Understanding Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Foundational Concepts for Counselor Education

Authors

Eunae Han, University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Jihoon Shin, University of Texas at El PasoFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7117-8672

Author Biography

Dr. Eunae Han is an assistant professor in the Counseling and Special Education department at the University of Texas at El Paso. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Measurement and Statistics, which informs her expertise in research methodology and data analysis. Before coming to the United States to pursue her doctoral degree, she worked as a certified counselor for over three years in South Korea. She actively continues her clinical practice as an EMDR-trained counselor in the United States. Her research interests, which emerged from her clinical experiences, include feminist approaches to counselor education, trauma-informed counseling and supervision, and researcher identity/research mentoring. She aims to assist women’s mental health through effective counseling, teaching, research, and advocacy. Dr. Han believes it is important to incorporate multicultural and social justice perspectives into her roles as a researcher, educator, and advocate. She also values her professional identity as a counselor and counselor educator and enjoys working as a data analyst on a research team. She is currently working on the editorial boards of the Journal of Counseling and Development (JCD) and Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development (MECD).

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, AI Ethics, Counselor Education

Subject Area

Counseling, Counselor Education

Abstract

The purpose of this manuscript was to introduce key concepts in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to counselor educators and counseling researchers. As AI continues to play an increasingly significant role in various fields, counseling professionals need to develop a foundational understanding of AI, including ML. The first section of this manuscript outlined basic concepts in AI and ML, with study examples that utilize specific algorithms in mental health and counseling-related fields. Next, the second section explained the general process of building an ML model, illustrating it with a real-world dataset example for counseling professionals. The manuscript also provided practical guidance for counselor educators and researchers, including curriculum suggestions and ethical considerations.

Public Significance Statement

This paper explains artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in a simple way for counselor educators and researchers. Since AI is becoming more common, it’s important for counseling professionals to understand the basics. The paper covers foundational concepts, gives research examples from mental health and counseling, and explains how an ML model could be built. It also discusses important ethical issues to consider.

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.70013/7b5l47yn

Recommended Citation

Han, E. & Shin, J. (2025). Understanding Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Foundational Concepts for Counselor Education. Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 19(3), 1-15.