The 2026 State of
AI in Mental Health
Practice Report

The 2026 State
of AI in Mental
Health Practice
Report

The 2026 State
of AI in Mental
Health Practice
Report

A Snapshot of Where We Are

A Snapshot of
Where We Are

Based on responses from 343 mental health clinicians, collected July–September 2026

79.3%

79.3%

79.3%

of clinicians surveyed currently use AI in their practice.
of clinicians surveyed currently
use AI in their practice.
of clinicians surveyed
currently use AI in their practice.

96.7%

96.7%

96.7%

of AI users report improved professional wellbeing.
of AI users report improved
professional wellbeing.
of AI users report improved
professional wellbeing.

4.6h

4.6h

4.6h

fewer weekly documentation
hours after adopting AI.
fewer weekly documentation
hours after adopting AI.

What’s Inside the Report

What’s Inside the Report

01

01

About This Survey

About This Survey

02

02

Headline Finding

Headline Finding

03

03

Before AI → Today

Before AI → Today

04

04

Usage Frequency & Wellbeing

Usage Frequency & Wellbeing

05

05

Top AI Use Cases

Top AI Use Cases

06

06

Clinicians’ Top Priorities for AI’s Future

Clinicians’ Top
Priorities for AI’s Future

07

07

What Should Remain Entirely Clinician-Led

What Should Remain
Entirely Clinician-Led

08

08

Most Valuable Use of Time Saved by AI

Most Valuable Use of
Time Saved by AI

09

09

The Client and Patient Perspective

The Client and
Patient Perspective

10

10

Top Concerns Among AI Users

Top Concerns Among
AI Users

11

11

The Non-Adopters

The Non-Adopters

12

12

What This Means

What This Means

Who We Heard From

Who We Heard From

The report is based on responses from 343 mental health clinicians across a range of professional roles and practice settings, collected between July and September 2026. Of those surveyed, 272 currently use AI in their practice. All findings are reported in aggregate.

35%

35%

29%

29%

10%

10%

13%

13%

6%

6%

7%

7%

Licensed professional
counselor

Licensed professional
counselor

Licensed professional
counselor

Clinical social worker

Clinical social worker

Clinical social worker

PMHNP

PMHNP

PMHNP

Marriage & family
therapist

Marriage & family
therapist

Marriage & family
therapist

Psychologist

Psychologist

Psychologist

Other professions

Other professions

Other professions

AI Is Already Changing
Clinical Practice

AI Is Already Changing
Clinical Practice

79.3%

79.3%

79.3%

of clinicians surveyed currently
use AI in their practice.

68.4%

68.4%

say the therapeutic relationship should remain entirely clinician-led

say the therapeutic relationship
should remain entirely clinician-led

say the therapeutic
relationship should
remain clinician-led.

96.7%

96.7%

of AI users report improved
professional wellbeing.

of AI users
report improved
professional wellbeing.

93%

93%

of AI users rely on it for session notes, the most common use case.

of AI users rely on it
for session notes, the
most common use case.

THE CLIENT AND PATIENT PERSPECTIVE

Acceptance Is High. Trust Still Matters.

Acceptance Is High. Trust Still Matters.

76%

76%

of AI users say clients and patients almost
always or usually agree when AI use is disclosed.
Only 4% say they usually or almost always decline.

of AI users say clients and patients
almost always or usually agree
when AI use is disclosed. Only 4% say they usually or almost always decline.

“AI is already reshaping mental health practice. The benefits are real, and so are the concerns. The future should protect what matters most:

privacy, clinical judgment, and human connection”

“AI is already reshaping mental health practice.
The benefits are real, and so are the concerns.
The future should protect what matters most:

privacy, clinical judgment, and human connection”

“AI is already reshaping mental
health practice. The benefits are real,
and so are the concerns. The future
should protect what matters most:

privacy, clinical judgment,
and human connection”

— The Berries Team

Less documentation.
More room to breathe.

Less documentation.
More room to breathe.

Weekly documentation time fell from 7.7 to 3.1 hours after adopting AI, a difference of 4.6 hours each week.

93% of AI users rely on AI for session notes, making documentation its most common use in practice.

4.6

4.6

4.6

HOURS

saved per week, on average

3.1 hours/week after AI

7.7 hours/week before AI

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