Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing therapy. Many individuals are using AI-powered chatbots, relationship apps, or mental health platforms to support themselves. Likewise, many therapists are also experimenting with AI tools for learning, supervision, or clinical work. For Psychosexual and Relationship Therapists, understanding how AI is already part of the therapeutic landscape is therefore becoming essential.
This self-access class will begin with an introduction to AI: what it is, why it’s being developed, and the driving forces behind its growth in therapy and mental health care. We’ll then explore the some of the ways that people engage with AI – both clients and therapists. This includes not only using AI tools for emotional support and relationship guidance but also the practical ways therapists are using AI for tasks like notetaking, admin, and managing resources between sessions.
Finally, the session will also consider the challenges AI brings, including ethical issues, boundaries, confidentiality, and the importance of maintaining the uniquely human elements of therapeutic work. In doing so, we will consider how AI can sit within wider ecosystems of support and learning – complementing, rather than replacing, other forms of care. By the end, you will feel more confident discussing AI use with clients, recognising its potential benefits, and understanding its limitations.
*This self-access class is a recording of a live event that took place in 2025.
Course Schedule:
- Introduction to AI in Therapy
- Overview of AI and why it is being developed for therapeutic settings
- Examples of current AI tools used by therapists
- Applications of AI in Practice
- Using AI to support therapy sessions (e.g., psychoeducation, chat support, between-session tools)
- Administrative and practice management uses (e.g., developing documentation, scheduling, client communication)
- Challenges and Ethical Considerations
- Confidentiality, boundaries, and client data protection
- Maintaining the human elements of therapy and relational care
- Recognising potential AI risks, including bias, discrimination, and inequitable outputs
- Integrating AI into Ecosystems of Support and Learning
- How AI tools can complement existing therapeutic, educational, and community supports
- Encouraging clients’ digital literacy and safe engagement with online resources
Learning Objectives
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Describe key ways AI is currently being used in therapeutic practice, including between-session support and administrative tasks.
- Identify ethical, confidentiality, and relational considerations when using AI
- Gain a better understanding of how to safely integrate AI tools into practice
- Understand how AI tools can complement wider support networks and enhance clients’ digital literacy.
About the Trainer
Terry Hanley is a Professor of Counselling Psychology at the University of Manchester and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society. 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.
