical Thinking Matters More Than Ever in the Age of Generative AI.Students Need Opportunities to Use AI Responsibly and Reflectively.Educators Cannot Be Expected to Solve AI Challenges Alone Without Systemic Support.AI Literacy Is Becoming Essential for Teachers, Researchers, Clinicians, and Students.Technology Should Expand Human Capability Rather Than Replace Human Judgment.Connect with Dr. David Williamson ShafferWebsite: https://edpsych.education.wisc.edu/fac-staff/williamson-shaffer-david/Connect With Ushttps://www.waydeai.com/https://www.facebook.com/waydeaillchttps://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/info@waydeai.comSubscribe https://the-waydeai-brief.beehiiv.com/ Chapters:00:00 - Intro02:33 - From Teacher to AI & Learning Science Researcher06:00 - How AI Is Disrupting Education10:03 - Why Predicting AI’s Future Is Nearly Impossible11:19 - Understanding “Pedagogical Content Knowledge”14:24 - Why Everyone Should Start Using AI16:46 - Why Teachers Can’t Solve This Alone22:08 - “Betty’s Brain” & Teaching Through AI Feedback25:38 - Using AI to Learn Across Languages28:30 - The MIT Study on Writing With AI31:10 - “If AI Makes a Mistake, You Made the Mistake”33:46 - “Effects Of” vs “Effects With” Technology37:37 - The Importance of Personally Using AI
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About Beyond the Couch: AI in Psychology
Beyond the Couch: AI in Psychology bridges the gap between psychology and artificial intelligence, offering psychologists across all specialties clear, actionable insights into how AI is transforming the field. Whether you're a clinician, researcher, educator, organizational psychologist, or working in any psychological specialty, this podcast delivers expert perspectives on ethical integration, practical applications, and future developments to help you confidently navigate the digital transformation of our profession.
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