Practically Speaking: Behind the Episode “AI and Mental Health: Why Should I Care?!”
If you’ve been side-eyeing the rise of AI in mental health, this episode of Practical for Your Practice is one you don’t want to miss. Dr. David Cooper, Executive Director of Therapists in Tech and member of the APA's Mobile Health Tech Advisory Committee (AND one of our EBP Conference 2025 PMI workshop presenters), joins us for a down-to-earth and engaging deep dive into what AI actually means for therapists. Spoiler: it’s not Skynet.
Listen to the full discussion here: AI and Mental Health: Why Should I Care?!
Dr. Cooper breaks down the basics of generative AI, including what GPT really stands for and why therapists shouldn’t fear it—but should understand it. He explains how AI is being used for everything from writing progress notes and creating IEP summaries to providing around-the-clock motivational support (enter existential therapy bot). But don’t worry, this episode isn’t a love letter to robots taking over therapy—it’s a realistic look at how AI can augment what therapists already do best.
Things get serious when the conversation turns to ethics and we tackle hard stuff like confidentiality, liability, and what happens when AI makes a mistake. But instead of fear-mongering, we encourage folks to be proactive: we’ve faced big tech shifts before (telehealth, anyone?), and with the right guardrails and mindset, AI doesn’t have to be scary. In fact, it might even help reduce burnout by taking care of the boring stuff so you can focus more on clients. As Dr. Cooper points out “we have done all of this before and we already have all the tools in our toolbox... I’ve worked with folks in the past who've gone through the very traditional telehealth… And it's like, oh, ‘can you possibly build up a relationship with a person over a telephone? Is that ethical?’...and nobody questions that today. But they had the same discussions that we have. And I think a lot of what we already have in the ethics code for our various professional bodies can help drive a lot of this.”
This episode is your permission slip to play. Whether you’re AI-curious or totally intimidated, you’ll walk away with practical tips, reassuring insights, and a renewed sense of purpose. So go ahead—press play and start exploring how AI can actually help you do your job better. You’ve got this! Don’t miss out on registering for this year’s EBP Conference Practicing in the Modern World: Navigating Innovations Ethically and Effectively. The conference will take place on 8 May 2025 from 9:00 a.m. ET – 5:40 p.m. ET (in Zoom) with optional PMIs on 6-7 May to include the half-day workshop, Ethics in Digital Health: A Guide on How to Approach the New Way We Practice with Dr. Cooper and Dr. Wright.
And as always, stay curious and mind your EBP’s. Until next time…
Reactions, thoughts or ideas? Leave us a message at speakpipe.com/cdpp4p or by email: cdp-podcast-ggg@usuhs.edu
Listen to the full discussion here: AI and Mental Health: Why Should I Care?!
The opinions in CDP Staff Perspective blogs are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Science or the Department of Defense.
Jenna Ermold, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist working as the Associate Director of Online Training, Technology and Telehealth for the Center for Deployment Psychology at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland.
If you’ve been side-eyeing the rise of AI in mental health, this episode of Practical for Your Practice is one you don’t want to miss. Dr. David Cooper, Executive Director of Therapists in Tech and member of the APA's Mobile Health Tech Advisory Committee (AND one of our EBP Conference 2025 PMI workshop presenters), joins us for a down-to-earth and engaging deep dive into what AI actually means for therapists. Spoiler: it’s not Skynet.
Listen to the full discussion here: AI and Mental Health: Why Should I Care?!
Dr. Cooper breaks down the basics of generative AI, including what GPT really stands for and why therapists shouldn’t fear it—but should understand it. He explains how AI is being used for everything from writing progress notes and creating IEP summaries to providing around-the-clock motivational support (enter existential therapy bot). But don’t worry, this episode isn’t a love letter to robots taking over therapy—it’s a realistic look at how AI can augment what therapists already do best.
Things get serious when the conversation turns to ethics and we tackle hard stuff like confidentiality, liability, and what happens when AI makes a mistake. But instead of fear-mongering, we encourage folks to be proactive: we’ve faced big tech shifts before (telehealth, anyone?), and with the right guardrails and mindset, AI doesn’t have to be scary. In fact, it might even help reduce burnout by taking care of the boring stuff so you can focus more on clients. As Dr. Cooper points out “we have done all of this before and we already have all the tools in our toolbox... I’ve worked with folks in the past who've gone through the very traditional telehealth… And it's like, oh, ‘can you possibly build up a relationship with a person over a telephone? Is that ethical?’...and nobody questions that today. But they had the same discussions that we have. And I think a lot of what we already have in the ethics code for our various professional bodies can help drive a lot of this.”
This episode is your permission slip to play. Whether you’re AI-curious or totally intimidated, you’ll walk away with practical tips, reassuring insights, and a renewed sense of purpose. So go ahead—press play and start exploring how AI can actually help you do your job better. You’ve got this! Don’t miss out on registering for this year’s EBP Conference Practicing in the Modern World: Navigating Innovations Ethically and Effectively. The conference will take place on 8 May 2025 from 9:00 a.m. ET – 5:40 p.m. ET (in Zoom) with optional PMIs on 6-7 May to include the half-day workshop, Ethics in Digital Health: A Guide on How to Approach the New Way We Practice with Dr. Cooper and Dr. Wright.
And as always, stay curious and mind your EBP’s. Until next time…
Reactions, thoughts or ideas? Leave us a message at speakpipe.com/cdpp4p or by email: cdp-podcast-ggg@usuhs.edu
Listen to the full discussion here: AI and Mental Health: Why Should I Care?!
The opinions in CDP Staff Perspective blogs are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Science or the Department of Defense.
Jenna Ermold, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist working as the Associate Director of Online Training, Technology and Telehealth for the Center for Deployment Psychology at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland.