Jun 2, 2025
At Psyntel, we believe the future of mental health is being shaped not only by today’s professionals—but also by the next generation of clinicians rising through the field. That’s why we were honored to connect with Leah Guven, a passionate graduate counseling student who brings both insight and vulnerability to her work. In a recent conversation, Leah opened up about her journey into counseling, how she’s building her clinical identity, and where she sees AI fitting into the future of therapy.
"Helping" Means Something Different Now
Leah didn’t always know she would become a counselor, but the desire to understand people and their stories was always there. As she shared, “My end goal was always to become a therapist because I am intrigued by people's stories and how it shapes our perception of the world and ourselves.”
Since starting her graduate program in 2023, her understanding of what it means to “help” someone has evolved. “Helping,” she now says, “means guiding clients to realize the strengths they already have within themselves and to channel those strengths when faced with the challenges of life.”
It’s a beautiful reframing of the therapist’s role—not as the expert who solves problems, but as a compassionate collaborator walking alongside clients as they navigate their own paths.
Learning to Hear Her Own Voice
One of the most relatable challenges Leah described is something many early-career therapists face: the tension between learning theory and practice while trying to find your authentic clinical voice.
“When I first started, I battled with whether I could be an effective counselor and whether this was truly what I was meant to do,” she said. Over time, though, she learned to give herself grace. “We can be our own biggest critics, and doubt can take over quickly. But reminding myself of why I’m here, and envisioning my future in this work, keeps me going.”
This sense of groundedness—and permission to not have everything figured out right away—is something we hear often from students and new clinicians. It’s also part of why Psyntel exists: to give therapists time and space to be present, to reflect, and to grow without being buried by admin or self-doubt.
AI in Counseling: Cautious Optimism and Thoughtful Application
Leah approaches the topic of AI in mental health with a refreshing balance of curiosity and care. “AI is currently transforming the field of counseling,” she said. “As I’ve learned from using Psyntel, it can be a powerful tool to create more efficiency in the counseling process.”
From her perspective, tools like Psyntel can play a key role in helping therapists stay organized, especially with tasks like documentation, case conceptualization, and session planning. “It allows therapists to focus more on their clients in session, rather than being distracted by notes or timelines,” she explained.
At the same time, she remains mindful of AI’s limitations—particularly in areas like diagnosis and clinical judgment. “AI still has a long way to go in terms of interpreting symptoms and yielding an accurate diagnosis,” she noted. Her hope is for more collaboration between AI developers and mental health professionals, leading to tools that enhance the human connection rather than diminish it.
What New Clinicians Need Most
When asked what features would best support her growth as a future therapist, Leah emphasized the importance of streamlined documentation. “Although it’s essential to document notes from sessions, it’s very time consuming,” she said. “Psyntel’s ability to create efficiency in that aspect will be especially beneficial for me to be fully present in sessions with my client.”
That sense of presence—and the ability to stay focused on the client instead of the clock—is what ultimately matters most to Leah.
How to Reach Students Like Her
Leah also offered a thoughtful reflection on how companies like Psyntel can better reach student counselors. “Honestly, I don’t think I hear enough about emerging tools in the mental health field,” she said. For students and early-career professionals, there’s often hesitation around adopting AI—particularly out of concern that it could interfere with the human element of therapy.
But Leah sees potential for these tools to actually enhance that human connection by making space for it. “Psyntel can lead the way by collaborating with counseling students, listening to their feedback, and understanding what they think would be beneficial as future clinicians,” she shared.
At Psyntel, we couldn't agree more.
💬 Connect with Leah Guven
Leah, thank you for your voice, your honesty, and your vision for a more connected future in mental health care. We’re excited to keep learning from you and counselors like you—because this work is always better when we build it together.
