Artificial intelligence as a digital analytic third: the SADAR framework for reflective supervision in psychotherapy

The SADAR (Sistema Autoesplorativo Dialogogico Autentico Relazionale—Authentic Relational Dialogogic Self-Exploratory System) positions AI as a Digital Analytic Third for therapists’ post-session reflection and clinical supervision, rather than for direct patient interventions or automated clinical decision-making. The SADAR frames AI as a dialogogic symbolic co-presence that expands the therapist’s reflective space and deepens countertransferential awareness, without replacing professional judgment or human supervision. This perspective article defines the term “dialogogic,” presents a three-step reflective process (positioning, dialogogic prompting, and critical integration), and illustrates the framework’s potential and limitations through two clinical vignettes. The operational implementation is detailed in a companion brief report. All outputs must adhere to reflective supervision protocols and should never replace direct patient data.