AI, Therapy & Human Connection: What Psychologists Need to Know with Dr. Page Anderson

In this episode of Beyond the Couch, Dr. Ernest Wayde sits down with Dr. Page Anderson, clinical psychologist, researcher, and associate professor at Georgia State University, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping mental health care, psychology training, and the future of therapy. Dr. Anderson shares her unexpected journey into digital mental health, from working in one of the earliest virtual reality exposure therapy companies to seeing firsthand how AI-powered assistive technology transformed her son’s independence and daily life. The conversation dives into the growing reality that people, especially younger generations, are already using AI tools for emotional support, mental health guidance, and therapy-like conversations, often before speaking to a clinician. The discussion explores the opportunities and risks of AI in psychology, including accessibility to support, the “validation problem” with chatbots, ethical concerns around privacy and data use, and the growing need for AI literacy among clinicians, students, and educators. Dr. Anderson also explains why psychologists must remain actively involved in shaping ethical standards, training, and policy around AI instead of avoiding the technology altogether. Throughout the episode, both guests emphasize that while AI may become a powerful assistive tool, human relationships, critical thinking, ethics, and clinical judgment remain essential to effective mental health care. Takeaways: AI Is Already Being Used for Mental Health Support by Millions of People. Psychologists Need to Engage With AI Instead of Ignoring It. AI Can Improve Accessibility and Reduce Barriers to Mental Health Support. Therapy and Chatting With AI Are Not the Same Thing. AI Literacy and Prompt Engineering Are Becoming Essential Skills for Clinicians. Human Judgment, Ethics, and Critical Thinking Still Matter Most in Mental Health Care. Connect with Dr. Page Anderson Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/page-anderson-ph-d-abpp-clinical-psychologist-associate-professor/ Georgia State University: https://psychology.gsu.edu/ Connect With Ushttps://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 02:40 - “I’m Not a Tech Person” (Origin Story) 04:40 - Personal Story: AI Changing Her Son’s Life 07:08 - Barriers to Traditional Therapy 09:25 - Do Psychologists Still Have a Role? 11:22 - Why Training Comes First 13:30 - The AI Training Gap in Education 17:50 - AI vs Real Therapy (Key Differences) 19:30 - Personalized Therapy Materials with AI 23:00 - Why Critical Thinking Matters Most 24:53 - Where Psychologists Should Start 29:01 - Final Advice for Clinicians 31:20 - Final Thoughts: Humans Train AI