The Inevitable Future of Artificial Intelligence in Counseling

The personal connection between a client and their counselor cannot be replaced. However, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has the potential to impact how we work, and it is important to recognize that strategic implementation of AI is not only crucial but could also have advantages. 

Zori Paul, PhD, NCC, LPC, a clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology at Marquette University, recently shared her insights on the future of AI in counseling and how counselors can best utilize it in their work with clients. 

Paul believes AI is one of many tools that counselors should keep in their “clinical toolbox.” When used ethically, she sees many potential benefits of it, and with how rapidly it is growing, these benefits are continually changing. 

“Chat GPT or Gemini (formerly GoogleBard) can be used for psychoeducation when working with clients,” states Paul. “This type of AI may make it easier for clients to understand explanations and can even encourage users to seek human professional experts with certain topics. AI can also assist with administrative tasks, such as creating initial progress note drafts that can help with client documentation.” 

While there is a lot of conversation surrounding the clinical applications of using AI, it is important to remember that there are a variety of administrative and business related tasks that practicing counselors are required to complete throughout the day.   

Paul adds, “If we’re also thinking of less client-focused uses of AI, it can create webinar and workshop ideas, social media topics, and other branding-related items. It can even be used by counselor educators to create quizzes and case studies and assist counseling students in practicing their skills via role play.”  

Though Paul is a proponent for AI, she recognizes there are also drawbacks. One of these is how AI reflects not only the knowledge within our society, but the biases as well. AI integrates human information into any instructed task, and unfortunately, much of this data is skewed against marginalized communities.   

“AI can create potential harm in counseling, both directly and indirectly. It has the potential to be biased and promote discrimination, such as when health insurance companies use AI algorithms that deny services to insurance holders based on age and/or race,” says Paul.  

Regarding the ethical implications of AI, Paul acknowledges that counselors must practice within their boundaries of competence and develop more knowledge surrounding AI if they plan to use it in their clinical practice. Clients must also give their informed consent and be aware when they’re interacting with an AI chatbot instead of an actual human being. This places added responsibility on counselor educators to fully understand AI in order to train future counselors.   

“Clients deserve to be fully aware of both the potential benefits and risks of their counselor incorporating AI into their clinical practice,” says Paul. “Counselors and clients should both understand how data is potentially being used and stored by third-party developers, which could impact client confidentiality.”     

Paul also addresses concern for the lack of training AI developers have in the mental health profession.  

“There are just some ethical considerations that AI developers may not even think about when creating AI for mental health,” says Paul.   

Ultimately, Paul urges the importance for all practicing counselors, supervisors, and counselor educators to learn about AI and recognize the different ethical implications on training, supervision, and clinical levels.    

“AI can be a great tool, but like with any tool, we need to learn how to use it and understand how to do so ethically,” concludes Paul.  
 

Zori A. Paul (she/her), PhD, NCC, LPC, is a clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology at Marquette University. She received her PhD in counselor education and supervision from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and her MA in clinical mental health from Northwestern University. She is a psychodynamic trained Licensed Professional Counselor and a certified provider of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). She is also a co-founder of Black in Mental Health, an online initiative to highlight and promote Black mental health professionals, students, researchers, and advocates throughout the world. Dr. Paul’s research focuses on three main areas: intersecting marginalized identities, specifically bisexual+ women of color; cross-cultural mentorship in counseling programs; and ethical social media use for mental health professionals. Dr. Paul is a 2021 NBCC Minority Fellowship Program Doctoral Fellow.