Client Engagement with AI: Ethical and Symbolic Considerations from a Depth Psychological Perspective – Presented by Nadia Thalji, PhD [Class]

NARRATIVE

As clients increasingly engage with artificial intelligence (AI) platforms for emotional guidance, self-reflection, and meaning-making, clinicians are encountering new forms of clinical material that raise ethical, symbolic, and relational challenges. This continuing education seminar examines how clinicians can respond thoughtfully and ethically when clients bring AI-generated content into psychotherapy. Grounded in depth psychology, and relational ethics, the seminar explores how client engagement with AI may function symbolically, concretely, or defensively, including its role as a third object, idealized authority, or symbolic equation. Emphasis is placed on maintaining the therapeutic frame, supporting symbolic thinking, and preserving client agency and reflective functioning. Clinical vignettes will be used to illustrate assessment and intervention strategies. Participants will learn how to use countertransference and ethical discernment to guide clinical responses that restore symbolic mediation and support psychological depth in the context of emerging technologies.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this workshop, participants should be able to:

1. List at least two common ways clients engage with AI and introduce AI-generated material into psychotherapy.
2. Differentiate symbolic engagement from concrete reliance by correctly categorizing at least two clinical examples of client–AI interaction.
3. Identify at least two ethical considerations related to client use of AI in psychotherapy practice.
4. Apply a depth psychological formulation to at least one case vignette involving client–AI interaction, including a statement of possible clinical meaning.
5. Describe two countertransference reactions and explain how each could inform an intervention with a client using AI.
6. Formulate one clinically appropriate intervention that addresses AI-related material while maintaining therapeutic boundaries.
7. Demonstrate one intervention that promotes symbolic thinking or reflective functioning in response to a client presenting AI-generated content.

COURSE OUTLINE—4 hours

9:00 – 10:15 am

     Overview of client engagement with AI. Ethical considerations and clinical implications. AI as object, authority, or symbolic mediator.

10:15 – 11:00 am

     Symbolic thinking vs. symbolic equation. Clinical vignettes and discussion.

11:00 – 11:15 am

     Break

11:15 am – 12:00 pm

    Therapist stance, countertransference, and boundary maintenance. Preserving the therapeutic frame.

12:00 – 1:00 pm

     Cultural, generational, and contextual considerations. Clinical integration and case discussion.

Criterion 1.1 TO 1.3: 

This program meets Criterion 1.1. Content Curriculum. 

Content Curriculum:

• This continuing education seminar explores how clinicians can ethically and clinically respond when clients bring AI-generated material into psychotherapy. Grounded in depth psychology and relational ethics, the course focuses on preserving symbolic thinking, clinical boundaries, and reflective functioning. 
• The program content is grounded in peer-reviewed psychoanalytic, depth psychological, relational, and ethical literature. Although AI technologies are continuously evolving, the seminar strictly focuses on applying established clinical principles that are highly relevant to current psychological practice. 
• This seminar is intended for licensed mental health professionals, including psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, and advanced trainees. The instructional level is intermediate to advanced. 
• The course material is specifically designed to enhance a clinician’s ethical discernment and clinical judgment. Acknowledged limitations include the rapidly evolving nature of AI technologies; to address this, the course emphasizes broad, enduring conceptual frameworks over the use of specific, transient tools or platforms.
• The seminar recognizes that there are cultural, socioeconomic, generational, and contextual differences in how clients engage with technology. The clinical examples used throughout the course reflect diverse populations and place an emphasis on culturally responsive practice.

BIO:

Dr. Nadia Thalji, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice, faculty member at Antioch University, and founder of Intercultural Psychology, a platform for culturally attuned clinical training. She teaches and mentors graduate students in depth psychology and has extensive experience working with individuals in the technology sector, while offering international consultation on intercultural dynamics. Her work examines the ethical, symbolic, and relational implications of emerging technologies in clinical practice, highlighting imagination, embodiment, and meaning-making in the evolving relationship between psyche and technology.

COST:

CIP Members:

$100 early registration 10 business days prior to seminar; $120 after

Non-Members:

$120 early registration up to 10 business days prior to seminar, $140 after

CEs: 4 CEs for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and Psychologists

Community Institute for Psychotherapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.  Community Institute for Psychotherapy maintains responsibility for this program and its contents. 

Requirements for the successful completion of the activity are attending the program in it’s entirety, and completing an evaluation form.

Cancellations must be received in writing 10 business days prior to the seminar, class, or first study group session for a refund minus a $25 cancellation fee. Cancellations less than ten days will not be refunded.

Accommodations will be made wherever possible for those with disabilities. Please let us know of any disabilities upon registration to ensure proper accommodations are put in place prior to the workshop/training.