Comparative Analysis of Perceived Impact of Common Therapeutic Factors in Psychological Counseling with Human Psychologists and Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the differences in clients' experiences during counseling sessions with human psychologists and artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of reducing anxiety and depression.

Methodology: The research design was a quasi-experimental study with post-test comparisons. The statistical population comprised all associate and bachelor’s degree students seeking a counseling session and their counselors in 2025. The research sample consisted of 20 bachelor’s students who were divided into two groups based on the counseling center’s scheduling to ensure different orders of receiving human and AI counseling. Data were collected using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI), the Positive Expectancy Questionnaire (Credibility and Expectancy), the Therapeutic Alliance Inventory (Empathy and Awareness Enhancement), and the Session Emotional Assessment Questionnaire (SEQ). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 23 software with descriptive indices and paired t-tests.

Findings: Results indicated that in all measured components, the differences in means were statistically significant (p < 0.001). In the components of credibility, expectation, empathy, agreement on treatment goals and tasks, and emotional release, clients’ experiences in sessions with human psychologists were significantly more positive than those in sessions with AI.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that although AI technologies can play a complementary role in the counseling process, the quality of human relationships, empathy, and emotional interaction of human therapists remain irreplaceable by AI. Based on these findings, future research is recommended to utilize specialized AI platforms, long-term interventions, and control for the severity of psychological disorders and the skill level of human counselors to evaluate the effects of counseling interventions more accurately.