Dangerous Shortcuts – Ethics of Artificial Intelligence & Bots in Therapy

by Jodi Ann Geis-Crowder, MS, LPC, ACS | Sep 26, 2023 | Uncategorized

Date course created: September 2023

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool when used or deployed within certain boundaries (just like therapy!). But lately, AI has become….well, TOO intelligent. AI’s increasing capability has led to its expanding use in the mental healthcare space in the form of phone systems, bots, and chat engines that are beginning to assume roles that most argue are best assumed by a trained human provider. The struggle between increasing access to quality care while maintaining a well-regulated, safe, and ethical mental healthcare system is becoming more complex than we ever could have imagined!

In an increasingly digitalized world coupled with the post Covid-19 increase in symptoms of anxiety and depression, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being accessed at increasing rates by individuals seeking behavioral health care services. The ethical implications of these services are alarming, as therapeutic interaction with phone applications and chatbots is not regulated by mental health licensing authorities as trained human providers are. These tools were initially intended to be used as an adjunct to primary care under human providers; however, the increased demand for services outweighing access to trained providers is resulting in AI quickly becoming stand-alone care for individuals with behavioral healthcare needs. This cutting-edge and timely ethics training will provide an overview of common uses of AI in therapy, its questionable increasing role in the delivery of mental healthcare, and ethical implications as AI becomes more intelligent, and more pervasive in society.

**This is a 2.5-CE noninteractive, self-paced online video course delivered in home study format via an industry-standard online learning platform**

Agenda:

00:00 – 00:40: Reality and Ethics of AI & Bots in Therapy

00:40: – 01:20: Discussion of Risks and Scope of AI Use in Therapy

01:20 – 02:00: Ethical Considerations

Objectives:

This training will provide participants clinical knowledge and tools to:

a). After completing this training, participants will be able to define Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it is being used with chatbots and phone applications as a primary therapist.

b). After completing this training, participants will be able to describe two ethical considerations that apply to the use of AI outside the bounds of ethics and the regulation of mental health practice.

c). After completing this training, participants will be able to identify two aspects of mandatory disclosure regarding clients seeking behavioral health care services and utilizing adjunct AI-driven services.

Target Audience:

Clinical Mental Health Professionals such as Counselors, Psychologists, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Licensed Clinical Social Workers.

Instructional Level: Intermediate

Instructor(s): Jodi Ann Geis-Crowder, MS, LPC, ACS

Material Author(s): Jodi Ann Geis-Crowder, MS, LPC, ACS  

Jodi Geis-Crowder has a passion for the helping profession to ensureaccess to care for all. She is also passionate about mentoring, supervising and training others to reach their professional potential. Jodi has spent the past 25 years dedicating her professional efforts to ensuring that individuals in rural, frontier areas in Northeast Colorado and Southeast Wyoming have access to quality, culturally meaningful behavioral health care and substance use disorder services, delivered by trained, competent providers. A native of Wyoming, Jodi holds an Associate of Science Degree in Education from Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Sciences with areas of emphasis in psychology, economics, political science and anthropology, and a Master of Science Degree in Counselor Education and Human Development with an emphasis in Leadership from the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming. She holds professional counseling licenses in good standing in Colorado (LPC-2476, March 2000) and Wyoming (LPC-1602, September 2016), is an Approved Clinical Supervisor, a certified Solution Focused Brief Therapy practitioner, holds a certificate in the Human/Animal Bond from the Denver University Graduate School of Social Work, has studied and gained numerous continuing education credits in the area of the human/animal bond, has been registered with four previous therapy dogs (2005, 2010, 2019 and 2021) and recently passed her test and credentialing with her Border Collie, Shay River, through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Jodi’s passion for culturally appropriate human/animal bond and agriculture related services in rural areas resulted in her developing animal assisted therapy programs and therapeutic horticulture for two community mental health centers: Centennial Mental Health Center in Northeast Colorado and Peak Wellness Center in Southeast Wyoming. Jodi states, “I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to bring my passion for the natural world and rural culture into my professional work by developing programs that are culturally meaningful and support the rural culture.” She further states, “My original therapy dog, Mr. Big, taught me more about patience and unconditional love than any other relationship in my life. It is astounding to me how much he continues to teach me about grief and loss through his passing.”

Jodi has held positions as a clinician, clinical coordinator, clinical supervisor, regional clinical director and telehealth clinical supervisor, and education and training coordinator in her years at Centennial Mental Health Center and Peak Wellness Center. Jodi developed animal assisted therapy, therapeutic horticulture and peer specialist programs during her tenure at Centennial Mental Health Center and was the architect for and developed a centralized, telehealth clinical supervision model for Peak Wellness Center. Jodi has extensive training and experience in working in the telehealth model. She authored an article regarding transitioning to working remotely and provided support to others transitioning to remote work during the Covid 19 Pandemic shut down in March, 2020. This article was used internally at Peak Wellness Center to support staff during this transition. Jodi also served as secretary of the Iliff Head Start Advisory Board for six years in Iliff, CO and is currently on the Absaroka Head Start Advisory Board in Worland, WY.

Jodi currently works full time as a telehealth clinical supervisor and trainer for Volunteers of America Norther Rockies (VOANR). Volunteers of America Northern Rockies merged with Peak Wellness Center in July of 2020 and serves the needs of individuals with behavior health care and substance use disorder challenges, as well as specializing in services for veterans in Montana, Wyoming and Western South Dakota. She enjoys teaching webinars and assisting others in their professional development under her private company JGC Enterprises, LLC in the areas of Ethics, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, working in the telehealth model and the human/animal bond. Jodi is also a professional mixed media and water color artist and hopes to volunteer at the Washakie County Library in Worland, WY, developing an animal assisted reading program for youth.

For additional information about this course, the instructors, or the material authors, please contact Content Assistance at content@onlinececredits.com.

Course Materials & Delivery Method:

• Course materials – The course is composed of a recorded presentation and written materials (e.g. a slide deck and/or other worksheets, manuals, or handouts as provided by the instructor). The slide deck and any additional worksheets or handouts (as provided by the instructor) are made available inside the Lesson module after a course is purchased.
• Delivery Method – this course is a recorded asynchronous, self-paced webinar training, and there is no access time limit or due date to complete it once enrolled. The enrolled learner will stream the recorded presentation and view the materials from their internet connected device via an industry-standard online learning platform.

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Online CE Credits has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6795. Programs that do not quality for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Online CE Credits is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Mind Works Professional Education, Inc. DBA Online CE Credits, #1974, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: July 23, 2024 – July 23, 2025. Social workers completing this course receive 2.5 ethics continuing education credits.

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