1 Hour / 1 CE

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Therapy in the AI Era is presented by Donna Sheperis, PhD.

This “At the Forefront” continuing education program offers mental health professionals a practical exploration of how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming therapy and clinical training. Participants examine key applications of AI in practice—from AI-driven “co-therapist” tools (such as chatbots and decision-support algorithms that augment clinical interventions) to software that automates documentation and administrative tasks to enhance efficiency. 

The program also explores strategies for teaching with and about AI in clinical training programs, ensuring these technologies are integrated in ways that support learning and skill development without compromising educational integrity. Ethical and competency considerations are emphasized, including best practices for protecting patient privacy and data, as well as effectively communicating the use and limits of AI tools to both clients and trainees. By the end of the program, clinicians are better prepared to harness the benefits of AI in therapy while upholding professional ethics, patient trust, and high standards of care.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe practical ways AI can be utilized in clinical practice and training
  • 2 Describe ethical decision-making frameworks to AI integration in therapy by effectively navigating issues inherent in this work
  • 3 Describe the capabilities and limitations of AI tools in clinical practice and training

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health professionals, supervisors, and educators across all specialty areas, with a primary focus on those engaged in clinical practice. It is ideal for individuals seeking to integrate AI into their clinical and educational work, whether providing direct care, overseeing clinical teams, or teaching and training future practitioners.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Psychologists
    • Psychiatrists
    • Clinical Social Workers
    • Licensed Professional Counselors
    • Marriage and Family Therapists
    • Clinical Supervisors
    • Mental Health Educators
    • Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals and includes content applicable across a range of prior exposure to AI in clinical settings.

    • Beginner: Participants have little to no formal experience with AI in mental health and want a practical overview of AI applications (e.g., co-therapist tools and documentation support), foundational concepts, and core ethics related to privacy, informed consent, and transparency.

    • Intermediate: Participants have explored or piloted AI tools in practice, supervision, or training and want to deepen their ability to evaluate capabilities and limitations, apply ethical decision-making frameworks, and implement AI in ways that support clinical quality, client trust, and educational integrity.

  • Practice Setting

    Participants in this training typically work in diverse mental health and educational environments where clinical care, supervision, and teaching intersect. These settings are characterized by direct client interaction, collaborative team-based care, and ongoing professional development. The environments may range from outpatient clinics and private practices to academic institutions and training centers, where professionals are responsible for delivering therapy, supervising trainees, or educating future clinicians. These settings often incorporate technology to support clinical documentation, case management, and educational activities, making them well-suited for the integration of AI tools to enhance both clinical and educational outcomes.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Outpatient mental health clinics
    • Private therapy practices
    • Community mental health centers
    • University counseling centers
    • Academic departments in psychology, counseling, or social work
    • Hospital-based behavioral health units
    • Clinical training programs and supervision groups
    • Telehealth and virtual care platforms
Presented By

Donna Sheperis, PhD

Donna Sheperis, PhD, joined the faculty at Palo Alto University in 2016 and currently serves as a Full Professor, Department Chair, and Director of the PAU eClinic. She earned her PhD in Counselor Education from the University of Mississippi and her Master’s degree in Counseling from Delta State University. Donna has taught in both in-person and online formats since 2000. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas, Arizona, and California; a Board Certified Counselor; a Board Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor; an Approved Clinical Supervisor; and a Board Certified TeleMental Health Provider, with over 30 years of experience in clinical mental health practice.

Donna has been practicing and training in telemental health since 2016, and under her leadership, the PAU eClinic became the first training clinic to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) in support of student clinicians’ work. Her research and scholarship focus on the integration of AI, mental health technology (MHT), and innovative educational practices in clinical education and clinical care.


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Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Overview of AI in Mental Health

  • AI as a Co-Therapist

  • AI for Clinical Efficiency

  • AI in Clinical Education and Supervision

  • Ethical Considerations

  • Clinical and Technological Competency

  • Practical Implementation Strategies

  • Communicating with Clients and Trainees About AI

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).

Sponsorship Approval Statements

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.