This self-access class provides access to the recording of COSRT’s Summer Conference, which took place in June 2026 and brought together leading voices from psychotherapy, counselling psychology, digital mental health, ethics and artificial intelligence research.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming part of people’s emotional, relational and sexual lives. Service users are turning to AI for support, reflection, companionship and guidance, whilst therapists are encountering AI-generated material, AI-mediated relationships and new ethical questions within clinical practice.
Across seven sessions, this conference recording explores the opportunities, challenges and uncertainties that emerge when AI enters the therapy room. Moving beyond AI as simply an administrative or productivity tool, the speakers examine how AI is influencing inherently human experiences such as intimacy, attachment, communication, sexuality, grief and emotional connection.
Drawing on contemporary research, clinical perspectives and ethical debate, the conference explores what happens when service users form emotional attachments to AI systems, engage with AI companions, or use AI alongside therapy. It also considers how therapists’ use of AI may influence therapeutic relationships, professional responsibilities and service user expectations.
Key questions explored throughout the class include:
- What happens when service users develop meaningful emotional relationships with AI?
- How is AI shaping expectations of intimacy, support and connection?
- How might therapists’ use of AI influence therapeutic relationships and clinical practice?
- What opportunities and risks are emerging as AI becomes part of service users’ relational worlds?
- Why do psychosexual and relationship therapists remain essential in an increasingly digital age?
- How may ethical frameworks, professional standards and training need to evolve in response to AI?
Featuring presentations from Dr Aaron Balick, Professor Terry Hanley, Dr Paris Alexandros Lalousis, Professor Elvira Perez Vallejos, Richard Miller and Professor Dimitra Petrakaki, this conference recording encourages participants to engage critically with both the possibilities and limitations of AI.
Rather than viewing AI as either a solution or a threat, the class explores how therapists can respond thoughtfully, ethically and confidently to rapidly evolving technologies whilst maintaining a clear focus on service user wellbeing and the uniquely human qualities that underpin effective therapeutic work.
This recording forms part of COSRT’s ongoing exploration of how psychosexual and relationship therapy practice continues to evolve in response to emerging developments in artificial intelligence.
Session 1: What Does AI Mean for Identity and Relationships in Therapy?
Algorithmic Selves and Digitally Mediated Relationships: How AI Is Getting Under Our Skin
Dr. Aaron Balick
Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping how people understand themselves, relate to others and navigate the world around them. Through personalised recommendations, predictive technologies and conversational systems, AI is becoming embedded within everyday psychological and relational experience.
This opening session explores how AI is influencing identity formation and digitally mediated relationships. Participants will consider how algorithms shape attention, behaviour, meaning-making and self-understanding, whilst examining the opportunities and challenges these developments present for psychosexual and relationship therapists.
Session Structure
- The emergence of the algorithmic self
- AI as a psychological and relational environment
- Identity formation in digitally mediated contexts
- Validation, affirmation and psychological development
- AI companionship and emotional attachment
- Clinical implications for psychosexual and relationship therapy
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session participants will be able to:
- Define the concept of the algorithmic self and explain its relevance to therapy.
- Evaluate how AI technologies influence identity formation and self-perception.
- Explore the psychological impact of digitally mediated relationships.
- Examine the implications of AI companionship and emotional attachment.
- Reflect on the role of therapists in supporting critical engagement with technology.
Session 2: How Are Service Users Engaging with AI in Therapy?
When AI Enters the Therapy Room: Relational Implications for Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy
Professor Terry Hanley
Service users are increasingly engaging with AI systems for emotional support, reflection, psychoeducation and relationship guidance. These interactions are beginning to shape expectations of support, responsiveness and relational connection.
This session explores how AI is becoming part of wider support ecosystems and considers what this means for contemporary psychosexual and relationship therapy practice.
Session Structure
- Current patterns of service user engagement with AI
- AI for emotional support and self-reflection
- AI within relationship and sexual wellbeing contexts
- Accessibility, affordability and availability
- Benefits and limitations of AI-assisted support
- AI within assessment, formulation and therapeutic exploration
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session participants will be able to:
- Identify the ways service users are currently engaging with AI technologies.
- Explore the benefits and limitations of AI-assisted support.
- Evaluate how AI may influence expectations of therapeutic relationships.
- Consider how AI use may emerge as part of clinical material.
- Reflect on the role of digital literacy within therapeutic practice.
Session 3: How Is AI Shaping Therapeutic Relationships?
