Integrating Artificial Intelligence in a University Counseling Clinic

Authors

Donna S. Sheperis, Palo Alto UniversityFollow
Shiri Sharvit, ResolveFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

0000-0001-5732-8697

Author Biography

Donna S. Sheperis is a Professor and Department Chair of the Counseling Department at Palo Alto University as well as Director of the PAU eClinic. She earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of Mississippi where she was recently named a Practitioner of Distinction. Donna has taught for land based and online programs since 2000. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arizona and Texas; a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California; a Board Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor; a Board Certified Telemental Health Provider; and an Approved Clinical Supervisor with over 30 years of experience in clinical mental health counseling settings. Donna has served as co-chair of the ACA Ethics Committee and currently serves on the ACA Ethics Appeals Committee. She has published multiple texts and research articles on mental health counseling and ethics; AI, technology, and counseling; and distance counselor education.

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence, Clinical Training, Digital Therapeutics, Telemental health

Subject Area

Clinical Supervision, Counseling, Counselor Education

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in mental health care, yet counseling students receive little training in digital tool integration. This program evaluation describes the use of an ambient AI platform in a university telemental health clinic to support clinical training. The AI system tracked interventions, themes, talk ratios, and symptom changes across 175 sessions by 13 trainees with 93 clients. Most frequent interventions included validation (97.6%), CBT skills (52.1%), and action planning (63.1%). Counselor talk time averaged 43% of the session, with themes such as relationships and school being predominant in client talk time.. By session 7, clients showed a 15% reduction in depression and 7% in anxiety. Findings suggest AI supports measurement-based care and enhances skill development in novice counseling students.

Public Significance Statement

Public Significance Statement

This program evaluation shows how artificial intelligence (AI) can strengthen the training of future counselors by providing real-time feedback and supporting evidence-based care in a university telemental health clinic. By helping student therapists monitor their skills, improve supervision, and track client outcomes, AI tools offer new ways to enhance mental health services and counselor education. These innovations may improve access to high-quality care for diverse populations and help prepare the next generation of counselors for the digital era.

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.70013/wdo9cs4m

Recommended Citation

Sheperis, D., Sadeh-Sharvit, S., Guinn, V., Joseph, R., Bunge, E., Assenheim-Dagan, L. (2025). Integrating Artificial Intelligence in a University Counseling Clinic. Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 19(3), 1-13.