Our Blog: Upward Alabama

AI and Mental Health Support: Navigating Promise and Pitfalls in the Age of Digital Care

By Susan Rathmell, Ph.D., ABPP

AI Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Telehealth, Virtual, Psychotherapy

Posted: May 4, 2026

Imagine this: A college student named Maya is struggling with anxiety before finals. It’s 2 a.m., and her therapist’s office is closed. She opens her phone and starts chatting with an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered app that walks her through a breathing exercise and offers words of encouragement. Across town, her psychologist, Dr. Lee, uses AI to transcribe session notes and flag potential risk factors in client language, freeing up time to focus on the therapeutic relationship. These snapshots capture the dual reality of AI in mental health—its capacity to support both clients and clinicians, and the questions it raises about safety, effectiveness, and clinical judgment.

Virtual therapy: Is it as good as in-person?

By Misti Norton, Ph.D.

Telehealth, Virtual, Psychotherapy

Posted: July 26, 2024

The rise of telehealth has revolutionized access to high-quality mental health care. Just 15 years ago, Upward Behavioral Health would likely have been limited to providing services only to Birmingham residents, or individuals willing and able to drive to Birmingham. Thankfully we are now able to offer care anywhere in Alabama. Our telehealth platform is private, secure and simple to use, even for clients who do not consider themselves to be computer-savvy. If you have an email address and an Internet connection, then chances are that you can use our platform with ease.