Will AI replace trauma practitioners like myself?

I performed a very interesting exercise today: I asked AI (in this case, Grok) whether my Clinical EFT practice would become obsolete in the near future, given all the hype about "AI therapy." Here's what I learned:

The AI promise is real - but limited.

AI-based mental health tools address genuine needs: global therapist shortages, long waitlists, and high costs. Recent trials show these tools can reduce mild-to-moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and even eating disorders. They are accessible 24/7, non-judgmental, and scalable.

But the hype overlooks stark limitations. AI lacks true empathy, can't read nonverbal cues, and risks real harm. A 2025 Stanford study found chatbots often stigmatize issues or give dangerous advice, performing as "low-quality" therapists at best. Ethical red flags include privacy breaches, over-reliance fostering isolation, and no crisis intervention. Expert consensus: AI might be great for low-stakes support, but humans are needed for anything deeper.

Clinical EFT is fundamentally different.

Unlike talk-heavy approaches (which AI mimics well), Clinical EFT is an embodied practice. It targets trauma, anxiety, PTSD, pain and more through somatic release and cognitive reframing - tapping on acupressure points while processing emotions. This requires real-time emotional attunement and adaptive guidance only a skilled human can provide.

AI could "teach" tapping scripts, but without a practitioner's intuition for pacing or handling big emotional releases, it risks re-traumatization - precisely what EFT practitioners like myself train to avoid.

So, will I become obsolete?

No. AI won't render embodied, relational therapies like EFT obsolete. If anything, it'll boost demand for them. Projections show AI handling 20-30% of low-acuity cases (mild stress, symptom tracking), freeing practitioners like me for complex work like trauma integration - EFT's sweet spot.

When people need deep healing that can only happen through human connection, they'll continue to seek out practitioners who can truly hold space for their transformation. AI can't replace that human element - and I think the AI wave will ultimately send more people toward the kind of work that actually changes lives.