Our aim is modest and practical: nobody in the UK should have to sit alone with a racing mind just because it is the middle of the night, the surgery is closed or the waiting list is long. We would like talking about how you feel to be as ordinary as chatting about the weather.
In practice that means a chat that is quick to open, written in plain British English and priced in pounds. It should help you feel a little calmer and clearer, and point you towards the NHS, your GP or a helpline whenever that is what you really need.
It also means being honest about limits, which is why the next column matters as much as this one.
It is not therapy, and it is not a psychologist, counsellor, doctor or any other clinician. It cannot diagnose a condition, advise on medication or assess risk, and it should never be used instead of professional care.
It is not an emergency service either. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E. To talk to a person straight away, ring Samaritans free on 116 123 at any hour, or text SHOUT to 85258. In England, NHS 111 has a mental health option; in Scotland, Breathing Space is on 0800 83 85 87; children and young people can call Childline on 0800 1111.
Psychologist AI is an AI wellbeing assistant: a chat you can open on your phone or laptop whenever something is bothering you, to talk it through in your own words. We set it up for the in-between moments, when you would like some emotional support but it is not the time, or not yet the right moment, to see a GP, a counsellor or even a friend.
For many people in Britain, the first step is the hardest. A habit of keeping a stiff upper lip, not wanting to be a burden, or feeling that your problem is not “serious enough” for the NHS can stop you saying anything at all. A private chat lets you start small, at 2am if need be, with nobody looking over your shoulder. The conversations draw on familiar cognitive-behavioural ideas, such as noticing unhelpful thoughts and breaking a problem into manageable steps, and the assistant can sit alongside support from your GP, NHS Talking Therapies or a counsellor without ever replacing it.
Short answers on who the chat is for, privacy and how it fits alongside the NHS.
Ask your own questionAnyone in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland who wants to talk through stress, worry, loneliness or a low patch in their own time. Children and young people can also speak to a trained Childline counsellor free on 0800 1111.
Yes. Conversations are kept confidential and protected with security measures. Even so, there is no need to type details you would rather keep to yourself, such as your full address or bank information.
Yes. In England you can refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies without seeing your GP first, and the chat, which is open around the clock, can help you put your thoughts in order before that first appointment. It does not replace the treatment you are waiting for. Our guide to waiting for NHS mental health support explains the options.
No. It is an AI wellbeing assistant, not therapy and not a clinician. If things feel unmanageable, book an appointment with your GP or call NHS 111. In an emergency dial 999, and for someone to talk to at any hour ring Samaritans on 116 123.
When you write to Psychologist AI, artificial intelligence reads your message and replies in real time, taking into account the words you choose and the mood you describe. It keeps the focus on you: asking questions, summing up what it has heard and suggesting small, practical things to try. Bear in mind that it is software. It can get things wrong, and it does not know you the way a friend or a professional would, so treat its suggestions as ideas to consider rather than instructions.
Ask about the service, your account or how we look after your data, and we will reply by email. This form is not a crisis service: if you need help now, call 999 or Samaritans on 116 123.
