The Seattle Times’ Mental Health Project covers mental and behavioral health issues. It is funded by Ballmer Group. The Seattle Times maintains editorial control over all its coverage.

Reader question: How can I, as a consumer of mental health, evaluate and utilize AI chatbots and app-based services? What are some pitfalls to avoid?

When I received this question, I admit I hesitated to answer. I have a strong skepticism about AI in mental health care. As practitioners, we are encouraged to try apps that record our sessions and take notes, which raises serious privacy concerns. We hear about how insurance coverage decisions are increasingly made by algorithms, which can squeeze treatment timelines even tighter.

But while my personal stance on algorithm-based mental healthcare might be generally anti, I can’t deny that it has come up in my conversations with clients more than ever before.…