The Ethics of AI in Therapy

Credit

Program Information

All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners.  For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.

A small portion of the material for this CE activity was developed with limited assistance from generative AI. All AI-generated information was reviewed for accuracy by the instructor, an independent content reviewer, or PESI staff.

Speaker

Joni M. Gilbertson, MA, NCC, LMHC, BCTMH, CTMH Related seminars and products

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Joni Gilbertson, MA, NCC, LMHC, BCTMH, CTMH, is a certified clinical Telemental health provider, board-certified Telemental health provider, licensed mental health counselor, and the originator of the 2-day Telemental health certification that has been taken by over 150,000 plus mental health professionals nationwide. Joni is also the author of the book Telemental Health, An Essential Guide for Providing Successful Online Therapy. She has been licensed in Illinois and is licensed in Florida as a mental health counselor. After receiving her master’s degree, she designed and instructed seventeen mental health and legal issues classes for the sociology department where she was presented with the award for “Teachers who make a difference”.

Joni also has experience supervising a mental health staff within a hospital setting and supervising interns within her private practice. For many years she trained mental health agencies, children and family services, first responders, employees at jails, prisons, and detention centers on mental health topics as well as legal and ethical issues of relevant concern for diverse populations. As a retired chief of probation, she is responsible for designing and training staff members on topics such as law and ethics, suicide awareness, personality disorders, substance use disorders, motivational interviewing, and safety strategies. She started one of the first telehealth programs for court-ordered clients and has over 15 years of experience using video sessions for clinical clients.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Joni Gilbertson maintains a private practice and has employment relationships with eCare and BayPath University. She receives compensation as a national presenter. Joni Gilbertson receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Joni Gilbertson has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Additional Info

Program Information

For live CE credit, you must watch the live webcast in its entirety at its scheduled time and complete the CE quiz and evaluation within one week. You will have access for 90 days after the program for review.

Please note: There will be a 15-minute break (mid-morning). Actual break start time is at the discretion of the speaker. A more detailed schedule is available upon request.

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Objectives

1. Describe what AI is in the context of mental health treatment.
2. Describe what research states about best practices using Artificial Intelligence with specific populations.
3. Identify the benefits and the risks of using AI in providing psychotherapy services.
4. Apply laws and the code of ethics that relate to using AI in diverse mental health and healthcare settings.

Outline

Unlock the Power of Artificial Intelligence in Therapy:

• A clinicians guide to chatbots, robots, vr and beyond
• Meet clients’ individual needs with personalized chatbots
• How robots are enhancing therapy and nursing
• AI-driven wellness applications for selfcare
• Streamline your business operations with AI
• How avatar therapy breaks down barriers to mental health care
• The therapeutic potential of virtual environments

The Latest State and Federal Laws, Guidelines and Safeguards

• State telemental health laws
• The latest laws relevant to using AI
• Clinical importance of laws and regulations around AI
• Best practices for using AI interjurisdictionally
• Federal laws that relate to clinical practice
• Demystify HIPAA laws and digital practice
• Manage risks with necessary safeguards for clinical practice

Risks and Benefits of Using AI Therapeutically

• Common risks and the legal and ethical implications
• Best practices to minimize or eliminate risks associated with AI
• Limitations of research with current technologies
• Psychological and neurological benefits and limitations

Relevant Code of Ethics

• Interpret code of ethics as it relates to clinical use of AI
• Apply code of ethics to clinical situations
• Evaluate AI’s clinical relevance
• Common scenarios that relate to therapeutic use of AI

Best Practices for Safe and Effective Use of AI in Therapy

• Compare AI options with related technology best practices
• Telemental health needs and best practices for diverse clients
• Identify best practices to minimize confidentiality and privacy concerns
• Consider best practices when using technology interjurisdictionally

Guidance and Solutions for Handling AI Dilemmas: Case Studies

• Male seeking SUDS treatment but does not have time to attend in person
• Young male dealing with depression with no transportation to attend treatment
• Father with OCD who does not want to be seen going to a therapy office

Target Audience

• Counselors
• Psychologists
• Case Managers
• Therapists
• Marriage & Family Therapists
• Social Workers
• Case Managers
• Other Mental Health Professionals