{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Healthy Project Podcast","title":"AI Mental Health Tools That Support Therapists: Cole Smith of Opal","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/b0c3e003\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1532,"description":"Corey Dion Lewis talks with Cole Smith, founder of Opal, about how AI is changing mental health care without replacing the human relationship that makes therapy work.\nYou will hear:\nHow AI can strengthen the therapeutic alliance\nWhere bias and privacy risks show up in AI mental health tools\nWhat therapists should look for when evaluating platforms\nHow AI may improve access in rural communities\nWhat it takes to build trust in digital mental health\nThis episode is for clinicians, public health leaders, founders, and anyone tracking the future of mental health equity and ethical AI.\nTry Opal AI\n For therapists: heyopal.com\n Free AI chat: chat.heyopal.com\nClinician offer\n 40% off your first year + 1 month free\n Code: PODCAST\nShow Notes\n 0:01 – Welcome to The Healthy Project Podcast\n 0:46 – Meet Cole Smith and the mission behind Opal\n 1:43 – Why the therapeutic alliance still leads the work\n 2:09 – Privacy, bias, and trust in AI-powered therapy\n 3:21 – Why resistance to AI is growing and what’s driving it\n 4:35 – Balancing automation with real human connection\n 6:52 – How AI can help therapists understand patterns and needs\n 8:30 – Rural access and where AI can close gaps\n 9:54 – Cost barriers and the fragmented mental health tech landscape\n 11:29 – The therapist search problem and communication gaps\n 14:29 – How clinicians can use AI without fear-led decision making\n 17:43 – How to evaluate platforms for privacy and compliance\n 19:08 – What Opal is building next\n 21:11 – Where to find Cole Smith and Opal resources\nGuest\n Cole Smith\n Founder of Opal AI\nResources & Links\nFollow Cole Smith on LinkedIn  \r\nOpal for therapists: heyopal.com  \r\nOpal free chat: chat.heyopal.com\nCall to action\n Follow The Healthy Project Podcast on Apple Podcasts.\n Share this episode with one therapist or leader exploring ethical AI in mental health.","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/MSRYwgzVwmOkZXeinjXJXt6vM1REXDF2oD3ZSMgwLMU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9lY2Zl/MzVlNDRkOWQ4MDEz/ZTNkOTY2MzMyNzYx/M2I0MC5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}