What happens when insurance companies, venture capital, and AI start reshaping therapy?

This week on Therapy, Tech & Takeout, Jackie and Toni sit down with licensed mental health counselor Sarah LaFontaine for a powerful conversation about the collision between technology, business incentives, and mental health care.

From insurance companies pressuring therapists into shorter sessions… to AI therapy bots making dangerous mistakes… to the growing role of venture capital in therapy platforms, this episode explores what gets lost when efficiency becomes more important than human connection.

Sarah shares the inspiration behind her work with:

• Mindful Matches
• MindfulHQ
• Rising Hope Counseling Services

Together, they unpack:

• The ethics of AI therapy tools
• Therapist burnout and sustainability
• Psychological safety in workplaces
• Confidentiality concerns in digital mental health platforms
• Why therapy is both an art and a science
• The growing tension between patient care and profit motives

The conversation also explores whether AI can truly replace human connection in therapy - and why “keeping humans in the loop” may matter more now than ever.

If you care about mental health, technology, ethics, or the future of care itself, this episode is for you.

Guest Information

Sarah LaFontaine

Rising Hope Counseling ServicesRising-Hope.coFacebook: @SarahLaFontaineLMHCInstagram: @rising_hope_therapy

MindfulHQMindfulHQ.comFacebook: @SarahLaFontaineMindfulHQInstagram: @sarahlafontaine_mindfulhq

Mindful MatchesMindfulMatches.comFacebook: @MindfulMatchesDirectoryInstagram: @mindful_matches

Articles & References

Brown University AI & Mental Health Ethics Article

Pre Order Toni’s new book: https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Somatic-Exercises-Everyone-Brain/dp/B0GGTF8YFJ/

About Therapy, Tech & Takeout

Therapy, Tech & Takeout explores the intersection of mental health, technology, ethics, relationships, and modern life. Hosted by entrepreneur Jackie Toale and therapist Toni Genovese Teixeira, the podcast tackles difficult conversations with honesty, humor, and curiosity.

Subscribe for weekly conversations about how technology is changing the way we live, work, connect, and care for ourselves.

#MentalHealth #AITherapy #TherapyPodcast #MentalHealthPodcast #TechEthics #ArtificialIntelligence #Burnout #Therapy #Psychology #FutureOfWork #MentalHealthAwareness #Healthcare #PsychologicalSafety

In this episode of Therapy, Tech & Takeout, Jackie and Toni unpack the disturbing revelations from the Proof News investigation into Talkspace and the privacy risks surrounding online therapy platforms. Inspired by the article “Woman’s Talkspace Therapy App Sessions Exposed in Court,” they explore how deeply personal therapy conversations (including text messages, audio recordings, and video sessions) were allegedly stored and later surfaced during legal discovery.

Toni brings her perspective as a licensed therapist to explain how confidentiality, HIPAA, subpoenas, and therapist ethics actually work behind the scenes - and why many clinicians themselves may not have realized the extent of data collection happening on these platforms. Jackie examines the tech side of the issue, including AI training data, “de-identified” information, venture capital incentives, and the growing concern that sensitive mental health conversations may be fueling future AI therapy products without meaningful user understanding or consent.

The conversation also dives into:

• The hidden privacy risks of asynchronous therapy apps
• Whether therapy app data is truly anonymous
• How subpoenas can expose deeply personal mental health records
• Why therapists are increasingly concerned about large corporate therapy platforms
• The impact of tech consolidation on therapist burnout and quality of care
• Questions consumers should ask before starting online therapy
• The ethical tension between accessibility, profit, AI, and human care

This episode is equal parts fascinating, unsettling, and deeply important for anyone using digital mental health services or considering therapy online.

Source article:Proof News Investigation - Woman’s Talkspace Therapy App Sessions Exposed in Court

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If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share.

Online gambling and sports betting have become deeply embedded in modern culture - and teens are increasingly being exposed earlier than ever before.

This week, Jaclyn and Toni sit down with Dr. Juleen Buser, behavioral addiction specialist and licensed professional counselor, to explore the psychology behind gambling addiction, why online betting can become so compulsive, and how technology has dramatically changed access and risk for adolescents.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The rise of teen sports betting
• Dopamine and behavioral addiction
• Why gambling often hides in plain sight
• How apps and online games reinforce addictive patterns
• Warning signs parents should know
• Why gambling addiction carries one of the highest suicide risks among addictions
• What counseling and recovery look like

Links:

Dr. Juleen Buser - LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/juleen-buser-115515293/

Psychology Today:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1657331

Facebook - Cardiff Health, LLC:
https://www.facebook.com/cardiffhealth

NPR Article:
https://www.npr.org/2026/04/05/nx-s1-5762276/teens-getting-hooked-on-gambling-sports-betting

Preorder Toni's new book: https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Somatic-Exercises-Everyone-Brain/dp/B0GGTF8YFJ/

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share.

An AI agent was reportedly given explicit instructions not to make unauthorized changes… and then deleted a company’s production databases and backups anyway.

This week on Therapy, Tech & Takeout, Jackie and Toni explore the ethical, psychological, and societal implications of AI systems behaving in unexpected and potentially devastating ways.

Using the recent Claude AI database deletion story as a starting point, they discuss:

• whether AI safeguards are real or just perceived
• why humans overtrust technology
• how automation changes our relationship with responsibility
• the psychological comfort of outsourcing decision-making
• existential fears surrounding AI
• the role political leaders should play in regulating emerging technology
• and how intentional technology use may protect our autonomy and mental well-being

They also explore how cognitive bias impacts our perception of technological risk, why many tech leaders limit technology exposure for their own children, and whether AI is becoming the “junk food” of modern life.

