Over the last few years, therapists have noticed a growing trend of patients expressing anxiety and fear about artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on their careers. Emma Kobil, a trauma counselor in Denver, has seen clients who have lost their jobs due to AI and are struggling to cope with the change. “I’ve had clients lose their jobs due to AI, and it’s something we’ve processed in our sessions,” Kobil said. Often, they express “shock, disbelief and fear about navigating a changing career landscape where their skills are no longer needed,” she added.<\/p>\n
Other therapists have also reported similar concerns from their patients. Harvey Lieberman, a clinical psychologist in New York, said that patients often express a fear of becoming obsolete. “People start questioning their judgment, their choices or their future,” Lieberman said. A survey by the American Psychological Association found that 38% of workers worry that AI will make some or all of their job duties outdated in the future.<\/p>\n
The fears about AI are not unfounded, according to Rhiannon Batchelder, a career coach based in Denver. “Some employees are being asked to create pitches for how AI can take over portions of their job,” Batchelder said. The use of AI has already led to significant job losses, with nearly 55,000 layoffs in the U.S. in 2025, according to data from consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that AI can already replace around 11% of the U.S. labor market.<\/p>\n
Salesforce’s CEO, Marc Benioff, said that 4,000 customer support workers had been let go because artificial intelligence was already doing 50% of the work at the company. Other companies, such as Accenture and Lufthansa, have also pointed to AI as a factor in recent restructuring moves. Riana Elyse Anderson, a licensed clinical psychologist and associate professor at Columbia University, said that people are struggling to understand where they fit into a society that is increasingly driven by technology. “We probably don’t even know the full extent of how psychologically damaging this type of replacement is,” Anderson said.<\/p>\n
Losing a job to AI can trigger a range of emotions, including shock, disbelief, and fear. Ben Yalom, a San Diego-based psychotherapist, said that this experience can lead to existential questions about personal value and purpose. “It may feel as if the universe is saying, ‘You are no longer needed,’ which may feel much more profound and disturbing than ‘Our company is downsizing,’ or even ‘You are not doing a great job,'” Yalom said. Underneath these feelings is often a deeper fear of being left behind or not being “enough,” Kobil said.<\/p>\n
To cope with these feelings, Kobil recommends allowing oneself to grieve and comfort the parts of oneself that feel shocked, hopeless, and afraid. It’s also essential to create some distance between oneself and one’s work, recognizing that one’s identity and value extend beyond their profession. “You are so much more than your work,” Kobil said. Anderson suggests taking stock of who you are and what you want to do, rather than trying to pin down what will lead to a stable, lucrative career.<\/p>\n
While the growing role of AI in the workplace can feel overwhelming, retreating into avoidance or despair is not a helpful response, Lieberman said. Instead, learning enough about AI to understand where it genuinely alters work, and where it does not, can restore a sense of agency. There are plenty of ways to start learning about AI, including certificate programs and free opportunities, Batchelder said. “For most workers, understanding the basics of AI will be an asset, especially as we wait to see how the technology advances,” she added.<\/p>\n
To better navigate the changing career landscape, take some time to reflect on your values, skills, and interests, and consider how they might align with emerging opportunities in the AI-driven job market. By doing so, you can start to build a sense of agency and purpose, even in the face of uncertainty.<\/p>\nSmart Tip for Readers<\/h2>\n