Session Descriptions, Learning Objectives, & Speakers

8:00 AM- 10:00 AM | A Hands-On Workshop About the Latest in AI

This presentation offers a comprehensive exploration of integrating Artificial Intelligence into clinical workflows, equipping mental health professionals with the knowledge to enhance practice efficiency without compromising ethical integrity. Grounded in the latest research on Natural Language Processing (NLP) and human-in-the-loop (HITL) frameworks, participants will gain practical insights into utilizing AI-assisted documentation and asynchronous therapeutic tools like M Power Me and Antiphon. We will examine evidence-based strategies for reducing clinician burnout and improving patient education through automated, culturally sensitive support systems.

Attendees will evaluate the accuracy and utility of generative AI in creating SOAP notes and treatment plans while addressing the critical empirical basis for clinical safety. Finally, the session will address the inherent limitations of current AI models, including potential algorithmic bias and the necessity of maintaining strict clinician oversight to ensure HIPAA compliance and protect the therapeutic alliance.

Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate between generative AI and "Human-in-the-Loop" (HITL) frameworks to ensure clinical safety and ethical oversight in mental health practice.
• Evaluate the accuracy and utility of AI-assisted tools for clinical documentation, specifically regarding the generation of SOAP notes and treatment plans.
• Summarize the ethical and privacy limitations of current AI models, including algorithmic bias and HIPAA compliance risks.
• Demonstrate how to integrate asynchronous therapeutic support tools to improve patient education and mitigate clinician burnout.

Presented By: Bethany R. Russell, PhD, LMHC, RPTC, NCC

Bethany R. Russell, Ph.D., LMHC, RPT, NCC, is a licensed mental health professional and the founder of Bethany R. Russell, Ph.D. & Associates, P.A. (Russell Mental Health). Previously an Assistant Professor of Counseling at Florida Gulf Coast University and the 2025 President-Elect of FACES, Dr. Russell specializes in counselor education and pediatric clinical outcomes. Her work focuses on the democratization of scientific knowledge and the practical application of technology to reduce clinician burnout and improve patient education. As a leader in mental health technology, Dr. Russell is the architect behind M Power Me and Antiphon, platforms that utilize evidence-based AI to provide culturally sensitive clinical support and asynchronous talk therapy. She is currently on the CMS/Medicare Technology Working Group, and has testified before the FDA on mHealth apps ethics. She is a primary advocate for "Clinician-in-the-Loop" frameworks, ensuring that AI integration in therapeutic settings maintains the highest ethical standards, clinical safety, and data privacy for practitioners and clients alike.

Earns 2 General CEUs | CE Broker Tracking #: 20-1376915

10:15 AM- 1:15 PM | From Radio to AI: Navigating Fear, Ethics, and Opportunity in Counseling

This interactive presentation explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in mental health counseling through a historical and counselor-informed lens. While concerns about technology disrupting human connection date back to earlier innovations such as the printing press and the telephone, the introduction of radio marked a pivotal moment when technology entered the home and competed for relational attention. Drawing parallels across radio, television, the internet, and AI, this session contextualizes current concerns related to ethical risk, bias, and the impact on therapeutic relationships.

Grounded in emerging research (Gonzalez, 2026; Joshi & Gainer, 2026; Cangelosi & Hunter et al., 2025; Gainer et al., 2025; Maslej et al., 2025; Raman et al., 2025; Schlegel et al., 2025; Shoemaker et al., 2025; Olawade et al., 2024; van Heerden et al., 2023; Shaygan et al., 2022), ethical standards (e.g., ACA Code of Ethics, 2014; NBCC Ethical Principles for Artificial Intelligence in Counseling, 2024), and real-world clinical applications, participants will examine the accuracy, utility, and limitations of AI tools in practice. Emphasis will be placed on maintaining clinical judgment, protecting client welfare, and using AI to support, rather than replace, core counseling skills.

Participants will first examine historical patterns of technological disruption to reframe fear and resistance within the counseling profession. The session will then transition into an interactive prompt development lab, where participants will apply a structured framework to generate and evaluate AI-assisted responses to clinical scenarios, with attention to ethical decision-making and clinical accuracy. Building on this foundation, attendees will observe demonstrations of AI tools used for documentation and treatment planning to explore practical workflow integration. The session will conclude with a guided overview of how counselors can design and utilize customized AI assistants to support supervision, psychoeducation, and skill development without requiring advanced technical knowledge.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe historical patterns of technological disruption and compare these patterns to current ethical and clinical concerns related to artificial intelligence in counseling.
• Demonstrate the use of a structured prompting framework to generate and evaluate AI-assisted responses for clinical relevance, ethical alignment, and accuracy.
• Evaluate the utility and limitations of AI tools used for documentation, treatment planning, and clinical workflow integration in mental health practice.
• Plan ethically informed strategies for integrating AI into counseling practice while maintaining clinical judgment, client welfare, and professional standards.

