ai & therapy

I recently shared this brief post on the implications of data colonialism on the future of therapy.

Paul Atkinson recently shared a presentation for the Psychotherapy and Counselling Union (PCU): 

Machina ex deo AI and the future of NHS Talking Therapies

Also, Paul's supporting document.

AI - Part 1 - P Atkinson

.pdf

Download PDF • 272KB

Thanks to Paul for his brilliant work putting this research together. 

Paul shares examples of how ai is being 'trained by' recordings of therapists' sessions and how orgs (non-therapists) leading this collection are 'categorising' aspects of sessions:

 e.g. “chit-chat”, necessary and valuable at the beginning and end of session but ineffective therapeutically as a session progresses"

Worth reading this article on character.ai psychologist and giving the psychologist a brief explore in the context of the above... 

Would recommend following colleague Keith Marais LinkedIn | Insta who explores and navigates ai, and further how ai intersects with neurodivergence and LGBIA+ with a critical eye. I've learnt much from Keith's in our discussions and his shares.

Keith is part of the Authentistic Research Collective - they co-produced the little-known but very helpful Psychological Therapies for Autistic Adults resource for therapists.