ArticleBehavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)2026
"I Don't Trust AI": A Generic Qualitative Analysis of College-Aged Mental Health Clients' Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence Used in Mental Health Counseling.
Article in Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
This qualitative study examined college-aged client perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI) in counseling services. AI technologies are beginning to appear in mental health treatment; it is important to understand client voices and perceptions. A generic qualitative descriptive design was used. Fourteen participants with recent counseling experience were recruited through purposive sampling from university channels. Data was collected via open-ended survey questions and analyzed using a six-phase reflexive thematic analysis. Trustworthiness was established through multiple strategies including peer debriefing, audit trails, reflexivity practices, and prolonged engagement with data. Six major themes emerged: (1) conditional acceptance of AI for non-clinical tasks, (2) concerns about data security and privacy, (3) valuing the human core of counseling, (4) preference for human judgment in crisis situations, (5) expectation of informed consent and transparency, and (6) cautious optimism contingent on evidence and safeguards. Findings suggest that AI implementation in counseling should follow an adjunctive rather than replacement model, with careful attention to maintaining therapeutic alliance and protecting client privacy. Implications for counseling practice, training, and policy development are discussed.
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