Only a few years ago, most conversations in child-psychology rooms about “screens” were about gaming and social media. Now another word pops up again and again in sessions with children and teens:
“I asked the AI…”
Kids are using chatbots to help with homework, to write messages to friends, to get advice about fights at school – and, increasingly, to make sense of their feelings.
From the viewpoint of child psychologists, this is already changing the way young people talk about anxiety, mood, identity and relationships. It’s not all bad news, but it is a big shift that parents can’t afford to ignore.
Below are some of the key mental health trends linked to AI that clinicians are starting to notice – and what families can do about them.
1. “I think I have…” – the self-diagnosis boom
Child psychologists report more young people arriving with a ready-made label:
- “ChatGPT says I might have ADHD.”
- “An AI quiz said I’m autistic.”
- “The bot said I probably have social anxiety.”
In one sense, this speaks to progress. Previous generations often struggled to find the language for their internal world. Today’s kids are swimming in it.
But there are risks:
- AI tools can sound confident while being completely wrong.
- They don’t see the full picture, family history, school reports, developmental milestones.
- Kids may cling tightly to a label that doesn’t quite fit, and overlook other issues (like trauma, learning difficulties or sleep problems).
A good child psychologist in Australia will acknowledge the young person’s research, but then gently slow things down:
- What are the actual symptoms?
- When did they start?
- How are school, friendships, sleep and energy?
Services like TherapyNearMe.com.au often see the best outcomes when AI becomes a conversation starter rather than a verdict.
2. Chatbots as secret confidants
Another growing trend: young people using AI as a 24/7, judgement-free listener.
Some kids talk about “venting” to an app when they feel lonely, angry or misunderstood. Others say they type things into a bot they’d be too embarrassed to tell a parent or teacher.
This can have upsides:
- AI gives kids a place to put big feelings when no one’s awake.
- Writing things down – even to a bot – can reduce emotional intensity.
- Some bots offer basic coping strategies (breathing exercises, journalling prompts).
But child psychologists worry when:
- The bot starts to replace real-world support.
- Kids test dangerous ideas in a chat window instead of speaking to adults.
- They assume “if the bot didn’t say it’s serious, it must be fine.”
A simple family rule can help:
- “AI can be a practice listener, but if you’re really sad, scared or thinking of hurting yourself, you must tell a human.”
- For families working with an online child psychologist through platforms like TherapyNearMe.com.au, it can be helpful to share how the young
- person is using AI, so it becomes part of the therapeutic conversation rather than a hidden world.
3. Perfectionism on steroids
Social media has long fuelled comparison and perfectionism. AI has added a new layer.
Teens now use AI to:
- rewrite texts so they sound “perfect”
- edit photos and videos beyond recognisable reality
- create flawless school projects that don’t reflect their actual abilities
Child psychologists are seeing more students who feel they “can’t keep up”, not just with peers, but with the polished, AI-assisted versions of themselves they present online.
This can show up as:
- fear of handing in anything that’s not “AI-level good”
- avoidance of tasks they could manage, because “it won’t be as good as the bot’s version”
- shame when teachers or parents praise work the child knows wasn’t really theirs
Good telehealth child psychologists are now building “AI literacy” into therapy:
- What can AI do well?
- Where do you still matter?
- How do we set fair expectations around effort vs outcome?
Parents can echo this at home by praising process (“You stuck with that tricky paragraph”) rather than AI-enhanced results.
4. Younger kids copying AI speech and thinking patterns
Primary-aged children who use chatbots or AI-powered homework tools sometimes start to talk in strangely adult, formal ways:
- “According to my analysis…”
- “In conclusion, the evidence suggests…”
Child psychologists are noticing kids who sound articulate on the surface but struggle when asked follow-up questions without a device.
This doesn’t mean AI is “ruining their brains”, but it does mean:
- Some children may be mimicking language rather than truly understanding it.
- Others may rely on AI so heavily that they don’t practise their own reasoning skills.
Clinicians often respond by:
- asking kids to draw, role-play or use simpler words first
- encouraging “second drafts” where the child rewrites AI-generated text in their own voice
- setting small “AI-free challenges” to rebuild confidence in their own thinking
Parents and teachers can try similar approaches, for example:
- “Let’s use the bot for ideas, then you choose your favourite and put it in your own words.”
5. The positives: better language, less stigma
It’s important not to paint AI as all doom and gloom. Child psychologists also see clear positives:
- Kids are more fluent in words like “anxiety”, “panic attack”, “executive function” and “sensory overload”.
- AI-powered tools can help shy or neurodivergent children script difficult conversations.
Some young people feel more comfortable asking a bot “Is this bullying?” or “Is this healthy?” than asking an adult straight away – which can be a bridge to later help-seeking.
Platforms that blend technology with human care, such as Therapy Near Me’s online therapy for teens and families – try to harness these benefits while keeping clear boundaries:
- AI can help with psychoeducation, reminders and admin.
- Qualified psychologists handle assessment, diagnosis, therapy and risk management.
- When used well, technology becomes an amplifier for good practice, not a replacement for it.
How parents can respond – without panicking
You don’t have to be a tech expert to protect your child’s mental health in an AI-rich world. A few simple habits go a long way:
1- Stay curious, not combative
Ask: “What do you use AI for? What do you like about it? Has it ever said something weird or wrong?”
2- Name the limits out loud
“AI doesn’t know you. It’s guessing based on words. It’s never as smart about your life as you, me, or your therapist.”
3- Keep humans at the centre
Make it clear who your child can talk to you, a trusted relative, a school counsellor, a GP or a child psychologist in Australia through services like TherapyNearMe.com.au.
4- Model balanced use yourself
Let your child see you using AI for boring admin, not for big emotional decisions.
Get professional support early
If your child is withdrawing, self-harming, deeply anxious or talking about suicide, go straight to real-world help. A GP, local crisis line or qualified psychologist is the right next step, not another chat with a bot.
AI isn’t going away, and our kids are going to grow up with it woven through their friendships, schoolwork and self-image. The job for adults, parents, teachers and clinicians, is not to ban every new tool, but to help young people use them in ways that support, rather than replace, their own voice and their real-life relationships.
When families can access an online child psychologist in Australia who understand both development and technology, AI becomes something we can talk about openly, another part of the landscape we help kids navigate, rather than a force that quietly shapes their mental health in the dark.