AI Tools Now Used by Majority of US Psychologists, Ethics and Consent Rules Lag Behind

A March 2026 APA Practitioner Pulse Survey of 1,742 psychologists found that 56% used an AI tool in clinical work over the past year, up sharply from 2024 when 71% reported never using one. AI applications in therapy range from ambient session transcription and SOAP note generation to real-time coaching prompts and suicide-risk screening dashboards. Despite rapid adoption, the APA found no professional consensus on key issues such as patient disclosure requirements or data-sharing obligations with third-party vendors. Ethicists and clinicians warn that patients are often unaware their sessions may be processed by AI systems operated in different states or countries. The most common entry point driving adoption is administrative burden relief, as therapists seeing 25 clients weekly can spend over 12 hours on documentation alone.
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