In nearly every conversation I’ve had about behavioral health technology, AI tends to dominate the discussion. That focus makes sense, considering that AI has already drastically changed the way many providers document their care, manage their workload, and engage with data.
But when one innovation takes up all the oxygen, it’s easy to lose sight of the others.
There are tons of new technologies outside of the AI sphere that carry real potential to shift how care is delivered. Some are already being piloted in clinical settings, while others are still developing. All of them raise important questions about how we support people with complex needs—and if you’re a behavioral health professional, all of them should be on your radar.
This piece focuses on three of those emerging technologies: digital phenotyping, virtual reality, and neurological interventions.
To see my full analysis of the top trends and innovations that will transform behavioral health as we know it—including my take on AI, digital therapeutics, and more—download my Executive Report on the Future of Behavioral Healthcare.
Digital Phenotyping: Seeing What We Couldn’t See Before
Digital phenotyping leverages data from everyday devices (like smartphones and wearables) to better understand a person’s behavioral and emotional state. This data can be collected either:
- passively (i.e., via sensors that track movement, sleep, or phone usage), or
- actively (i.e., via self-report surveys or voice recordings).
The promise here is in earlier insight. By proactively identifying subtle changes in behavior, digital phenotyping may help providers recognize that someone is at risk well before a crisis occurs. For example, your smartwatch or smartphone might flag a pattern of disrupted sleep or social withdrawal before you (or anyone else) notice the first signs of depression.
In fact, a recent systematic review published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews looked at how smartphone data is being used specifically to support care for individuals with depression. The findings are encouraging, with many studies confirming that changes in phone usage (like those related to movement, communication frequency, and screen time), were often linked to shifts in clinical symptoms.
Of course, for this approach to be clinically useful, it has to be both accurate and respectful of privacy. There are still important questions to answer about consent, transparency, and how this data fits into existing care workflows. But the potential is there—especially in settings where early intervention can greatly impact outcomes.
Virtual Reality: A New Way to Practice Real-Life Skills
Virtual reality might sound like something out of a gaming convention, but it’s already finding a place in behavioral health. Providers are using VR to support exposure therapy, help clients build practical skills, and reduce stress by offering a controlled, low-stakes way to practice navigating tough situations.
In one recent pilot study, researchers created a virtual classroom to help adolescents with school-related anxiety. Over multiple sessions, many students showed reductions in fear responses and social anxiety symptoms. It’s early research, but it reflects what many providers are already seeing in real-world practice: VR can offer something traditional therapy often can’t—repetition, authenticity, and distance all at once.
As with many emerging tools, the challenge now is in creating the infrastructure necessary for widescale adoption. We need clearer protocols, more consistent research, and reimbursement models that allow providers to actually use it. In other words, the technology is here—but the systems around it still need to catch up.
Neurological Interventions: Bold Moves in Brain-Based Care
Everything we think, feel, and experience originates in the brain. So, it’s not surprising that some of the most advanced work in behavioral health innovation is happening at the neurological level. Tools like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), vagal nerve stimulation (VNS), and deep brain stimulation (DBS) are opening new doors for individuals whose symptoms haven’t responded to traditional treatment.
TMS, in particular, has gained traction in recent years. A 2024 study published in Brain Stimulation found that treatment expectations were closely linked to clinical outcomes in people receiving TMS for treatment-resistant depression. For individuals who had not responded to medication, the results were encouraging—and in some cases, life-changing.
On the more invasive side, DBS and VNS offer the possibility of modulating brain activity directly—but they also raise important clinical and ethical questions. How do we weigh the benefits against the risks? Who decides when these tools are appropriate? And how do we ensure access isn’t limited to only a few?
Ethical Considerations When Implementing Emerging Technologies
These are powerful behavioral health interventions, and I think the excitement is warranted. But, excitement is the easy part. The hard part is what comes next: figuring out how these tools actually fit into care and whether they can make a real difference for the people we’re here to help. As I often say, just because we can doesn’t mean we should—and we definitely shouldn’t without careful oversight.
The truth is, we’re not short on innovation. What we need is thoughtful implementation. We need to know how to ask the right questions, stay grounded in ethics, and make decisions based on outcomes—not hype. Digital phenotyping, VR, and neurological interventions each show promise. But promise doesn’t mean impact—not without structure and accountability behind it.
For a comprehensive look at what’s coming next (including AI, digital therapeutics, and how these technologies could reshape care delivery), download my full Executive Report on the Future of Behavioral Healthcare.