From Algorithms to Alliance: AI and the Future of Therapeutic Relationships
Dr Paris Alexandros Lalousis
Artificial intelligence is increasingly entering mental health and healthcare settings through conversational systems, documentation tools and clinical decision-support technologies. These developments raise important questions regarding therapeutic alliance, professional accountability and ethical practice.
This session examines the evidence relating to AI-assisted mental health interventions and explores how AI may influence therapeutic relationships.
Session Structure
- AI within mental health care
- Conversational AI and therapeutic support
- Therapeutic alliance and AI systems
- Simulated empathy and relational processes
- Confidentiality and governance
- Professional accountability and clinical judgement
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session participants will be able to:
- Describe current applications of AI within mental health settings.
- Critically evaluate evidence relating to AI-assisted interventions.
- Examine the concept of therapeutic alliance in relation to AI systems.
- Distinguish between simulated empathy and human therapeutic relationships.
- Assess the implications of AI for confidentiality, governance and professional accountability.
Session 4: How Is AI Being Used in Grief and Bereavement Support?
Co-Producing Compassion: Responsible AI-Human Interaction in DeathTech
Professor Elvira Perez Vallejos
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used within grief, bereavement and end-of-life support. Emerging technologies offer new ways of preserving memories, maintaining connections and supporting emotional processing following loss.
This session introduces the emerging field of DeathTech and explores the opportunities and ethical challenges associated with AI-assisted bereavement support.
Session Structure
- Introduction to DeathTech
- AI-assisted grief support
- Digital remembrance and legacy technologies
- Continuing bonds and emotional connection
- Ethical challenges and governance
- Responsible Research and Innovation
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session participants will be able to:
- Describe the emerging field of DeathTech and its applications.
- Evaluate the benefits and limitations of AI-assisted bereavement technologies.
- Explore ethical issues relating to consent, dignity and digital legacy.
- Consider how AI may influence experiences of grief and mourning.
- Apply principles of responsible innovation to bereavement technologies.
Session 5: What Are the Ethical Challenges of AI in Therapy?
What We Owe Ourselves and Our Service Users: AI and the Future of Human Connection
Richard Miller
As AI becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life, therapists must navigate complex ethical, professional and governance challenges. Questions relating to confidentiality, consent, competence, dependency and safeguarding are becoming increasingly relevant to therapeutic practice.
This session explores the responsibilities of therapists and professional bodies as AI becomes part of service users’ relational worlds.
Session Structure
- Ethical challenges associated with AI
- AI companions and simulated intimacy
- Confidentiality and informed consent
- Dependency and safeguarding
- Professional competence and accountability
- Governance and professional standards
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session participants will be able to:
- Identify key ethical challenges associated with AI in therapy.
- Assess risks relating to confidentiality, consent and safeguarding.
- Explore the implications of AI companions and simulated relationships.
- Evaluate the responsibilities of therapists when AI becomes part of clinical material.
- Develop strategies for engaging with AI responsibly and ethically.
Session 6: Plenary Discussion
Challenges and Opportunities as AI Enters the Therapy Room
Integrating Learning into Clinical Practice
The rapid development of AI presents both opportunities and challenges for psychosexual and relationship therapists. Throughout the course, participants have explored issues relating to identity, intimacy, support-seeking, therapeutic relationships, grief and ethics.
This session brings together themes from across the class and supports participants in reflecting on the implications for future practice.
Session Structure
- Key themes emerging across the course
- Opportunities presented by AI
- Risks and areas of uncertainty
- Future developments in AI and therapy
- Implications for professional standards
- Reflective practice and clinical application
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session participants will be able to:
- Integrate learning from across the course into clinical practice.
- Evaluate opportunities and risks associated with AI in therapy.
- Reflect on the future role of AI within psychosexual and relationship therapies.
- Develop greater confidence in discussing AI-related issues with service users.
- Identify practical strategies for ethically informed practice.
Session 7: How Do Users Experience Intimacy with AI Mental Health Tools?
User-AI Intimacy in Digital Mental Health
Professor Dimitra Petrakaki
As AI mental health applications become increasingly sophisticated, many users report developing meaningful emotional connections with these systems. These developments challenge traditional assumptions about intimacy, support and therapeutic relationships.
This final session explores how user-AI intimacy develops and examines the implications of these emerging relationships for psychosexual and relationship therapy practice.
Session Structure
- Understanding user-AI intimacy
- Emotional attachment and self-disclosure
- AI mental health applications
- User experiences of support and connection
- Opportunities and risks of AI-mediated intimacy
- Implications for therapeutic practice
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session participants will be able to:
- Understand how intimacy and emotional connection may develop between users and AI systems.
