News at the Intersection of Mental Health and Technology
Social workers push for limits on AI in therapy
TherapyTech Daily — September 4, 2026
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 • A 4-MINUTE READ
TherapyTech
DAILY
News at the Intersection of Mental Health and Technology
Good morning.
Today’s edition examines how social workers are drawing ethical boundaries around AI, a family-led campaign for safer chatbots, and an argument over how to spend legal-settlement money intended to help teenagers.
What happened: A national survey shows many social workers use AI for administrative tasks and are calling for clearer ethical guidelines. Professional organizations and state legislatures are now developing guardrails for its clinical use.
Key points:
According to the survey, nearly two-thirds of social workers reported using AI, mostly for routine documentation and correspondence.
In response to professional concerns, states including Illinois, Nevada, and Utah have passed laws regulating AI’s use.
Why this is important: The push for guidelines reflects a tension between leveraging AI for efficiency and safeguarding therapy’s human-centered, accountable nature. The profession is proactively defining AI as a tool, not a clinician replacement.
What happened: After her 14-year-old son died by suicide following interactions with an AI chatbot, Megan Garcia is leading an AI safety campaign for Catholic families, hosted by the Diocese of Nashville.
Key points:
An attorney and child safety advocate, Garcia met with Pope Leo XIV in November 2025 about AI ethics.
Her upcoming talk will focus on chatbot risks, the growing dangers of AI, and protecting children at home.
Why this is important: This initiative shows how personal tragedy is mobilizing faith-based communities to address AI risks for children, moving the digital safety conversation into a specific community context focused on parental guidance.
Co-founder and Senior Fellow, respectively, at the Center for Teen Flourishing · The Free Press
The Free Press
Photo via The Free Press
What the authors argue: Mike Goldstein and Jenny Anderson argue that directing money from Meta’s legal settlements toward therapy for teens harmed by its platforms is a mistake. As leaders at the Center for Teen Flourishing, they assert that while well-intentioned, there are better ways to use the funds to address screen addiction and mental health issues.
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