Defining the Boundaries of AI in Mental Health with Dr. Shannon Wiltsey Stirman

In this episode of Beyond the Couch, Dr. Ernest Wayde interviews Dr. Shannon Wiltsey Stirman, a professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford and co-director of the Center for Responsible and Effective AI Technology Enhancement for PTSD treatment (CREATE), discusses how large language models can support evidence-based mental health interventions, and can also be used to assist in training therapists through the use of simulated patients. Dr. Wiltsey Stirman notes that while AI can be a powerful tool for tasks like clinical scribing and reflection, it should supplement rather than replace human therapists, especially regarding complex diagnoses and high-risk scenarios. She highlights the necessity of AI literacy, urging therapists and organizations to prioritize transparency, privacy, and responsible implementation. Takeaways: AI Should Supplement, Not Replace Human Therapists Simulated Patients Offer Safe Practice for Clinicians AI Diagnostics and High-Risk Treatment Require Firm Boundaries Organizations Must Prioritize Transparency and Privacy Therapists Need to Increase Their AI Literacy Connect with Dr. Shannon Wiltsey Stirman Email: sws1@stanford.edu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-wiltsey-stirman-3874056/ https://med.stanford.edu/fastlab.html https://create.stanford.edu/contact https://create.stanford.edu/contact Connect With Us https://www.waydeai.com/ https://www.facebook.com/waydeai https://www.linkedin.com/company/wayde-ai/ info@waydeai.com Subcribe https://the-waydeai-brief.beehiiv.com/ Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:35 Welcome and Guest Intro 02:15 Dr. Shannon Wiltsey Stirman Origin Story 04:54 Realistic AI Capabilities in Therapy Today 07:00 Meaningful AI Implementation in Evidence-Based Care 09:34 What People Get Wrong About AI Tools 12:57 Boundaries Between AI and Human Therapists 15:46 Safe AI Boundaries for Therapists 19:01 Organizational Implementation and Transparency 21:27 The CREATE Center at Stanford 25:06 Closing Advice and Where to Find Her