Beyond the Couch: AI in Therapy Beyond the Couch: AI in Therapy

Grab some snacks! This episode is a great one and quite the marathon since we had so much to discuss! This week, we welcomed Professor Rafael Bracero, an adjunct professor at USC Annenberg and an AI expert. In this episode, we delved into Professor Bracero's views on the current state of the AI industry, his experiences with AI mental health apps, AI coaching, and his insights on how AI could both benefit and pose challenges to the mental health industry. A big thank you to Professor Bracero for such a fun and enlightening conversation!

Loved the episode? Check out Professor Bracero's own podcast!
WORKING MEDIA with Rafael Bracero
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3M5dk8oAASFP2mgWx9gW6I?si=7f36f570cd1343a4
Contact: rbracero@usc.edu
Want to take Professor Bracero's course?
USC Fall 2024 Course
DSM 599 Special Topics Course: The Future of Advertising: Adtech Innovations & AI Trends

**WE ARE NOT MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS**  If you or a loved one is is need of mental health support, please contact crisis hotlines such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) or Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741741 in the US) to provide immediate support and intervention for those in distress.

Hello there! It's great to have you join us again! This week, hosts Nicole and Jiarui share their firsthand experiences testing out AI mental health chatbots, offering insights into both the positives and drawbacks they encountered. From discussing the platforms' strengths and enjoyable aspects to delving into our concerns and issues, we had an engaging time exploring these technologies. Join us as we reflect on our insights and experiences with AI in mental health. And be sure to tune in next week for another special guest, who will delve into the future of the AI industry. See you then!

**WE ARE NOT MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS**  If you or a loved one is is need of mental health support, please contact crisis hotlines such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) or Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741741 in the US) to provide immediate support and intervention for those in distress.

Welcome back! We're thrilled to have you join us once more! This week, we're delighted to introduce Dr. Megan Aclan, a licensed behavioral therapist and professor of psychology at the USC Dornsife School of Letters, Arts, & Sciences. In this episode, we delve into Dr. Aclan's strategies for ensuring patient safety amidst high-stress scenarios and explore the potential benefits and considerations surrounding AI's involvement in mental health crises. Additionally, we delve into host Jiaxi's insights gained from their experiences as a BT intern. Be sure to stay tuned for our next episode where we talk about our own experiences using the very chatbots we've been talking about each week!

**WE ARE NOT MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS**  If you or a loved one is is need of mental health support, please contact crisis hotlines such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) or Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741741 in the US) to provide immediate support and intervention for those in distress.

Hi y'all! WE ARE BACK! This week we are so excited to welcome Dr. Sourena Haj-Mohamadi, a licensed psychologist in the state of California and a professor of psychology at the USC Dornsife School of Letters, Arts, & Sciences. In this episode, we talked about Dr. Haj-Mohamadi's experiences as a practicing clinician and her approach to safeguarding the privacy and data of her clients. We discuss things like data breaches, liability when it comes to patient privacy, and potential dangers of releasing your private information to AI. Stay tuned for another great episode next week with another special guest!

**WE ARE NOT MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS**  If you or a loved one is is need of mental health support, please contact crisis hotlines such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) or Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741741 in the US) to provide immediate support and intervention for those in distress.

Welcome to the second episode of our podcast! We are thrilled to be back this week with another episode featuring special guest Dr. Kelly Greco, a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at USC Keck School of Medicine. In this episode, we delve into Dr. Greco's extensive experience as an embedded mental health counselor at USC Annenberg and as a clinical psychiatrist. We discuss crucial guidelines and potential pitfalls when integrating AI into mental health therapy, as well as Dr. Greco's insights on the increasing prevalence of college students utilizing AI. Our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Greco for graciously sharing her invaluable expertise with us. Join us again next week for a new episode with yet another esteemed expert guest!

**WE ARE NOT MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS**  If you or a loved one is is need of mental health support, please contact crisis hotlines such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) or Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741741 in the US) to provide immediate support and intervention for those in distress.

Welcome to the first episode of our podcast! This podcast aims to discuss whether AI can effectively emulate human therapists. We will explore AI's capabilities and limitations in therapeutic contexts, engage with expert opinions, and investigate the different aspects of this growing field. Our goal is to provide a  platform for students, professionals, and anyone interested in the future of AI and mental health care to discuss the future of AI in therapy. As three master’s students who are studying the evolution of technology and media, we are specifically interested in seeing how AI can affect the way we communicate especially when it comes to mental health therapy.  In this first episode, expect us to talk about current trends in AI, therapy, and set the stage for future episodes! Keep an eye out for upcoming episodes in the next few weeks!

**WE ARE NOT MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS**  If you or a loved one is is need of mental health support, please contact crisis hotlines such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) or Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741741 in the US) to provide immediate support and intervention for those in distress.