Referenced articles & resources:

• The Guardian article discussed in this episode: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/29/claude-ai-deletes-firm-database
• Forestiere Underground Gardensin Fresno, California: https://undergroundgardens.com/

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #TechEthics #MentalHealth #Automation #DigitalWellness #Psychology #Technology #ClaudeAI

In this episode of Therapy, Tech & Takeout, Jackie and Toni are joined by licensed mental health therapist Sheena Beach for a serious and important conversation about teen sextortion, cyberbullying, self-harm, and digital shame.

Inspired by a New York Post article reporting on teen suicides connected to sextortion scams, the conversation explores how online coercion can quickly become a mental health crisis for adolescents. Sheena explains what self-harm can look like, why it is not always the same as suicidal intent, and how parents can respond with calm, connection, and choice instead of shame.

We also discuss the tech side of the problem: fake accounts, disappearing messages, AI, anonymous profiles, parental monitoring tools, and the difficult balance between protecting kids and maintaining trust.

This episode includes discussion of self-harm, suicide, sextortion, and child exploitation. Please take care while listening.

Show Notes / Resources

Article discussed:
Sextortion and teen suicide connection:
https://nypost.com/2025/12/10/us-news/38-us-teens-died-by-suicide-in-five-years-from-sextortion-scams/

Cyberbullying and sexting laws by state:
https://cyberbullying.org/sexting-laws

Healthcare-based guidance on self-harm:
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/when-children-and-teens-self-harm.aspx

Self-harm and suicide information:
https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/self-harm/self-harm-statistics/
https://afsp.org/

Cyberbullying and sextortion resources:
https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it
https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2023/PSA230912
https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/sextortion/financially-motivated-sextortion

Books for children and teens:
My Body is Private by Linda Gerard
https://a.co/d/014SLl9s

Do You Have a Secret? by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos
https://a.co/d/0ex9FHg5

Let’s Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent and Respect by Jayneen Sanders
https://a.co/d/0eoHS1sc

The Internet Is Not Your Friend: Online Safety for Teens by Kyan Montague
https://a.co/d/09TNaHxx

Parental safety and monitoring tools mentioned:
Bark Technology: https://www.bark.us/
Qustodio: https://www.qustodio.com/en/
Aura Parent: https://www.aura.com/parents
Family Keeper: https://reasonlabs.com/platform/products/parental-control?fk_redirect=1

Guest:
Sheena Beach, licensed mental health therapist and founder of Canopy Counseling. Licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina, with telehealth availability in Florida. Connect with Sheena www.sheenabeach.com

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 in the U.S. for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Can technology actually improve your relationship? Or is it just another tool that falls short when things get real?

In this episode of Therapy, Tech & Takeout, Jackie and Toni break down a fascinating meta-analysis on digital relationship interventions and what the research actually says about apps, coaching platforms, and tech-driven tools designed to improve connection.

👉 Study referenced: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12482273/

They explore:

• Whether relationship apps and online programs really increase satisfaction
• The difference between relationship satisfaction vs. relationship health
• Why digital tools may fail new parents (and what actually helps instead)
• The surprising role of coaching and accountability in digital programs
• How intimacy, vulnerability, and “healthy risk” impact long-term relationships
• Where tech helps… and where it absolutely doesn’t replace therapy

Plus, a wild conversation about haptic tech (yes… remote kissing devices 😳) and what it reveals about human connection.

If you’ve ever wondered whether relationship tools are worth it - or when it’s time to go deeper - this episode gives you a grounded, honest take.

This week, we’re diving into a heavy but important topic inspired by a Wired article on how people are using hacking tools, surveillance, and AI to exploit partners and friends.

We unpack how this actually happens in real life - and why it’s less about “hacking” and more about access, trust, and control.

From shared passwords and location tracking to deepfakes and digital coercion, this episode explores both the tech side and the psychological impact of these behaviors.

We also talk about:

• Warning signs to look for in relationships

• Why people normalize control early on

• How to protect yourself digitally

• What to do if you’re concerned about a friend

• Why trusting your gut matters more than you think

⚠️ Content warning: This episode discusses stalking, abuse, and sexual assault.

A Call to Men website: https://www.acalltomen.org/Jackson Katz, The Macho ParadoxRAINN is the national organization and where people can start to help them find local resources: https://centers.rainn.org/

What happens when creativity meets technology in the therapy room?

In this episode of Therapy, Tech & Takeout, Jackie and Toni are joined by art therapist Lindsey Jonin to explore how art therapy is evolving in a digital world. From iPads and Canva to virtual sessions and screen sharing, Lindsey shares how technology is expanding access to healing while still keeping human connection at the center.

We also unpack the tension many of us feel with tech - when it isolates vs. when it connects - and how creativity can be a powerful antidote to overconsumption.

Whether you think you’re “not creative” or you’re already an artist, this conversation will change how you think about self-expression, mental health, and the role of technology in both.

In this episode:

• What art therapy actually is (and what it’s not)

• How digital tools like Canva and drawing apps are used in therapy

• Why virtual art therapy can increase accessibility and connection

• The mindset shift from consuming to creating

• Simple ways to reconnect with your creativity (even if you feel stuck)

Learn more + find a credentialed art therapist:

• Lindsey Jonin: https://www.lilycounselingandarttherapy.com/about

  Presentations | Art Workshops | Trainings www.abstractandaligned.com

• Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB): https://www.atcb.org

• American Art Therapy Association: https://arttherapy.org