AI in Mental Health: Introductory Certification Course
Learn to Use AI Safely, Ethically, and Effectively in Clinical Work
4-week, live online certification led by Dr. Alex Vaz, PhD
Why This Course?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already the world’s most-used mental health support tool—whether we like it or not. Every day, clients are increasingly turning to tools like ChatGPT and other AI-based applications for guidance, support, and even self-diagnosis. These conversations are happening outside the therapy room, often without clinical oversight, and this trend isn’t slowing down.
And yet, most clinicians, supervisors, and educators report feeling uncertain, unprepared, or even skeptical about how to respond. Common questions we hear include:
“How do I talk to a client who is already using AI between our sessions?”
“Can I use AI tools safely in supervision or training without violating ethics codes or confidentiality?”
“I don’t really trust AI… How can I stay informed without buying into hype?”
This introductory certification was created specifically for mental health professionals, faculty, and graduate students who want to responsibly explore AI in behavioral health settings—even if you’re brand-new to AI or unsure if it’s right for you.
We focus on making AI accessible and understandable. This course provides clear, research-based frameworks for safely and ethically using AI in:
Clinical work: Learn how to protect client privacy, de-identify material, and use AI safely and ethically to enhance, not replace, your clinical judgment.
Supervision: Gain tools to model ethical AI practices for your supervisees, guiding them in appropriate use.
Training: Discover how AI can support student learning while maintaining rigorous ethical standards.
This training is grounded in the latest research and in established professional ethics. We’ll equip you with the knowledge and skills to use AI confidently, or to set boundaries with it, based on your clinical values.
Sentio University is the first graduate program in mental health to formally integrate safe and ethical AI training for students, in collaboration with leading experts in AI safety. This course draws directly from that pioneering work.
Whether you’re cautiously curious, overwhelmed by the technology, or actively skeptical, you’ll leave with a solid understanding of what AI can and can’t do, where it can add value, and how to keep your clients and students safe.
Important: This course is not a series of recorded lectures. Every online session is live, interactive, and experiential, so you can practice skills in real time with direct feedback.
Who is this for?
Clinicians who want to harness AI without losing their clinical compass
Supervisors and faculty training students in safe, ethical AI use
Program leads and educators seeking to future-proof their curriculum
Skeptics and beginners who feel cautious, overwhelmed, or simply curious about AI
No technical background is required. If you’re new to AI—or even skeptical—this course was designed for you.
By the end of this course, you’ll:
Understand the real capabilities and limitations of AI in mental health
Be able to identify risks (e.g., privacy, hallucinations, overreliance) and avoid ethical pitfalls
Develop practical skills for safely using AI in clinical work, supervision, and graduate coursework
Gain access to proven guidelines, exclusive resources, and live support from experts in the field
Course Details
Format: Live Zoom Sessions (1 hour/week for 4 weeks)
Dates: Thursdays — September 25, October 2, 9, 16
Time: 9:00 AM PST / 12:00 PM EST / 18:00 CET
Cost: $300
INCLUDES:
Introductory Certification in AI & Mental Health
Sentio’s exclusive AI safety & ethics guidelines (PDF)
Access to Sentio’s prompt library & case de-identification templates
Live demonstrations and guided practice
Spots are limited to ensure live participation and feedback!
Why This Matters
AI isn’t going away. Your clients, students, and colleagues are already using it. Learning how to engage with these tools safely, ethically, and effectively is now part of the job.
