In this episode, Dr. Ernest Wayde interviews Dr. Don Grant, a media psychologist, about the intersection of AI and mental health. They discuss the implications of AI on socialization, the rise of chatbots, and the potential dangers of relying on AI for mental health support. Dr. Grant emphasizes the importance of understanding technology as a tool, the need for parents and clinicians to engage with children about their use of AI, and the responsibilities that come with it.

Takeaways

• AI has been embedded in many platforms for a long time, influencing user behavior.

• Chatbots can provide support but are not substitutes for professional mental health care.

• The availability of chatbots raises concerns about misinformation and lack of accountability.

• Parents should engage with their children about their use of AI and chatbots.

• Clinicians must assess if their clients are using chatbots and understand their impact.

• AI can create a false sense of companionship and validation for users.

• AI is a tool that should be used responsibly, especially in mental health contexts.

Connect with Dr. Don Grant

Email: drdej@gmail.com

LinkedIn

Website

In this episode, Dr. Ernest Wayde discusses the intersection of AI and psychology, emphasizing the importance of understanding AI's limitations and the irreplaceable aspects of human psychological expertise. He explores the therapeutic relationship, highlighting the differences between human and AI interactions, and introduces the WAYDE AI Three Questions Assessment to help psychologists building awareness and make informed decisions about AI development related to their practice. The conversation aims to foster clarity and agency among psychologists as they navigate the evolving landscape of AI in mental health care.

Key takeaways include:

• AI cannot replace the irreducible core of psychological expertise.

• A real therapeutic relationship is a mutual two-way process.

• AI treats you as an object to be optimized, not a subject to be understood.

• AI can simulate empathy, but it can't hold responsibility.

• Educating clients about AI vs human therapy is crucial.

• AI can help clinicians reduce administrative load.

• Emotional solipsism can arise from AI interactions.

• We need to talk about how to think about AI clearly.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• First Therapy Chatbot Trial Yields Mental Health Benefits | Dartmouth

• The Story of ELIZA: The AI That Fooled the World

• The Wayde AI Brief

Connect With Us

• https://www.waydeai.com/

• https://www.facebook.com/waydeai

• https://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/

• info@waydeai.com

In this episode, Dr. Ernest Wayde speaks with Dr. Andrew Sherrill, an Emory psychologist specializing in anxiety, PTSD, and OCD, to explore how AI can support—not replace—clinicians. Dr. Sherrill explains how automation can take on the dirty, dull, and dangerous tasks that bog down therapists, freeing them to focus on empathy and evidence-based care.

Drawing from exposure therapy, he offers a powerful parallel for psychologists learning to face their own “AI anxiety.” By approaching new technology the same way we help clients face fears—gradually, with curiosity and compassion—clinicians can engage with AI ethically, creatively, and confidently.

Takeaways:

• AI should replace tasks, not therapists.
• Exposure therapy principles can reduce technophobia and build comfort with AI.
• Stay in the loop: always validate and supervise AI outputs.
• Use AI creatively for safe exposure stimuli (VR, AR, LLMs), but maintain clinical oversight.
• Avoidance fuels anxiety—curiosity builds competence.

Guest Links:

Dr. Andrew M. Sherrill | evidencefirstsolutions.com

AI studies with clinicians registry: http://bit.ly/TEAMMAIT_Study