CONVERSATIONS WITH CALVIN We The Species welcomes Dr. Tara Chalakani, Psychologist and CEO of Preferred Behavioral Health Group, for a timely and essential conversation on the intersection of AI and mental health. I’ve spoken with Dr. Tara several times over the years, and each interview reminds me why she is so respected across the mental-health landscape. With over thirty years of clinical and leadership experience, she brings a rare combination of deep expertise, compassion, and hands-on leadership to one of the most urgent issues of our time.
This latest conversation began unexpectedly.
After sending out a group email highlighting recent interviews, Dr. Tara
replied, and suddenly the idea struck: we need
to talk about AI. It’s everywhere—woven into our routines, our decisions,
our vulnerabilities—with a speed most of us can’t fully process. The world
feels like it’s changing every fifteen minutes, and the mental-health
implications are enormous.
Dr. Tara was immediately eager to dive into
the topic. Together, we explored AI’s promise,
the innovations that can enhance care and expand access; its illusion, the ways technology can
distort reality, connection, and trust; and the profound responsibility we all share as AI
becomes a constant presence in our emotional and psychological lives.
Few leaders speak about these issues with her
clarity and warmth. She embodies the kind of grounded, trauma-informed
leadership we need—on the front lines with clinicians, guiding a $39 million
behavioral-health organization, and still finding time to support the public
through writing, speaking, and her podcast.
I rarely use the word “wow” in my
descriptions. Dr. Tara earned three.
Watch Full Video
: DR. TARA CHALAKANI: AI & Mental Health — Promise, Illusion, and
Responsibility
