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AI Disclosure

How Saalvio uses AI

Last updated: 2026-05-23

AI in our editorial process

Our editorial team uses AI tools to help with research, outlining, draft generation, and copy editing. AI does not write Saalvio in any final sense. Every article is reviewed by a human editor for accuracy, voice, and scope. Every article that touches mental health is then reviewed by a member of our clinical team before publication.

We treat AI as a research assistant and a draft companion, not as an author. When AI surfaces a claim, we verify it against primary sources before publishing. When AI generates prose, we rewrite it to fit Saalvio's plain-language voice.

Messaging a therapist is human, not AI

It is worth saying plainly because the two features can be easy to confuse: messaging a therapist on Saalvio is human-to-human. Thrive AI is AI-to-human. They are different things.

Messaging is an asynchronous channel between you and a real therapist from our clinical team. You can use it for free before you book a first session to ask the practical questions that often hold people back (fit, fees, approach, languages spoken), and you can use it between booked sessions for brief clarifications. The person at the other end is a Registered Psychotherapist or Registered Social Worker. Replies arrive within one business day, often sooner. Messaging is not therapy by text and not crisis support; therapy happens in booked sessions, and emergencies belong on the crisis-resources path.

Thrive AI, by contrast, is a software product. Its responses come from a Saalvio-built CBT chatbot, not a clinician. When you message Thrive AI, no human reads or replies in real time.

For more on messaging a therapist before you book, see the messaging explainer. For more on Thrive AI, see the Thrive AI overview.

Thrive AI: our CBT chatbot

Thrive AI is a Saalvio product, not a third-party tool. It is a CBT chatbot, available to people across Canada and the United States. Talking with Thrive AI helps you reflect on what you are feeling, work through cognitive-behavioural exercises in conversation, and notice patterns in your mood over time. Thrive AI is the only conversational AI product Saalvio operates; our guided CBT self-help tools, calming music, and cognitive games are separate, non-conversational wellness products.

Thrive AI is clearly framed for what it is:

  • Not therapy. Talking to Thrive AI is not the same as working with a registered psychotherapist.
  • Not a crisis service. If you are in immediate danger, please call 911. If you are in mental health crisis, please call 988 (the Suicide Crisis Helpline of Canada) or visit your nearest emergency department.
  • Not a regulated medical device. Thrive AI does not diagnose conditions or prescribe treatment.
  • Not a replacement for medical care. If you have a health concern, your family doctor or a walk-in clinic is the right first stop.

Thrive AI's full product disclosure is now live. The Thrive AI overview page introduces it, How Thrive AI works explains the CBT principles and the technology stack, Safety and limitations draws the line between Thrive AI and clinical or crisis services, and Thrive AI privacy names the data handling.

Crisis safety in Thrive AI

Thrive AI detects mentions of suicidal thoughts, self-harm, harm to others, and other high-risk content. When it detects them, it surfaces the canonical crisis resources (911 for immediate danger, 988 the Suicide Crisis Helpline of Canada for mental health crisis, and the nearest emergency department) and steps back from the conversation. This is a safety guardrail, not a clinical assessment. Thrive AI is not equipped to assess danger, and we do not pretend otherwise. If you are in crisis, please call 911 or 988 directly or visit your nearest emergency department. Do not rely on a chatbot to keep you safe.

Data and privacy

Editorial AI tools used inside Saalvio do not receive client personal health information. They work on draft text and research notes that contain no identifying data. Anything you say to Thrive AI is governed by our Privacy Policy, which describes how we store conversation data, how long we keep it, who has access, and how to delete it.

Read the Privacy Policy

Questions about how we use AI

Email [email protected] with 'AI question' in the subject line. We answer in plain language. If you have a privacy concern about Thrive AI specifically, email [email protected].