Humans or AI? Investigating Mechanisms and Alliance in Digital Psychotherapy

This project explores whether key elements of effective psychological therapy—such as compassion, trust, and a sense of connection—can be supported not only by human therapists but also by carefully designed artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Focusing on brief compassion-based interventions, the research compares sessions delivered by human therapists with sessions delivered by an AI-driven virtual therapist in a controlled and ethical way. The aim is not to replace human care, but to better understand under which conditions digital and AI-supported approaches may help increase access to psychological support. Across studies, the project examines outcomes such as self-compassion, therapeutic alliance, engagement, and user experience, while placing strong emphasis on transparency, data protection, and responsible use of AI in mental health research.