Designed for counsellors, psychotherapists and trainees who want to think more confidently and critically about clients' use of AI

“So I asked ChatGPT…”

When AI enters the therapy room

Led by Danika Gill

This participatory workshop is designed for counsellors, psychotherapists and trainees who want to think more confidently and critically about clients' use of generative AI (GenAI) and its place in therapeutic work.

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude can hold what feels like a conversation: you type a question or describe a situation, and they answer in fluent, often warm and personal-sounding language. Clients are increasingly turning to them for emotional support, to make sense of their experiences and to explore their relationships. Some bring these exchanges into therapy, perhaps sharing what they asked or how AI responded. Others may be using it in ways their therapists know little about.

Much of the discussion about AI focuses on its benefits, risks and ethical implications. But what happens when we consider it from within the therapeutic relationship: What are clients seeking from AI, and what meaning might its use hold for them?

And what about us as therapists? AI can evoke curiosity, enthusiasm, discomfort or a sense of being challenged. What might these responses reveal about how we understand our role, and how do they influence our work?

Whatever our personal views, AI is already part of our clients' lives. The therapeutic question is not simply whether they should be using it, but what happens when they do.

In this workshop, we will explore:

Emerging research and real-world experiences, considering what we are learning about clients' use of GenAI and its implications for therapeutic practice.

Different ways of understanding a client's use of AI, using a clinical vignette to explore possible meanings.

Our own reactions and assumptions, reflecting on what we bring to these conversations and how this shapes our therapeutic responses.

Questions we can take into practice, thinking about how to respond when clients bring AI into therapy, and what informs our choices.

No prior knowledge or personal use of AI is required. The focus is on clients' use of AI and the therapeutic relationship, rather than technical training or detailed AI ethics guidance.

About the facilitator

Danika Gill is a psychotherapeutic counsellor and NCPS Accredited Member, working with adults and young adults in private practice at UNWRITTEN and at West Kent Mind. She has completed four years of advanced clinical training in Transactional Analysis at the Connexus Institute and works from a relational, co-creative approach. Her background includes research in clinical and developmental psychology and over 25 years in business and organisational leadership. Her recent writing explores the growing use of AI for emotional support and the questions this raises about validation, human connection and the therapeutic relationship.

Website: www.unwrittencounselling.com (http://www.unwrittencounselling.com/)

Description supplied by the event organiser.