- Explore factors that contribute to user-AI attachment and self-disclosure.
- Evaluate the opportunities and risks associated with AI-mediated support.
- Examine how AI relationships challenge traditional concepts of intimacy and connection.
- Reflect on the implications of user-AI intimacy for psychosexual and relationship therapy practice.
About the Trainers
Rapporteur:
Dr. Aaron Balick
Dr. Aaron Balick is a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and honorary senior lecturer at the Department for Psychoanalytic and Psychosocial Studies at the University of Essex.
Dr. Aaron Balick is a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and honorary senior lecturer at the Department for Psychoanalytic and Psychosocial Studies at the University of Essex. With over 20 years of clinical and academic experience, Aaron specialises in applying psychoanalytic ideas to contemporary culture, with a particular focus on the impact of technology on identity and relationships. His pioneering text, The Psychodynamics of Social Networking is widely regarded as a seminal text in its field.
Aaron is passionate about expanding the reach of psychotherapy thinking in a variety of innovative and accessible ways. He is a media contributor and international keynote speaker specialising in applying insights from depth psychology in accessible ways for personal growth and cultural understanding. He is the author of two self-help books, Keep Your Cool for teens and The Little Book of Calm for adults and a regular contributor on psychology and culture for GQ. Based in Shoreditch, East London, Aaron is an associate of the Balint Consultancy, offering psychotherapy for adults and teens alongside leadership and business consultancy for individuals and organizations.
Speakers
Dr. Aaron Balick
Professor Terry Hanley, Associate Director of Research (Impact), School of Environment, Education and Development, and Professor of Counselling Psychology, Manchester Institute of Education.
He is editor of The Sage Handbook of Counselling and Psychotherapy (4th and 5th editions) and co-author of Introducing Counselling and Psychotherapy Research and Adolescent Counselling Psychology. His major research focus is the interface between technology and therapy, with extensive work on the development of online therapy and, increasingly, the use of AI to support wellbeing. Terry has published widely on these topics and contributes to policy and practice guidance for digital mental health provision.
Dr Paris Alexandros Lalousis
Dr Paris Alexandros Lalousis is a Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health at King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, where he leads the Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health (AIM) Lab.
His research focuses on applying multimodal AI to advance precision psychiatry, with a particular emphasis on psychosis, depression, dementia, and transdiagnostic dimensions such as anhedonia. Beyond academia, he co-founded Bloomwise Ltd, a workplace mental health company. Most recently, he has collaborated with This Can Happen to explore how AI can be harnessed to support employee mental wellbeing at scale.
Professor Elvira Perez Vallejos
Professor Elvira Perez Vallejos is Professor of Digital Technology for Mental Health and Digital Technologies at Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre Mental Health and Technology theme (Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, Faculty of Medicine).
She is interested in the ethical challenges embedded in digital solutions for mental health, including the widespread use of machine learning/AI methods in developing new mental health interventions. She has experience in RRI (Responsible Research and Innovation) and Data Ethics, as well as in Data Privacy, Online Consent, User-centric design, Creative Practices for Mutual Recovery, Experimental Psychology, Participatory research, Children and Young People, and Older Adults.
Richard Miller
Richard Miller is a counsellor, supervisor, trainer, and AI ethicist working in private practice in Fife, Scotland.
He has been studying humanistic psychotherapies and psychology since 2002, completing his training at the University of Aberdeen, the University of Strathclyde, and Glasgow Caledonian University, where he graduated with the top overall award in Psychology.
Richard is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, the British Psychological Society, and the International Society for Emotion Focused Therapy.
He currently works as an AI and digital ethics consultant on the BACP Ethical Framework review and has delivered training on AI and ethics to professional bodies including BACP and IACP.
Professor Dimitra Petrakaki
Professor Dimitra Petrakaki is Professor of Technology and Organisation at the University of Sussex Business School.
She is an interdisciplinary social scientist researching how digital technology shapes professional work in healthcare. Her work has examined electronic patient records and prescribing systems in the NHS, their impact on clinical practice, and how digitalisation reshapes ideas of patienthood. She has also studied the social value and unintended consequences of digital health platforms in the Global South.
Her current research focuses on two areas: how digital technology can support environmentally sustainable healthcare, and how individuals and mental health practitioners relate to and work with AI.
Her research has appeared in leading journals including Journal of Management Studies, Social Science & Medicine, Sociology of Health & Illness, Information Systems Journal, and Organisation. She is a Senior Editor of the Information Systems Journal and serves on the editorial boards of New Technology, Work & Employment and the International Journal of Information Management.
