Dr Aaron Balick, psychotherapist, applied psychodynamics

Kenneth Kelly, founder of Counselling Tutor

Julie Stone, independent ethics lead and chair of UKCP’s Ethics Committee

The intersection of AI and psychotherapy

We are the leading organisation for the education, training, accreditation and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors in the UK.We exist to promote and maintain high standards of practice of psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic counselling for the benefit of the public throughout the United Kingdom.We have around 10,000 individual members and more than70 training and accrediting organisations. Our individual members work privately, in public health or third sector organisations offering a wide variety of psychotherapeutic approaches.We hold the national register of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors which only includes practitioners who meet our exactingstandards and training requirementsand who agree to abide by ourethical standards.Read more about our vision, mission and strategic objectives here.

United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

A webinar aiming to explore the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in psychotherapy, examining its potential benefits and ethical concerns

Join us at our upcoming webinar where we explore the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in psychotherapy. We’ll dive into the potential benefits of AI on psychotherapy practice, as well as the ethical concerns it poses for those working in the psychotherapy professions.AI is reshaping how we see ourselves, connect with others, and experience the world, bringing with it profound challenges to psychotherapy. For many clinicians, the pace of change feels both exciting and unsettling. Our webinar aims to help you understand how AI technologies are being used in practice and how these can enhance your work while remaining mindful of the ethical considerations that AI presents.Join Dr. Aaron Balick for a grounded look at today’s digital culture and its implications for therapeutic practice, Kenneth Kelly who is a co-founder of Counselling Tutor and an advocate for ethical technology, and Julie Stone as she explores some of the potential ethical implications of AI in psychotherapy. This webinar will delve into the ethical, emotional and symbolic challenges AI presents. Attendees will gain insights into how AI can complement traditional therapeutic practices while maintaining ethical and professional standards, and discover how to navigate these with confidence. <h3>Sessions</h3>AI, mental health and psychotherapy: what every therapist needs to knowDr Aaron Balick - psychotherapist, applied psychodynamicsAs AI continues to embed itself into everyday life, its psychological and relational implications are becoming increasingly urgent. While psychotherapists may be among the most well-placed to respond to these concerns, many find themselves bewildered and anxious in the face of its rapid development. We are witnessing a profound shift in how people relate to themselves, others, and the world – alongside the greatest paradigmatic challenge to the practice and role of psychotherapy in its history.In this talk, Dr. Balick will discuss the state of play of digital culture today to help participants better prepare for the new clinical realities it represents. Attendees will come away with a clearer understanding of how to think about these technologies and to better navigate the ethical, emotional and symbolic challenges and opportunities they pose for the profession. A commitment to ethical and pragmatic AI integration in counselling and psychotherapyKenneth Kelly - founder of Counselling Tutor and representative from the Expert Reference Group (ERG) on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Counselling and Psychotherapy In this session, Kenneth Kelly will introduce work of the Expert Reference Group (ERG) on the use of AI in counselling and psychotherapy, discussing the group’s history purpose and membership. This session will also cover the development of their statement, what they have achieved so far and how they hope this may play out in the future.Attendees will learn about the 2025 Shared AI Charter for UK Counselling and Psychotherapy Organisations. This charter has already been signed by UKCP and sits with BACP, CPS and other bodies. Documents referenced by ERG will highlight what is happening in other parts of the world, with a focus on what is currently being trialled in the UK. There will be an examination of the legislation and consideration of its potential future implications. Additionally, Kenneth will share the critical thinking matrix – a series of questions which empowers individual counsellors and psychotherapists to understand whether an application or tool is ethically sound to use within their practice. AI and psychotherapy: some ethical considerationsJulie Stone - independent ethics lead and chair of UKCP’s Ethics CommitteeThis session will explore some of the many potential ethical implications of AI for practice. It will explore the ramifications for both individual therapists and the profession as a whole, assuming that use of generative AI will become ever more prevalent.Asking which ethical principles and theories might be helpful in thinking about AI as novel technology, topics will include potential benefits and harms, assessing fears of therapist ‘replacement’ against the distinctiveness of human interactions, and assessing capacity for ‘working with’ AI as an opportunity to support diagnosis, practice, research and supervision. Sponsored talk - Protecting UKCP members: cyber and crime insurance essentialsGavin Dickson - BalensThis presentation explains, in plain English, what cyber liability and cyber crime mean for psychotherapists: why practices are targeted, what good insurance should include and how incidents are handled across first-party, third-party and crime covers. It uses real therapy‑specific scenarios, FAQs and a 10‑minute security checklist to help practitioners protect client data, minimise disruption and maintain trust.<h4>Chair</h4>Will Daniel-Braham - psychotherapist, trainer, supervisor and leadership coachWill's work bridges psychology, performance and systems thinking. As Vice Chair and EDI Liaison at UKCP, he has played a key role in shaping national policy on equality, diversity and inclusion across the profession. Alongside his clinical and organisational practice, Will is Director of Personal Power UK, an organisation dedicated to developing emotional intelligence and relational capacity in individuals and teams. He has a growing interest in the ethical and relational impact of emerging technologies, exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming the ways therapists understand, connect and create meaning in the digital age.<h3>Learning objectives</h3>During this event, you will:<ul><li>learn how AI technologies, including chatbots and machine learning models, are being utilised in mental health support</li><li>understand the ethical considerations surrounding AI in psychotherapy, including patient privacy, consent and the limitations of AI-driven therapy</li><li>discover how AI can enhance the work of therapists rather than replace human interaction.</li></ul> <h3>Who should attend?</h3>This webinar is open to all psychotherapists, counsellors, mental health practitioners, AI researchers and students in psychology and AI fields. <h3>CPD</h3>After this event you will receive a certificate of attendance which you can submit for consideration towards your CPD hours. <h3>Headline sponsor</h3><h3><a href="https://www.balens.co.uk/businesses/cyber-liability-crime/" title="https://www.balens.co.uk/businesses/cyber-liability-crime/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.balens.co.uk/businesses/cyber-liability-crime/</a></h3> <h3>Sponsor</h3><a href="https://www.dearknots.com/" title="https://www.dearknots.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.dearknots.com/</a> <h3>Event terms and conditions</h3>You can view UKCP's terms and conditions for booking and attending events on our website. When you register to attend a UKCP event you are agreeing with the event terms and conditions. <h3>Contact us</h3>If you have any queries about this event or you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact events@ukcp.org.uk.