S2E18| AI, Insurance, and the Business of Mental Health

What happens when insurance companies, venture capital, and AI start reshaping therapy?This week on Therapy, Tech & Takeout, Jackie and Toni sit down with licensed mental health counselor Sarah LaFontaine for a powerful conversation about the collision between technology, business incentives, and mental health care.From insurance companies pressuring therapists into shorter sessions… to AI therapy bots making dangerous mistakes… to the growing role of venture capital in therapy platforms, this episode explores what gets lost when efficiency becomes more important than human connection.Sarah shares the inspiration behind her work with:Mindful MatchesMindfulHQRising Hope Counseling ServicesTogether, they unpack:The ethics of AI therapy toolsTherapist burnout and sustainabilityPsychological safety in workplacesConfidentiality concerns in digital mental health platformsWhy therapy is both an art and a scienceThe growing tension between patient care and profit motivesThe conversation also explores whether AI can truly replace human connection in therapy - and why “keeping humans in the loop” may matter more now than ever.If you care about mental health, technology, ethics, or the future of care itself, this episode is for you.Guest InformationSarah LaFontaineRising Hope Counseling ServicesRising-Hope.coFacebook: @SarahLaFontaineLMHCInstagram: @rising_hope_therapyMindfulHQMindfulHQ.comFacebook: @SarahLaFontaineMindfulHQInstagram: @sarahlafontaine_mindfulhqMindful MatchesMindfulMatches.comFacebook: @MindfulMatchesDirectoryInstagram: @mindful_matchesArticles & ReferencesBrown University AI & Mental Health Ethics ArticlePre Order Toni’s new book: https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Somatic-Exercises-Everyone-Brain/dp/B0GGTF8YFJ/About Therapy, Tech & TakeoutTherapy, Tech & Takeout explores the intersection of mental health, technology, ethics, relationships, and modern life. Hosted by entrepreneur Jackie Toale and therapist Toni Genovese Teixeira, the podcast tackles difficult conversations with honesty, humor, and curiosity.Subscribe for weekly conversations about how technology is changing the way we live, work, connect, and care for ourselves.#MentalHealth #AITherapy #TherapyPodcast #MentalHealthPodcast #TechEthics #ArtificialIntelligence #Burnout #Therapy #Psychology #FutureOfWork #MentalHealthAwareness #Healthcare #PsychologicalSafety