AI exposure Life, physical and social science
Will AI replace clinical and counseling psychologists?
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists. US occupation 19-3033.
The reading
5.9%
of the time clinical and counseling psychologists spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of clinical and counseling psychologists' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.
Ranked 237 of 756 US occupations. More exposed than 68% of them.Further along than 68% of them.
Per cent of working time Square-law scale
Average US job 7.7%
Around the middle of the pack.Keeping pace with the average job.
What AI already does for clinical and counseling psychologistsWhat clinical and counseling psychologists no longer do alone
O*NET lists 29 tasks for clinical and counseling psychologists. AI use at work shows up in 1 of them. Each score runs from 0.5, where every observed use helps a person with the task, to 1, where every use does the task outright.
- Collect information about individuals or clients, using interviews, case histories, observational techniques, and other assessment methods.Core task mostly automated 0.94
What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human
28 of the 29 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.
- Advise clients on how they could be helped by counseling.Core task
- Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.Core task
- Conduct research to develop or improve diagnostic or therapeutic counseling techniques.Core task
- Consult reference material, such as textbooks, manuals, or journals, to identify symptoms, make diagnoses, or develop approaches to treatment.Core task
- Consult with or provide consultation to other doctors, therapists, or clinicians regarding patient care.Core task
- Consult with other professionals, agencies, or universities to discuss therapies, treatments, counseling resources or techniques, and to share occupational information.Core task
Show the other 22
- Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.Core task
- Develop and implement individual treatment plans, specifying type, frequency, intensity, and duration of therapy.Core task
- Develop therapeutic and treatment plans based on clients' interests, abilities, or needs.Core task
- Develop, direct, and participate in training programs for staff and students.Core task
- Direct, coordinate, and evaluate activities of staff and interns engaged in patient assessment and treatment.Core task
- Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans.Core task
- Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling or treatments and the accuracy and completeness of diagnoses, modifying plans or diagnoses as necessary.Core task
- Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.Core task
- Interact with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, or vocational development and adjustment.Core task
- Maintain current knowledge of relevant research.Core task
- Obtain and study medical, psychological, social, and family histories by interviewing individuals, couples, or families and by reviewing records.Core task
- Plan and develop accredited psychological service programs in psychiatric centers or hospitals, in collaboration with psychiatrists and other professional staff.Core task
- Prepare written evaluations of individuals' psychological competence for court hearings.Core task
- Provide consulting services, including educational programs, outreach programs, or prevention talks to schools, social service agencies, businesses, or the general public.Core task
- Provide occupational, educational, or other information to individuals so that they can make educational or vocational plans.Core task
- Refer clients to other specialists, institutions, or support services as necessary.Core task
- Select, administer, score, and interpret psychological tests to obtain information on individuals' intelligence, achievements, interests, or personalities.Core task
- Supervise and train interns, clinicians in training, and other counselors.Core task
- Use a variety of treatment methods, such as psychotherapy, hypnosis, behavior modification, stress reduction therapy, psychodrama, or play therapy.Core task
- Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.Core task
- Plan, supervise, and conduct psychological research and write papers describing research results.
- Provide psychological or administrative services and advice to private firms or community agencies regarding mental health programs or individual cases.
How that compares
Among the 46 life, physical and social science occupations, clinical and counseling psychologists rank 25. The group averages 12.2%, and its most exposed job is Political Scientists at 45.2%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.
Just above in the ranking
- 233Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists 6.1%
- 235Biological Technicians 6.0%
- 235Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs 6.0%
Just below
What this does and does not mean
Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.
A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.
Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.