S2E79: AI Therapy Laws 2026: What PMHNPs Can Still Use AI For

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!Seven states now restrict AI in mental health care, and Illinois's law names psychiatric APRNs but not physicians. Here's what PMHNPs can still use AI for. In this Deep Dive episode, two hosts walk through “AI Therapy Laws 2026: What PMHNPs Can Still Use AI For” from the Psych NP Fellowship blog by Lindsay Hill, DNP, PMHNP-BC. Key takeaways: • Seven states now restrict AI in mental health care: Illinois and Nevada (2025), plus Colorado, Maine, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Vermont (2026). Utah and California regulate chatbots through disclosure and crisis rules instead. • Illinois's law names the licensed advanced practice psychiatric nurse and leaves physicians out. A PMHNP there is covered, and the psychiatrist down the hall is not. • Scheduling, billing, reminders and drafting notes are still allowed. The laws call this administrative and supplementary support. • Recording or transcribing a session for an AI scribe takes the patient's written, specific, revocable consent in Illinois. Patient consent can't make the banned uses legal. • Three uses are off limits: AI making therapeutic decisions on its own, AI holding therapeutic conversations with patients, and AI detecting emotions or mental states. • Illinois fines run up to $10,000 per violation, enforced by the state's professional licensing department. Read the full article: https://psychnpfellowship.com/ai-therapy-laws-2026-pmhnp-state-guide/ Explore the Psych NP Fellowship: https://psychnpfellowship.com/programs/ This content is for educational purposes and does not replace individualized clinical judgment or supervision.