A Note from Our President on the AI Revolution and Its Impact on Becoming a Therapist

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."​ - Martin Luther King Jr.

As President of Sentio University's Marriage and Family Therapy Program, I'm continually inspired by our mission to empower future therapists in navigating the evolving landscape of mental health care. Today, we stand at the forefront of a potentially significant development: the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in mental health support. Recent data, including our own survey, suggests that large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT may already be among the most widely utilized mental health resources in America, offering accessible, 24/7, and affordable support to millions of people in the United States.

At Sentio, we embrace this revolution with optimism and preparedness. While some worry about AI replacing human therapists, the preliminary data and countless anecdotal reports from our communities indicate something quite different: AI has immense potential to enhance—not replace—the essential human connection therapists provide. Therapists educated to thoughtfully integrate AI into their practice will be uniquely positioned to thrive in this new landscape.

Because AI excels at knowledge retrieval far beyond human capacity, it is increasingly important for therapist education and training to emphasize experiential learning that prioritizes building trainees' skills in delivering empathic, attuned therapy, rather than simply memorizing textbook knowledge or writing about therapy. Sentio's deliberate practice approach is ideally suited to this educational shift, offering trainees practical, real-world experiences designed to enhance their therapeutic responsiveness and emotional attunement. Our extensive library of open-source clinical training resources, video library and comprehensive book series provide rigorous deliberate practice exercises, empowering trainees to master these essential skills through repeated practice and targeted feedback.

Our commitment is to equip Sentio students with the knowledge, skills, and adaptability needed to excel alongside AI. Here's how we plan to do it:

• Rigorous Human-Centric Training: Using deliberate practice to focus on what AI can't replicate—empathy, nuanced understanding, ethical discernment, and relational depth—skills uniquely human and irreplaceable.

• Ethical and Safe Use: Rigorous training on ethical considerations, privacy safeguards, and responsible AI usage to ensure therapists protect clients and enhance therapeutic outcomes.

• Research Leadership: Continuing our pioneering research into AI’s therapeutic potential, refining best practices, and sharing insights across our professional community.

Therapists provide empathy, deep human connection, ethical judgment, and nuanced understanding that technology alone cannot replicate. We understand concerns about AI replacing therapist jobs, but the data and experience so far tell a hopeful story: AI is a complement, not a replacement. Our role as therapists remains irreplaceably human, offering care, compassion, and genuine connection—something no AI can duplicate.

If developed responsibly, AI could dramatically expand access to affordable, immediate mental health support, helping billions who currently lack access to traditional care. Mental health professionals have a crucial role to play in shaping this emerging field, ensuring these services become safe, ethical, and effective complements to existing therapeutic practice.

Warm regards,
Tony Rousmaniere, PsyD
President, Sentio Marriage and Family Therapy Program & Executive Director, Sentio Counseling Centers