Question about AI visibility for local psychotherapy business

Hi, everyone, I’m an SEO newbie, and I have a few questions regarding AI visibility. For context, I am a psychotherapist with one business location.

An “AI visibility consultant” cold emailed me today. I realize he is just looking for business and may not be truthful – that’s why I’m here (insert Kenobi gif).

He told me that:

1. About 1,475 people are searching for "EMDR Therapy Broomfield CO” every month through ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.
2. A competing therapist comes up about 71% of the time, while I only show up 6%.
3. That it’s easy to influence AI answers now as it’s still early in the game.

My questions:

1. Somehow, I highly doubt that 1,475 people are searching for EMDR therapy through AI every month in my town (especially since KWFinder shows 0 monthly searches on Google). Is there a way to check that number?
2. Is there a way for me to verify/check the percentage of AI searches my business is capturing without paying a ton?
3. This competitor’s website is not the best in terms of design, but it’s very focused on one thing (EMDR therapy in Broomfield, CO) and seems well-optimized SEO-wise for that keyword. Mine offers EMDR as one of 6 specialties, and I think that’s why it’s not showing up in AI – I don’t look like I have authority on that specific topic? Is this in the ballpark of being correct?
4. I thought my website was well-optimized for SEO and AEO (as much as can be done now), for example, I have LocalBusiness schema, product schema on my specialty pages, FAQs on the home and specialty pages, Google maps embedded, etc. I only added all that within the last few months – is it still too early to tell if it’s having an effect? Should I just wait and be patient?
5. Is this consultant correct about AI answers being easy to influence? It seems like I have done a ton of work around AI visibility while the competitor has not, yet he shows up more than me (if this consultant is to be believed).

I'll be happy to provide mine and his website if that's allowed.

Really grateful for any advice – you guys are the best, and I learn a ton from this community!

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