{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,12]],"date-time":"2026-08-12T11:31:01Z","timestamp":1786534261795,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,12]],"date-time":"2026-08-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1786492800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,12]],"date-time":"2026-08-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1786492800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["J Marital Family Therapy"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used as a source of emotional support, reflection, and perceived companionship. Despite growing public and clinical interest in AI companionship, little research has examined how individuals construct these experiences within broader relational systems. Drawing on systemic, attachment, and social constructionist perspectives, this study examines AI companionship using anonymized data from Psyhelp, an AI\u2010assisted mental health platform. A qualitative\u2010dominant mixed methods design integrated thematic analysis of user narratives with engagement patterns and self\u2010reported emotional indicators. Findings suggest that users primarily experienced AI companionship as a relational supplement characterized by availability, responsiveness, and psychological safety. Four themes emerged: AI as a relational supplement, a transitional emotional regulator, a psychologically safe disclosure space, and a facilitator of human relationships. Findings suggest that AI companionship reflects broader relational needs and has implications for systemic assessment, case conceptualization, and clinical training.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1111\/jmft.70164","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,12]],"date-time":"2026-08-12T10:41:52Z","timestamp":1786531312000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Artificial Intelligence as Companionship: A Systemic and Relational Examination Using Empirical Data From Psyhelp"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"52","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6412-1571","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Afarin","family":"Rajaei","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Counseling &amp; School Psychology San Diego State University San Diego California USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_12_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijmedinf.2019.103978"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_3_1","volume-title":"Conversation, Language, and Possibilities: A Postmodern Approach to Therapy","author":"Anderson H.","year":"1997"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_4_1","first-page":"135","volume-title":"The Art of Effective Facilitation: Reflections From Social Justice Educators","author":"Arao B.","year":"2013"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_5_1","volume-title":"Family Therapy: A Systemic Integration","author":"Becvar D. 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