Shezlong launches AI mental health therapy assistant

Shezlong, the Middle East and Africa's player in online therapy, just pulled another rabbit out of the hat. It has unveiled the region's first AI-powered therapy assistant — a clever little sidekick built to shake up mental healthcare as we know it.

"We believe the human element is at the core of the therapeutic journey for our clients," said Professor Mohamed Elsheikh, Shezlong's Chief Medical Officer.

And with this tech, Shezlong isn't trying to replace therapists — it's giving them superpowers.

How does it work?

Picture a digital co-pilot sitting beside the therapist. Shezlong's AI assistant does some heavy lifting behind the scenes:

• It analyzes a patient's emotional patterns like a seasoned detective piecing together a story.
• It creates tailor-made treatment reports that track progress with a fine-tooth comb.
• It even nudges therapists with insights, helping build stronger, longer-lasting therapeutic relationships.

During early trials with real patients, Shezlong found that the AI didn't just talk a big game — it delivered. Aly Zeineldin, Shezlong's Chief Product Officer, summed it up best: "This is what AI is made for."

But wait, there's more.

The AI also steps in as a matchmaker, suggesting the best therapist for a patient based on emotional and cognitive profiles. Between sessions, it acts as a personal coach, offering bite-sized self-care activities, emotional check-ins, and brain workouts that flex and adapt as the patient grows.

Why does it matter?

Mental healthcare has always been as complex as a jigsaw puzzle — and not everyone gets all the pieces. Shezlong's AI assistant wants to change that story. It gives users a voice between therapy sessions and a hand to hold when life gets rough. It speeds up healing by keeping patients engaged, motivated, and tuned into their own emotional journey.

As Mohamed Alaa Eldeen, Shezlong's CEO, put it: "I believe in a world where no one is held back by mental illness."

His dream? Mental health support that doesn't care about your postcode or your wallet size. Thanks to AI, that once-lofty goal is suddenly closer than ever.

The context

Let's not forget — this isn't Shezlong's first rodeo. They pioneered online therapy across the Middle East and Africa when few dared. Now, they're doing it again, but smarter.

• The AI platform is built with a privacy-first mindset, following HIPAA standards to the letter.
• User consent and protection aren't afterthoughts — they're baked into every step.
• The company is finalizing a clinical study that will soon land in a top scientific journal, adding muscle to its claims.

Shezlong's early success with the AI assistant has venture capital firms circling like hawks, with a fresh funding round already in the works. The endgame? Rolling out the assistant to millions, making therapy more proactive, more personal, and — dare we say it — more human than ever.