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The Rise of AI Companions and What it Means for Youth Mental Health
More and more young people are turning to AI for something we didn’t really anticipate a few years ago. Not just homework help. Not just curiosity. They’re using it to talk through problems, to vent, to ask questions they’re not ready or embarrassed to ask someone else. In some cases,...
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From Access to Engagement: Reimagining the Consumer Experience in Behavioral Health
Behavioral health systems have made significant strides in expanding access to care. Peer services have grown across outpatient clinics, crisis teams, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), and substance use treatment programs. Telehealth has normalized remote care. Patient portals...
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I Told the Bot, Not My Therapist – Why Some People Turn to AI for Emotional Support
Key Points Emotionally responsive AI systems are increasingly used for comfort, not just information. Validation without limits can unintentionally deepen isolation during moments of vulnerability. Chatbots can simulate empathy but cannot assume human responsibility or intervene when...
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Telehealth and Its Role in Expanding Workforce Capacity
The truth is that accessing healthcare is a part-time activity. There is the morning travel, the hour (or three) you spend waiting in line at the doctor’s office, the panic call to your boss about a late report, again. It is not only a nuisance, but it is a colossal waste of the most precious...
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When Workforce Strategy Becomes a Finance Problem
Every behavioral-health CEO I work with is watching the same crisis unfold. They need more clinicians than the market can supply, and even when they succeed in hiring, keeping those clinicians becomes a significant challenge. More than 122 million Americans live in areas where they might struggle...
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Keeping Clinicians in Private Practice: AI’s Role in Sustaining the Behavioral Health Workforce
The behavioral health workforce is under strain as demand for mental healthcare continues to accelerate. Over one third of the U.S. population lives in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area as of 2024. Private practice clinicians are central to serving these communities, offering a low-cost...
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The NYSPA Report: Federal and State Coverage of Telehealth and Its Role in Expanding Access to Mental Health Care
Following the COVID-19 public health emergency, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made permanent expansions to the coverage of telehealth under the Medicare program. CMS has greatly increased the number of services included on the permanent list of telehealth services and...
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Governor Hochul Announces Tools to Improve Digital Wellness Among New Yorkers
With Tech Devices Popular as Gifts, New York State Provides Free Educational Materials Aimed at Safely Navigating the Modern Digital Landscape Online Resources Complement Governor’s Nation-Leading Commitment to Protect Youth Mental Health and Establish Distraction-Free...
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Bridging the Tech Gap: How Ambient Monitoring Is Modernizing Mental Health Facilities
As a psychiatrist, I’ve witnessed the fragility of patient safety during a psychiatric crisis. As an attorney who’s defended doctors in malpractice cases, I’ve seen the devastation when safety protocols fail. If I’ve learned one truth from my dual careers, it’s that, in behavioral health,...
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Telehealth Versus Face-to-Face Therapy for Treating Anxiety: Evidence-Based Considerations for Clinicians
Telehealth has transformed the delivery of psychotherapy, particularly in the treatment of anxiety disorders. This article examines evidence comparing telehealth and face-to-face therapy outcomes for anxiety, explores therapeutic modalities effective in each format, outlines best practices for...