This course will prepare you to:
Protect client confidentiality and clinical integrity
Educate clients, students and supervisees in responsible AI practices
Avoid the major pitfalls of AI misuse in behavioral health
Lead with research-based, ethically grounded approaches
Course Agenda: Week-by-Week
Week 1: What’s Actually Happening with AI in Mental Health
Focus: Understanding the landscape of AI in mental health and separating fact from fiction
What large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can—and cannot—do in a clinical context
How clients, educators, and companies are already using AI for self-help, diagnosis, therapy “shortcuts,” and research
Research findings: What studies are showing about the impact of AI on mental health support (both positive and concerning)
What happens “behind the curtain”: how AI tools store, process, and use information you input
Clinical and educational implications: how the presence of AI is already changing therapy, supervision, and graduate training programs
The hidden risks of ignoring AI in behavioral health
Addressing myths, fears, and common misconceptions clinicians and educators hold about AI
Live Experiential Activities:
Guided discussion on real-world AI use cases and ethical implications
Hands-on exploration of an AI tool’s strengths and limitations, with structured debrief
Week 2: AI Risks and Ethical Use
Focus: Recognizing and mitigating risks while staying within clear ethical guidelines
Key risks: AI “hallucinations,” overreliance, loss of clinical thinking, bias in AI outputs, and privacy/data breaches
Identifying “bad prompts” and how to spot unreliable or dangerous AI outputs before they cause harm
How to safely de-identify client material (HIPAA-style practice exercises)
Reviewing key ethical frameworks from APA, Sentio University, and other professional bodies
Understanding client consent, confidentiality, and boundary-setting in relation to AI
Discussing AI with clients, supervisees, and students in ways that build trust and clarity
Strategies for maintaining human connection and clinical judgment in an AI-assisted world
Live Experiential Activities:
Practice on de-identifying clinical material
“Spot the red flags” activity: prompting AI to hallucinate and learning how to course-correct
How to talk with clients or students about their AI use
Week 3: Using AI for Case Formulation
Focus: Building your skills for safe, structured use of AI in clinical conceptualization
What is case formulation and how can AI assist (but not replace) this skill?
Prompt design: how to structure questions to AI in a clinically responsible way
Using AI to compare multiple theoretical perspectives (e.g., CBT vs EFT vs psychodynamic)
Evaluating AI-generated conceptualizations: when it helps and when it misleads
Case formulation in supervision and graduate coursework: how to model and teach safe use
Recognizing and correcting AI biases or blind spots in conceptualization
Live Experiential Activities:
Formulate a de-identified case using AI, then refine outputs with instructor feedback
Collaborative critique of AI-generated conceptualizations—learning where human insight is irreplaceable
Guiding a student or supervisee who wants to use AI in their clinical thinking
Week 4: Using AI for Treatment Planning and Skill Building
Focus: Ethical integration of AI into treatment planning, psychoeducation, and clinical training
How to use AI to generate treatment plans that align with your client’s unique goals and context
Ensuring evidence-based practices remain at the forefront, rather than blindly adopting AI suggestions
Using AI to brainstorm psychoeducation materials, client handouts, and tailored language
Identifying risks of “over-delegating” to AI when it comes to treatment planning
Supporting skill-building in supervisees and graduate students through structured AI-assisted exercises
Looking ahead: the future of AI in clinical training and how to stay grounded in ethics and research
Live Experiential Activities:
Generate and refine a treatment plan using AI outputs, while preserving your clinical voice
Use AI to draft psychoeducation resources and critically evaluate them for safety and clarity
Closing discussion: how to integrate AI ethically in your ongoing clinical and educational work
What You’ll Walk Away With
Certification: Recognized introductory-level credential in AI & Mental Health
Tools: Exclusive AI prompt library, de-ID templates, and ethics guidelines
Clear frameworks to navigate AI safely and ethically
Skills: Hands-on experience you can immediately apply in your practice or program
About the Trainer
Alexandre Vaz, Ph.D. is cofounder and Chief Academic Officer of Sentio University. He has authored and co-edited over 15 books on psychotherapy training and deliberate practice, and he has trained clinicians worldwide. Dr. Vaz is also the founder of Psychotherapy Expert Talks, a widely recognized interview series with leaders in the field.
Dr. Vaz is leading several research projects on the integration of AI in mental health, in collaboration with leading experts in AI safety, as well as initiatives making the nonprofit Sentio Marriage and Family Therapy program and Sentio Counseling Center the first graduate program in mental health to formally integrate safe and ethical AI training for students. This course draws directly from that pioneering work.