AI Policy
Last Updated: June 2026.
Introduction.
This AI Policy explains how artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are used within my counselling, psychotherapy and training practice. It also sets out expectations regarding the use of AI by clients, trainees and course participants.
The practice is founded on the value of authentic human relationships. AI technologies may assist administrative, educational or creative tasks, but they are not a substitute for therapeutic relationships, human understanding, emotional processing or professional clinical judgment.
The purpose of this policy is to protect confidentiality, privacy, professional standards and the integrity of therapeutic and educational work.
1. Purpose.
This policy outlines:
- How AI technologies are used within the practice.
- How AI technologies are not used within the practice.
- Expectations regarding client, trainee and participant use of AI.
- Safeguards relating to confidentiality, privacy and professional standards.
- Measures designed to protect the integrity of therapeutic and educational relationships.
2. Practitioner Use of AI.
I use AI tools only to assist with planning, outlining and developing publicly available content such as blog posts, articles, educational resources, training materials and video content.
I do not use AI for any client-related therapeutic work.
I do not enter personal, private, confidential or sensitive client information into AI systems.
I do not enter identifiable trainee, participant or supervision-related information into AI systems.
All AI-assisted content is reviewed, edited and approved by me to ensure it meets my professional, ethical and clinical standards.
AI is used only as a support tool and never as a substitute for professional knowledge, clinical judgment, therapeutic experience, teaching expertise or human insight.
3. Authenticity and Representation.
I do not use, and will not use:
- AI-generated likenesses of myself.
- AI-generated versions of my voice.
- AI-generated representations presented as if they were me.
- AI-generated therapeutic interactions presented as therapy.
- AI-generated training interactions presented as live teaching.
Everything published under my name is either created directly by me or reviewed and approved by me before publication.
4. Client Use of AI.
Clients remain free to use AI technologies outside therapy sessions. However, clients are strongly encouraged to consider the impact AI-generated interpretations, advice, analysis and feedback may have on the therapeutic process.
Therapy is most effective when understanding develops through reflection, emotional processing and discussion within the therapeutic relationship. Reliance on AI systems to analyse, interpret, evaluate or challenge therapeutic work may interfere with this process and may reduce the effectiveness, continuity and depth of therapy.
AI-generated content may reflect assumptions, inaccuracies, biases or interpretations that do not reflect my professional opinion, therapeutic approach or clinical judgment.
Clients are discouraged from uploading session transcripts, therapy notes, therapeutic correspondence, worksheets, handouts or summaries of therapy sessions to AI systems for analysis, interpretation, evaluation or assessment.
Seeking automated analysis of sessions, therapeutic interventions or the therapist may introduce inaccurate conclusions, distortions or assumptions that interfere with the therapeutic process.
Where clients choose to use AI tools in relation to therapy, openness about this use is encouraged so that any resulting material can be discussed appropriately within therapy.
5. Confidentiality and Privacy.
Clients, trainees and participants are strongly discouraged from uploading, sharing or entering therapy-related, training-related or confidential information into AI systems.
This includes:
- Therapy session content.
- Therapy notes.
- Session transcripts.
- Therapeutic correspondence.
- Worksheets and handouts.
- Personal disclosures made within therapy.
- Information relating to third parties discussed during therapy.
- Training discussions.
- Participant contributions.
- Case examples used during training.
Once information is submitted to a third-party AI platform, its storage, processing, retention and use may be outside my control and may not be subject to the same confidentiality protections which apply within therapy or training.
Individuals remain responsible for any information they choose to share with third-party AI systems.
6. AI Use During Therapy Sessions.
To maintain privacy, confidentiality and the integrity of the therapeutic relationship:
- I do not record sessions.
- Clients may not record sessions.
- Clients may not use AI companions, AI assistants, AI note-taking tools, automated captioning systems, transcription software or recording technologies during sessions.
- Clients may not use AI systems to monitor, analyse, summarise or participate in sessions, in real time.
- Clients may not use meeting assistants or software which generates transcripts, recordings or summaries of sessions.
Where accessibility support is required, alternative arrangements may be discussed. For online sessions, the text chat function may be used where appropriate.
Any accessibility arrangements must be agreed in advance and must not involve recording, transcription or AI-generated session content.
Therapy sessions are intended to be a direct human interaction between therapist and client.
7. AI-Generated Simulations and Representations.
Clients may not use AI systems to create digital representations of me, my voice, my likeness, my image, my teaching style, my therapeutic style or simulated versions of therapeutic conversations with me.
This includes:
- Creating AI versions of me.
- Creating simulated therapy sessions with me.
- Training AI systems using my content, communications or materials in order to imitate me.
- Generating content intended to predict, replicate or imitate what I might say or how I might respond.
- Creating AI-generated representations presented as my views, teachings or therapeutic opinions.
Such simulations do not represent my professional judgment, therapeutic approach or actual therapeutic input and may create misunderstandings that undermine the therapeutic relationship.
The creation, publication or distribution of AI-generated representations falsely presented as my words, views, teaching or therapeutic work is not permitted.
8. AI-Generated Simulations of Other People.
Clients are strongly discouraged from using AI systems to create, recreate or simulate individuals connected to their therapeutic work.
This may include:
- Deceased loved ones.
- Former partners.
- Family members.
- Friends.
- Other significant individuals.
While such technologies may sometimes appear comforting or helpful, they can also maintain attachment to a simulation rather than supporting the natural psychological processes involved in grief, loss, separation, acceptance and adaptation to change.
The use of AI-generated simulations may therefore interfere with therapeutic goals or emotional processing and may be explored within therapy, where relevant.
9. Responsibility and Limitations.
Therapy and training provided by me are distinct from information, opinions, recommendations or content generated by AI systems.
I accept no responsibility for information, advice, interpretations, recommendations or conclusions produced by third-party AI platforms.
Clients, trainees and participants remain responsible for their own use of AI technologies and for any decisions made based upon AI-generated content.
10. Accessibility and Training Activities.
As part of my work as a trainer and educator, participants may choose to use accessibility tools such as live captioning, where required.
However:
- Automated transcripts, recordings and AI-generated notes must not be retained, stored, shared or distributed.
- Training participants must not upload training content to AI systems unless expressly authorised.
- Participant contributions, discussions and case material must not be submitted to AI systems.
- Course materials, handouts and resource lists will be provided, where appropriate, reducing the need for independent AI-generated records.
Accessibility accommodations are welcomed and supported wherever reasonably possible, provided they do not compromise privacy, confidentiality or professional standards.
11. Review.
This policy is reviewed periodically and may be updated to reflect developments in technology, legislation, professional guidance and clinical practice.
Accessibility.
If you require this document in an alternative format, please contact me and I will provide it in a format suitable to your accessibility needs.
Sandra Mazili, MNCPS, MBACP