AI as Co-Pilot: Enhancing Mental Healthcare with Alexander Zervakos

AI is making waves in mental health care, not as a replacement for human therapists but as a tool to enhance the therapeutic process. In this episode of The AI Grapple, I spoke with Alexander Zervakos, co-founder of Theryo, about how AI can help strengthen the therapist-client relationship, improve session structure, and make mental health support more accessible and effective.

The Origin of Theryo

Theryo wasn’t born out of a business idea - it started as a personal necessity. When Alexander began therapy, he found himself frustrated by the lack of structure. After multiple therapist changes and little measurable progress, he was ready to quit. That’s when his business partner suggested using AI to track therapy progress.

What started as a small personal project quickly grew into something bigger. Alexander saw how AI could provide continuity between sessions, helping clients reflect on their journey while giving therapists valuable insights they wouldn’t otherwise have. Theryo became a platform designed to support both sides of the therapy experience, giving clients a structured way to journal and therapists AI-powered tools to analyse session data.

AI as a Therapy Co-Pilot

Traditional therapy often lacks real-time feedback, leaving clients to process insights on their own between sessions. With Theryo, AI bridges that gap. Clients journal daily, and AI analyses entries to provide summaries, highlighting key emotions and patterns over time. This information isn’t just useful for self-reflection - it’s shared with therapists, offering a clearer picture of a client’s progress beyond what can be recalled in an hour-long session.

On the therapist’s side, AI transcribes sessions, generates notes, and combines them with client journal insights. This means therapists no longer need to rely solely on memory or handwritten notes. Instead, they enter each session better prepared, allowing for more personalised and efficient care.

With Theryo, therapy becomes:

More structured - Clients enter sessions with AI-generated summaries, allowing for deeper discussions.
More efficient - Therapists save time on note-taking and session reviews, focusing more on client engagement.
More personalised - AI-driven insights help tailor therapy to the individual's specific needs and progress.

Data Privacy & Ethical AI

With AI handling sensitive mental health data, privacy and security are crucial. Alexander made it clear that Theryo was built with strict encryption protocols, ensuring data is protected both in storage and transit. Personal records are de-identified, limiting access to only those who need it.

He compared choosing an AI-powered mental health tool to trusting a bank with your money. Users should be cautious, verifying that platforms follow proper security measures before entrusting them with personal information. While AI can enhance therapy, it must be used with professional oversight to ensure ethical and responsible implementation.

Not a Replacement for Therapy

One of the most important distinctions Alexander made is that Theryo does not replace therapists. AI serves as a support tool, guiding clients and helping professionals track progress, but it does not diagnose or provide direct therapeutic intervention.

The platform does include safety guardrails. If AI detects concerning entries related to self-harm or crisis situations, it flags them and provides emergency resources. However, due to legal complexities, it does not currently alert therapists automatically - something Alexander sees as an area for future development.

Where AI is Heading in Mental Health

Alexander believes AI will play a key role in making therapy more accessible, structured, and efficient. Mental health care faces a growing demand, with therapists often overwhelmed by caseloads and administrative work. AI can help by reducing paperwork, allowing professionals to focus on delivering care.

Another major challenge is accessibility. Many communities lack mental health resources, and AI-powered tools could bridge that gap, offering structured support between sessions and reducing the barriers to therapy. As AI becomes more integrated into healthcare, the focus should remain on enhancing human connection, not replacing it.

Some of the biggest benefits AI could bring to mental health include:

Expanding access to care - AI-driven platforms can provide support to those in remote or underserved areas.
Reducing therapist burnout - Automating administrative tasks allows therapists to focus on their clients.
Providing 24/7 guidance - AI tools offer structured mental health support between therapy sessions.

AI in Education & Personalisation

Beyond therapy, similar AI-driven models could transform fields like coaching, corporate performance, and education. AI’s ability to provide personalised feedback and track progress over time makes it a valuable tool for structured learning and professional development.

Alexander and I discussed how AI could be used in classrooms to monitor student engagement, in businesses to improve employee development, and even in healthcare for real-time patient monitoring. Wearables and AI-driven insights could help professionals tailor support in ways that weren’t possible before.

Favourite Tools

Alexander is always experimenting with AI platforms, and some of his current favourites include ChatGPT, Anthropic Claude, and Perplexity AI. He sees Perplexity as a powerful alternative to Google, offering more reliable and ad-free search capabilities. As AI evolves, new tools will continue to emerge, shaping the way professionals and individuals interact with technology.

AI is already changing mental health care, and its role will only grow. The key is using it responsibly - to enhance human connection, not replace it.

Stay tuned to The AI Grapple for more conversations about how AI is shaping industries, improving lives, and redefining the way we work.

Connect with Alexander Zervakos

🌐 Website: www.theryo.ai

🔗 LinkedIn: Alexander Zervakos

🐦 X/Twitter: @TheryoAI

📸 Instagram: @theryoai