A third of Americans view AI-as-therapist users negatively
Core finding
In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted May 11, 2026, 35% of Americans said they view people who use AI as a therapist or mentor negatively, with 20% who said somewhat negative and 15% who said extremely negative.
Just one in ten said they view those users positively (10%), with 6% who said somewhat positive and 4% who said extremely positive. More than half (55%) said they feel neither negative nor positive.
Topline scale
35% of Americans view AI-as-therapist users negatively; 10% view them positively.
How do you view people who use AI as a therapist or mentor?
n = 1,000 · May 11, 2026 · MoE ±3.3%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | May 11, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.3% |
| Module | beliefs |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26
How do you view people who use AI as a therapist or mentor?
Cite this question
Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.