David Tzall, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist based in Brooklyn, is urging couples to be cautious about turning to AI chatbots to work through relationship conflict. His guidance follows new national data showing that more people are relying on AI for emotional support, advice, and companionship. The American Psychological Association's 2026 Chatbots and Mental Health Survey of more than 1,200 licensed U.S. psychologists found that 77% have spoken with patients who have used AI for support, engagement, or other reasons. Nearly two in five psychologists (39%) reported patients using AI to self-diagnose, and 35% said patients were turning to AI to act as an additional mental health professional. The survey also found that 22% of psychologists reported patients using AI for friendship, and 13% reported patients engaging in intimate relationships with chatbots.
The same survey documented significant clinical concern. Almost every psychologist surveyed (97%) felt that chatbots may inadvertently reinforce negative behaviors or delusional beliefs, and 94% said current chatbots cannot treat conditions with an appropriate amount of nuance. More than a third (36%) said they had noticed patients developing a level of dependency on a chatbot. These findings matter because they highlight a growing gap between how people use AI tools and what clinicians believe those tools can responsibly provide. As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, the implications for mental health care—especially in interpersonal relationships—are profound.
"When someone brings a conflict to a chatbot, they bring one side of it," said David Tzall, PsyD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist. "The response tends to reinforce what that person already believes rather than challenge it. That can feel supportive in the moment, but it limits the kind of problem-solving that relationships actually need." Dr. Tzall has previously written about the risks of over-reliance on AI for emotional support, noting that it may reinforce existing beliefs rather than challenge them. That, he says, can increase bias and limit real growth. In couples therapy, where his work includes high-conflict relationships, he sees that dynamic play out between partners.
"Progress in a relationship usually comes from hearing what your partner experienced, especially when it's different from your own account," Dr. Tzall said. "A tool that only hears one person's version can't offer that. The conversation that matters is still the one between the two people involved." Alongside the survey, the APA released a guide on using AI for mental health information safely. The survey's findings point to a growing gap between how people are using these tools and what clinicians believe they can responsibly provide. For couples, the risk is that AI-driven advice may entrench positions rather than foster mutual understanding. Dr. Tzall is a licensed clinical psychologist based in Brooklyn and licensed in New York and New Jersey. His practice serves adults, couples, and parents, with clinical focus areas that include trauma, addiction, mood disorders, and attachment and relationship concerns. He regularly provides expert commentary on psychological topics for consumer health publications. More information is available at David Tzall, Psy.D.
As AI chatbots become more sophisticated, the temptation to use them for relationship advice may grow. But the data and clinical experience suggest that they are not a substitute for human connection and professional guidance. Couples who rely on one-sided AI feedback may miss the opportunity to build empathy and resolve conflicts in a way that strengthens their bond. The takeaway is clear: while AI can offer momentary comfort, it cannot replace the nuanced, two-way communication that healthy relationships require.
