Colorado Law Requires Real-Time Therapist Oversight for AI Used in Psychotherapy

Colorado enacted House Bill 26-1195 on June 3, 2026, requiring therapists who use AI as a client-facing therapeutic tool to participate in sessions on a synchronous, real-time, interactive basis. Forbes reported that the therapist must remain actively logged into the AI system and prepared to intervene instantly. The law applies specifically when AI is presented as part of psychotherapy.

It does not cover cases in which the AI does not purport to diagnose or treat mental health disorders. Forbes reported that similar laws in Illinois, Nevada, and Utah instead require therapists to review and approve AI-generated treatment plans or recommendations before clients use them. No overarching federal law addresses AI use in mental health services.

Forbes reported that ChatGPT has more than 900 million weekly active users and that consulting on mental health topics ranks as the top use of contemporary generative AI and large language models.