Episode
Parenting Through the AI Era: What Every Parent Needs to Know with Dr. Amber Childs
- Published
- May 5, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1887
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://beyond-the-couch-ai-in-psychology.captivate.fm
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Summary
In this episode of Beyond the Couch, Dr. Ernest Wayde sits down with Dr. Amber Childs, child and adolescent psychiatrist, Yale School of Medicine associate professor, and founder of Dr. Amber Childs Advisory. The conversation explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping the lives of teens, parents, clinicians, and the future of mental health care. Dr. Childs shares how her unexpected journey into AI began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she rapidly helped scale telehealth services for adolescent psychiatry at Yale. She discusses how teens are already integrating AI into their daily lives for learning, emotional support, curiosity, and mental health conversations, often turning to chatbots when trusted human support feels unavailable. The discussion also highlights the fears many parents experience around AI, the importance of curiosity-driven conversations instead of fear-based reactions, and why bans alone may fail to protect young people. Dr. Childs emphasizes that clinicians, caregivers, and psychologists must stay engaged with technology, develop AI literacy, and help shape safer, evidence-based solutions that support human connection rather than replace it. Takeaways: AI Is Already Deeply Integrated Into Teen Life and Mental Health Conversations. Teens Often Use AI for Exploration, Emotional Support, and Nonjudgmental Guidance. Parents Should Approach AI Conversations With Curiosity Instead of Fear or Control. Banning AI Without Education or Safeguards May Create More Problems Than Solutions. Psychologists and Clinicians Must Help Shape the Future of Ethical AI in Mental Health Care. Human Connection, Communication, and Trust Still Matter More Than Technology. AI Literacy Is Becoming Essential for Parents, Therapists, and Educators. Connect with Dr. Amber…