Dr. April Clay, CEO, Clay Counseling Solutions; CPO, Clay Counseling Foundation
Dear Friend,
Welcome to the first installment of my column on community mental health. My hope is that this column will provide practical information, increase awareness, and help create a bridge between knowledge and care. Each month, we’ll explore topics that affect our communities and discuss ways we can make informed decisions about our own mental health and identify resources to support the people we love.
Today, let’s focus on something that has quickly become part of everyday life: artificial intelligence (AI). Whether you’re using Gemini, ChatGPT or another AI platform, more people than ever are turning to technology to answer everyday questions about life, from finances and relationships to physical and mental health. AI has become a valuable tool, but it only works when we understand how to use it wisely.
Fact or Fiction?
Increased access to AI means improved mental health outcomes.
Fiction.
Access alone is not a cure. It’s the difference between reading about a medical condition online and visiting a physician who has the training and expertise to ask the right questions, consider factors you may not have thought about, and guide you toward the next steps.
The same is true for mental health. Without proper guidance, people may read accurate information but misinterpret it, self-diagnose, or postpone getting the professional care they need. Sometimes, even one conversation with a qualified mental health professional can help make sense of what you’ve learned through AI.
AI is not the cure or the solution. It is a tool. When it comes to our mental health, we should use it to equip us, not replace professional care.
For minority families, especially Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, access to mental health information has increased dramatically. Our trust, however, has not increased at the same pace, and for many people, there are good reasons for that. Historical, personal, and cultural experiences have shaped how many of us view the mental health system.
Because we now have greater access to information, we also have a greater responsibility to understand its limitations and use it wisely. The goal isn’t simply to gather more information. The goal is to use that information to help guide us toward professionals we can trust.
Culture is more than complexion.
Finding the right therapist is about more than race or ethnicity. It’s about finding someone who provides the care and respect you deserve, understands and embraces the unique identity you bring into the room, and has the cultural competence to ask thoughtful questions instead of making assumptions. AI can help us become informed consumers, but it cannot determine whether a therapist is the right fit for us. That decision should be based on thoughtful consideration, meaningful conversation, and the confidence that your provider sees and values you as a whole person.
Tips from the Therapist
When you’re using AI, it’s a great resource, however it’s important to ensure that we use the proper prompts so it can give us the information we need. AI doesn’t have a way to distinguish between a therapist and a consumer, so it’s going to generate information as if we’re all professionals unless we tell it otherwise.
To protect ourselves, let’s give AI some smart tips so it knows how to help us best.
For example, add:
- “I’m a consumer.”
- “Speak to me as a novice.”
- “Remember I’m not a mental health professional.”
These words help guide AI to give us information in a way that’s easier to understand and less likely to be misunderstood.
The guardrails that consumers need are different from the guardrails that therapists and other medical professionals use. In other words, you’re teaching AI how to best support you.
Ask AI to explain information in plain terms. Ask it to suggest questions you should discuss with a licensed mental health professional. Ask whether your concerns suggest you should seek additional support. Have it help you locate qualified professionals in your area and suggest questions you can ask during your first appointment.
As you’re learning, keep notes about the information that stands out to you or reminds you of what you or a loved one may be experiencing. Bring those notes with you to your consultation. They can help you have a more informed conversation with your provider and make the most of your time together.
AI is a powerful tool. Let’s use it to increase our understanding, ask better questions, and connect with professionals who can help us move toward healing. Let AI equip you, not treat you.
Until next time, stay encouraged, remain committed, and be well.
About the Author:
Dr. April Clay, Ed.D., LMFT, is a community member, licensed marriage and family therapist, parent, and grandparent who has served the Inland Empire community for more than 20 years. She is the CEO of Clay Counseling Solutions and Chief Program Officer for Clay Counseling Foundation, where she works to expand access to quality mental health care and strengthen community well-being.
