Using artificial intelligence to simulate client interactions for psychology training

This paper reviews the current roles being explored for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in mental health settings. A review is provided of the use of AI in mental healthcare as being able to provide screening, assessment and interventions for mental health conditions, as well as the use of AI in mental health and medical education settings. Importantly, this paper identifies the potential value of integrating AI into the learning and teaching experiences of trainee and practicing psychologists. While emerging AI research has focused on looking at how AI can be used as a substitute for human psychological services and the delivery of therapy, there has been less of a focus looking at the potential use of AI in clinical training. In addition to the role of AI as a “therapist”, there also exists scope to explore the usefulness of AI as a “client”, that is, as a simulation tool to assist with training. Specifically, we propose the potential value of developing simulated AI clients, for the training of psychology students in clinical training programs, as well as in the training of more advanced and specialist therapeutic interventions for qualified therapists, or in cases of rare and complex presentations.