Presented By: Seneka R. Gainer, PhD, LMFT-QS, LPC-S, NCC, Ne'Shaun Borden, PhD, LMHC-QS, NCC & Aishwarya Joshi, PhD, LPC, NCC

Dr. Seneka Gainer, PhD, LMFT-QS, LPC-S, NCC, is an Assistant Professor and Clinical Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Jacksonville University. She also serves as Clinical Content Lead at Inner Peak AI, where she develops evidence-based mental health strategies and supports the design of AI-driven clinical tools for student populations. Dr. Gainer’s work focuses on counselor skill development, ethical integration of AI, and relational systems. She is the Training Team Lead for the NBCC PARC AI Regulatory Research Team. She has presented nationally on AI in counseling at ACA, Stanford University, and the Hawaii International Conference on Education. She is the author of The Counseling Singularity: Empathy & Artificial Intelligence in the Art of Healing.

Dr. Ne’Shaun Borden, PhD, LMHC-QS, is an Assistant Professor and Program Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Jacksonville University. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Qualified Supervisor with advanced clinical training in trauma-focused therapies, including TF-CBT and EMDR. Dr. Borden’s work focuses on counselor education, clinical training, and program development, with expertise in trauma-informed care and community-based mental health services. She has presented nationally and contributes to research and training initiatives that support the preparation of competent, ethically grounded counseling professionals.

Dr. Aishwarya P. Joshi (she/her) is an Assistant Professor at the University of Vermont, a licensed mental health counselor in Ohio and Idaho, and a board-certified counselor in India. With over a decade of experience delivering multilingual mental health services across global contexts, she brings a culturally grounded lens to counselor education. Dr. Joshi’s work focuses on international mental health, trauma-informed care, and equity-driven training. She integrates artificial intelligence into counselor preparation using simulation-based learning and is co-author of The Counseling Singularity: Empathy & Artificial Intelligence in the Art of Healing.

Earns 3 Ethics CEUs | CE Broker Tracking #: 20-1376916

2:15 PM- 4:15 PM |  The AI-Enhanced Counselor: Harnessing Power, Minimizing Risk

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already shaping the future of counseling—whether clinicians realize it or not. Emerging research demonstrates that AI can both enhance clinical practice and introduce meaningful risks. This presentation synthesizes the latest evidence and provides practical, ethically grounded strategies for integrating AI into counseling. Participants will learn how to leverage AI to improve efficiency and client outcomes while safeguarding against common pitfalls.

Learning Objectives: 

• Summarize current research on the use of artificial intelligence in counseling practice.
• Differentiate potential benefits and risks associated with AI use in clinical settings.
• Apply evidence-informed strategies to integrate AI into counseling practice while minimizing ethical, clinical, and professional risks.

Presented By: Aaron Norton, PhD, LMHC, LMFT, MCAP, CRC

Dr. Aaron Norton is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with certifications in addictions, alcohol and drug counseling, rehabilitation counseling, clinical mental health counseling, trauma treatment, forensic mental health evaluation, forensic behavioral analysis, telehealth, and forensic psychometry. He serves as Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at the University of South Florida, Executive Director of the National Board of Forensic Evaluators, International Counseling Task Force Chair for the American Mental Health Counselors Association, and Chair of the Government Relations Committee for the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association. Dr. Norton has particular interest in the use of technology in counseling and has written, taught, presented, and published research on the use of virtual reality, telehealth, artificial intelligence, and computers in counseling. He co-authored a set of universal telehealth guidelines for a joint AMHCA-International Association of Counseling task force, served on the expert panel that created the standards and written exam for the Florida Certification Board’s Certified Telehealth Practitioner (CTP) credential, and co-wrote a revision to the AMHCA Code of Ethics clarifying ethical standards for the use of artificial intelligence in counseling. He has 20 years of experience as a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, researcher, and professor.

Earns 2 General CEUs | CE Broker Tracking #: 20-1376921

4:15 PM- 5:00 PM | Q & A with George F. Indest, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm

Join us for an exclusive Q&A session with renowned health care attorney George F. Indest, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm. With decades of experience representing healthcare professionals, Mr. Indest will address your most pressing legal questions surrounding artificial intelligence in mental health practice.

Registered attendees will receive a link to submit their questions in advance. The most frequently asked and relevant questions will be selected and answered during this interactive session. Whether you're concerned about ethics, privacy, liability, or scope of practice, this is your opportunity to hear directly from a legal expert who understands the unique challenges facing mental health counselors.

Hosted By: George F. Indest, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M.

George F. Indest III is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, based in Orlando. Mr. Indest is board certified by the Florida Bar in the legal specialty of Health Law. He is also board certified as a health care risk manager by the American Board of Risk Management, Inc. His practice encompasses all aspects of business, corporate, transactional, regulatory and administrative health law practice, and he represents physicians, nurses, hospitals, home health agencies, long term care facilities and other health care providers. His practice also includes the litigation of professional licensing cases and business litigation, defense of health care providers, negotiation of sales of health care practices, Medicare fraud defense and other areas of Health Care Law. He holds an AV® Preeminent rating from the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, which is the highest level attainable by an attorney, according to Martindale-Hubbell. His rating is 5 out of 5.

This is NOT a CEU earning session