Did My Doctor Seriously Just Say That?!?

(RIP Catherine O’Hara. Your comedy was and still is my favorite form of therapy)

Last week I was at a routine checkup with my neurologist. We were chatting about stress, therapy, life, the usual adulting topics. And then she casually shared that she replaced her therapist with AI therapy. Not only does she prefer it, she called it a game changer.

Let’s pause for dramatic effect.

My neurologist replaced human therapy with AI therapy.

My immediate reaction was that I needed a new doctor… Immediately. I left the appointment unsettled. So naturally, I did what any rational woman does. I went straight to my group chats.

I was not looking for medical advice. I was looking for validation.

But the more we unpacked it, the more the conversation shifted. Not from “Is she crazy?” to “Is she on to something?”

And that’s when it stopped being about my neurologist and started being about restaurants.

Before I go any further, two things. This is not a political post about the laws and rules around Healthcare. And I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV (Shout out to you Peter Bergman - fun fact, this commercial spot paid for his children's college). Kidding aside, if you are experiencing real mental health challenges, please consult a licensed professional. Seriously, that part is not negotiable.

Now let’s talk hospitality. Only about 32 percent of hospitality workers have employer-provided health insurance, compared to roughly 77 percent of other private industry workers, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data cited by the Independent Restaurant Coalition. Other reports suggest nearly 90 percent of restaurant workers lack employer-provided coverage. Only about 31 percent of restaurants offer medical insurance at all.

Let that sink in.

Nearly 70 percent of restaurant workers are operating without employer-sponsored coverage. And we all know the reality of restaurant life. High stress. Late hours. Financial pressure. Emotional labor. Burnout. And in an industry where margins are tight and benefits uneven, mental health support is often nonexistent.

We talk endlessly about taking care of the guest.

But who’s taking care of the team?

Hospitality is built on emotional labor. Anyone who has been a server or chef can relate to smiling through it, being in the weeds, reassuring customers and not fuck!ng up! Show the stress and well, you’re a goner, which equals more stress.

And for many restaurant employees, mental health support isn’t just hard to access. It’s nonexistent.

No insurance.

No affordable therapy.

No time for appointments between double shifts.

No privacy in tight teams where word travels fast.

Now zoom out.

Forbes recently wrote about AI’s pivot from productivity tool to digital therapist and life coach. Not just answering emails. But helping people process conflict, reframe stress, journal, breathe, and reflect. Meanwhile, academic research is increasingly examining AI-based mental health interventions and their effectiveness in guided cognitive behavioral support.

Is it therapy? No.

Is it crisis care? Absolutely not.

Is it something? Maybe.

Here are the scenarios I keep coming back to:

A line cook finishing a brutal shift at 1:17 a.m.

A server replaying a guest interaction in their head.

A manager carrying the weight of staffing shortages and food costs.

They may not have insurance.

They may not have $150 for a session.

They may not have time to schedule one.

They may not want their team knowing they are struggling.

But they have a phone.

AI is 24/7.

It requires no copay.

It carries no social stigma.

It offers privacy.

And in a workforce where access to care is limited, “something” might be better than silence.

The JMIR blog even posed the question of whether we need a “Taco Bell test” for AI. Not whether it replaces professionals, but whether it meaningfully serves real people in real moments. In hospitality terms, does it show up when it matters?

Does AI becomes a tool in the toolbox for taking care of teams in a scalable, affordable way? Or is it already here and I’m emerging from the naivety bubble I often self admittedly live in?

Which brings me back to my neurologist.

Did I leave that appointment ready to switch doctors? Maybe for a minute.

But did she open my eyes to something worth exploring for an industry where access is scarce and burnout is real? Also yes.