As a mental health therapist and Fort Lauderdale EMDR practitioner, I often hear about the convenience and accessibility of mental health apps and app-based therapy platforms. While these tools can be a valuable supplement, they are not a substitute for meaningful, live interaction with a trained professional. I’m currently reading Scattered Minds, by Gabor Maté. In this insightful book, he highlights the critical importance of live interaction for healthy emotional and cognitive development. On page 72, Maté (1999) references the “double TV experiment,” a study where infants were exposed to two types of televised communication—one live and interactive, and the other pre-recorded and passive. The results were striking: the live interaction, even mediated through a TV, fostered engagement and responsiveness in ways the pre-recorded version could not.

This study cited above underscores a profound truth I’ve been thinking about, especially in our ever disconnected world. That is, live interaction has a unique ability to foster emotional connection, even when delivered through a screen. This has implications for therapy. I’ve been speaking with other psychotherapists about the drastic increase in app-based therapy platforms that posit they can provide psychotherapy through AI, no human required. This is highly alarming. Introducing tech-based therapy is totally counter to what therapy is: rebuilding human connection that was ruptured.

A journal article published in JMIR Mental Health (2022) emphasizes that virtual care, when conducted with live video, can mimic the dynamics of in-person therapy. The presence of real-time interaction allows therapists to read nonverbal cues, respond to emotional shifts, and create an attuned therapeutic environment. This dynamic is impossible to replicate with app-based therapy alone, which often relies on text-based exchanges or pre-recorded modules. Integrating some apps into what I now call “real” therapy can be helpful, but in my opinion should be integrated as homework or to reinforce skills-building and safety that is learned in psychotherapy.

The “double TV experiment” also sheds light on broader societal challenges. In an era dominated by social media and digital communication, the lack of genuine human connection is taking its toll. Research from the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology (2018) links increased social media usage to higher rates of depression and anxiety, particularly in young adults. And this was published 7 years ago! Things have become exponentially disconnected since then. The constant barrage of curated content and the absence of meaningful, live interaction can create a sense of isolation and inadequacy. I hear this over-and-over again from my clients. And from clients in their 20s it, anecdotally, is worse. These findings are consistent with the idea that live, reciprocal communication—whether in therapy or daily life—is essential for emotional well-being.

If you are reading this thinking this blog is simply an alarmist psychotherapist trying to disparage AI mental health programs, you are mistaken. Consider this scenario to reinforce how the original platforms no longer serve to connect. If you have a social media account, I urge you to log on and go through your feed. It doesn’t matter which one. Pick one. Chances are, like mine, it will be riddled with advertisements. The last time I logged into my purposely curated group of contacts/friends/acquaintances (whatever your platform calls the connections) on one of the platforms, I spent 3 minutes scrolling and only a few times saw engaging content posted by those contacts. The rest of what popped up were ads or urgings to connect with others I don’t even know. It has become almost impossible to congregate with community on the exact platforms that were touting community building. Now imagine speaking with a robot or a program with no human!

Moreover, and to clarify my point, the implications of the above-mentioned study extend to the ways we consume media and engage with others online. Passive consumption of social media often mirrors the passive nature of the pre-recorded content in the double TV experiment, failing to meet our innate need for connection. This lack of genuine interaction contributes to the rising mental health challenges we see today, including anxiety, depression, and a pervasive sense of loneliness.

This is where therapy with a live, empathetic professional makes all the difference. And I get it. Therapy can be expensive; some even see it as a luxury. The truth, however, is there are always ways to find affordable therapy. Whether you see a pre-licensed professional in training, go to an online directory offering reduced rates, go through an employer to see if you have access to free counseling services or even reaching out to a community mental health center (they often provide free or very reduced therapy).

When you see me for therapy, whether in person or through virtual sessions, you’re not just getting a passive listener. I create a dynamic and interactive environment tailored to your needs, helping you navigate life’s complexities with compassion and evidence-based interventions. For clients seeking deeper healing, I also offer EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. EMDR helps unwind unhelpful thought patterns by addressing the root causes of emotional distress, often stemming from unresolved trauma or limiting beliefs. Combined with live interaction (virtually or in-person), this approach fosters profound and lasting change.

While technology has its place in mental health care, the need for live human connection cannot be overstated. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or unhelpful patterns of thought, reaching out for therapy can provide the support and connection you need to thrive. Let’s move beyond the app and create a space where real transformation can happen.

Offering EMDR in Fort Lauderdale, EMDR in Virginia and EMDR in Washington DC. I am an EMDRIA, EMDR-Certified clinician and a Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work.

References

• Maté, G. (1999). Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder. Knopf Canada.
• Journal of Medical Internet Research Mental Health (2022). “Effectiveness of Live Video Therapy: A Review of Telehealth Models in Mental Health Care.”
• Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology (2018). “The Relationship Between Social Media Use and Mental Health: A Comprehensive Review.”