The increasing popularity of AI-powered chatbots for mental health support raises concerns about the potential for therapeutic misconceptions. While these chatbots offer 24/7 availability and personalized support, they have not been approved as medical devices and may be misleadingly marketed as providing cognitive behavioral therapy. Users may overestimate the benefits and underestimate the limitations of these technologies, leading to a deterioration of their mental health. The article highlights four ways in which therapeutic misconceptions can occur, including inaccurate marketing, forming a digital therapeutic alliance, limited knowledge about AI biases, and the inability to advocate for relational autonomy. To mitigate these risks, it is essential to take proactive steps, such as honest marketing, transparency about data collection, and active involvement of patients in the design and development stages of these chatbots.
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