OpenAI to Connect ChatGPT Users With Licensed Therapists
OpenAI is building a global network of licensed mental health professionals to connect users directly to certified therapists through ChatGPT.
OpenAI announced a directional policy on August 26, 2025, to establish a global network of licensed mental health professionals accessible directly through ChatGPT. The initiative seeks to move beyond existing crisis hotlines by intervening earlier in a user's struggle and connecting them to certified therapists before they reach an acute crisis.
Under the plan, ChatGPT will identify users in need of mental health assistance and route them to vetted human professionals within the AI session. The organization has already begun localizing these resources in the United States and Europe, with intentions to expand into additional global markets. This move is intended to address the inherent limitations of large language models and comply with emerging AI mental health regulations.
While the company has not yet detailed specific technical implementation or compensation models, the strategy represents a shift from simply referring users to external real-world resources to creating a seamless bridge to licensed care.
