The rise of AI in mental health support has been fast. More people than ever are using mental health apps, and digital therapy tools like Wysa, Youper, and Earkick are racking up millions of users.
But here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: how many of these tools are actually clinically validated? How many are backed by therapists, tested in real-world settings, or proven to genuinely improve mental health?
Hi, I'm the founder of Breezi - let's talk!
Why Validation Matters in Mental Health Tech
Mental health is not a playground for vague promises and feel-good UX. When someone turns to an AI therapy tool, they’re often in a vulnerable moment. They might be anxious, overwhelmed, or seeking support they can’t find elsewhere.
That’s why clinical validation matters. Without it, we risk building tools that feel supportive but fall short of real impact - or worse, deliver advice that’s poorly timed or misinformed.
“I’d be asking a lot about how the AI was trained to give me confidence it’s legit.”
That of course came up a lot and it sticks with me because trust in mental health tools should never be assumed. It must be earned.
What Clinical Validation Looks Like (And What It Doesn’t)
Just being “built with a therapist” isn’t enough. Real validation means:
- Conducting pilot studies or randomised trials with expert oversight
- Measuring mental health outcomes, not just user retention
- Testing for emotional safety, not just engagement
- Ensuring privacy and ethical use of AI models
We’ve been inspired by researchers at Dartmouth and findings published via PubMed Central that explore how AI tools can work alongside, not instead of, human therapists.
Breezi’s Evidence-Based Foundation
At Breezi, we’re building on what works in therapy.
Our AI therapy chat is trained on CBT and ACT-style approaches and reviewed by licensed therapists. But what really sets Breezi apart is how it turns every session into personalized action:
- 🧠 You can record your in-person therapy sessions (with consent), and Breezi instantly turns that into a structured, secure summary. Learn more about our AI therapy note taker.
- ✅ Those summaries lead to Active Intentions — small, specific, weekly actions that help you apply what was discussed.
- 🔐 All chat and health data is encrypted, and recordings are deleted after transcription — we don’t store any audio.
It’s therapy that sticks. That remembers. That actually helps you build momentum.
Building User Trust Through Validation
Clinical evidence isn’t the only kind of validation that matters. Emotional trust is just as important.
“It might feel a bit isolating to not be talking to a real person.”
We get it. That’s why Breezi is designed to complement and not compete with traditional therapy. We don’t gamify your emotions. We don’t push streaks. And that is highly important to us.
Instead, we help users build real-world habits, remember what matters from past therapy, and feel seen in the small moments that apps often ignore.
What’s Next: Breezi’s Commitment to Evidence
We’re currently working with mental health professionals and university partners to study Breezi’s impact more deeply. From pilot programs to outcome testing, we’re committed to transparency and continual improvement.
But we also know we’re just getting started. If you’re a researcher, therapist, or mental health professional who wants to shape what comes next - we’d love to hear from you.
🧪 Be Part of the Future of Therapy – Sign Up to Join Our Early User Research Group
Whether you're a user, therapist, or just curious — your feedback helps us shape Breezi into something truly meaningful.