Global Perspectives on the Rise of Therapy Bots in Mental Health
The core purpose of this mini-conference, held on October 22, 2025, was to examine the growing role of AI-powered therapy bots in both clinical and non-clinical settings.
As mental health systems around the world struggle to meet demand, technology is increasingly stepping in to fill the gaps, but not without raising serious ethical, practical, and professional questions.
This event brought together clinicians, researchers, trainees, and advocates to explore the historical context, current challenges, and future implications of AI in mental health care. They considered how these tools are being used, what risks they pose, and how we might responsibly shape their role in care.
The Sessions at the Therapy Bots Mini-Conference
Session recordings will be available in early November 2025
Why This Conversation Matters: Ethics, Access, and AI in Mental Health
In this session, Angeline Corvaglia, Executive Director of SHIELD, explores the importance of this topic in this moment in history, and why SHIELD chose to highlight it.
Gaps in the Mental Health System: Comparison of US and UK with implications for global trends
In this session, Genevieve Bartuski, founder of Bartuski Privacy Consulting and Clinical Forensic Psychologist, and Carolyn Freeman, Founder of Cyberchology and Cyberpsychologist, discuss the widening gap in access to mental health care and the ways artificial intelligence is being used to bridge it.
Implications for AI in Forensic & Clinical Practice
In this session, Dr. Glenn Lipson, CEO of Making Right Choices, Forensic and Clinical Psychologist, discusses the implications of AI in forensic and clinical practice.
AI in Therapy: Emerging Risks, Ethical Considerations, and Practical Guidance for Clinicians
In this session, Genevieve Bartuski, founder of Bartuski Privacy Consulting and Clinical Forensic Psychologist, provides a high-level overview of current issues you may encounter with clients, such as emotional attachment to AI systems,
Contraindicated Care: The Dangers of AI-Generated Advice in Eating Disorder Treatment
In this session, Allison VanGordon, owner and therapist at Embodied Therapy with Allison, examines the psychological factors that make individuals with eating disorders vulnerable to harmful AI-generated advice.
Teaching the World to See Itself: Ethical AI for Real-Time Behavioral Change
In this session, Brian Meewes, Founder and CEO of Shift Health, and David Wolski, Co-Founder of Shift Health, explore what it takes to build mental health tools that are not only effective, but also responsible.
A Psychologist-in-Training's Professional Perspective in the Age of OpenAI
In this session, Post-Doctoral Intern Dr. Lei Raiza Zervoulaskos, and Graduate Student Tanuja Adigopula, examine the potential benefits and drawbacks of AI tools, highlight ethical and legal considerations, and draw from real-world training experiences.
A Collaborative Way Forward for AI + Mental Health
In this session, Dr. Rachel Wood, founder of the AI Mental Health Collective, addresses the growing need for collaborative efforts in shaping the future of AI and mental health.