Stop Using Your Personal Email (And Other Thoughts on AI in Private Practice)
Running a solo practice in Ohio and Massachusetts means I’m basically a one-person corporation. I’m the clinician, but I’m also the IT department, the billing specialist, and the marketing lead. To keep my sanity intact, I’ve started using AI to handle some of the administrative heavy lifting—but I’m noticing a lot of my peers are either terrified of it or using it in ways that make me cringe.
I want to talk about how I’m actually using these tools, and where I draw the line.
The "@gmail.com" Litmus Test
Before we even get to the "robots," we have to talk about basic digital hygiene. I’m going to be blunt: if you are still using a free @gmail.com or @yahoo.com address for your practice, you are failing the most basic security test.
When I see a therapist using a personal email address, it tells me they either don’t understand how data works or they don’t care enough to spend the $10 a month on a professional, secure workspace. A free Gmail account isn't HIPAA-compliant out of the box, and it tells the world that you—and your clients’ data—are the product.
If we want to be taken seriously as professionals in a digital world, we have to act like it. Secure your domain before you worry about anything else.
AI is an Assistant, Not a Colleague
Now, about the AI. I’ve seen a lot of marketing lately for "AI-driven therapy" and chatbot clinicians. It’s garbage.
To be clear: I do not use AI for clinical judgment. I’m not putting client struggles into a prompt to see what a machine suggests. Therapy is about human connection. Whether I’m using EMDR or working through a complex trauma history, that work requires a human brain, lived experience, and an actual soul. An algorithm stays out of the session room.
How I Actually Use It (The Solopreneur’s Quest Log)
Where AI actually earns its keep is in the "boring" business side of the house. Being a solopreneur means my to-do list is usually miles long. I use AI as a high-powered office assistant for things like:
Business Logistics: It’s great for organizing my "quest log." It helps me take a massive administrative goal and break it down into five small, actionable steps.
The "Jargon" Filter: Sometimes I get way too deep into clinical-speak. I’ll use it to help me rephrase a blog post so I’m talking to people like a human being, not a textbook.
Strategic Brainstorming: If I’m stuck on a business decision or a marketing angle, I’ll use it to kick around ideas and find where my logic might be glitching.
The Golden Rule: Pay for the Pro Plan
If you’re a peer looking to start using these tools, here is the non-negotiable rule: Don't put anything related to your business into a free chatbot.
If you aren't paying for the tool, the company is using your inputs to train their models. That’s a massive security risk. I only use enterprise-level, paid versions of these tools that offer data privacy and security. It’s the digital equivalent of a locked filing cabinet—don't leave your business strategy (or your sanity) on a park bench.
Keeping the "Human" in Human Services
Technology shouldn't replace the work we do; it should give us more time to do it. I use these tools so I can spend less time staring at spreadsheets and more time focused on the actual humans I work with (while occasionally dodging my hefty foster-fail cat during a session).
If we’re going to work in this field in 2026, we have to be tech-literate—but we also have to be smart enough to keep the robots in the administrative office where they belong.
If you’re a clinician looking for consultation on trans-affirming care, neurodivergent-friendly practices, or just navigating the solo-practice wasteland, I offer one-time Q&A sessions. You can reach out directly via the site.
And if you're a potential client looking for a real human to talk to, I'm currently seeing virtual clients in Ohio and Massachusetts. You can book a free 15-minute consult here:
