Artificial Intelligence in Counseling and Counseling Psychology: A Counselor-Led Framework for Ethical Practice & Training

As generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT become increasingly accessible, counseling psychologists are exploring their potential use in clinical practice, often without clear guidance or ethical frameworks. This paper presents a counselor-led model for integrating generative AI tools into counseling practice. Grounded in ethical principles, the model emphasizes human oversight, transparency, and client-centered care. A case study illustrates the application of this model with a veteran receiving counseling services through the Veterans Health Administration. The case demonstrates how generative AI can support foundational career counseling tasks (i.e., career exploration and career planning), while maintaining full counselor oversight. Key ethical considerations are discussed, including transparency and informed consent, data privacy and security, accuracy and bias, and human oversight and professional judgment. This work contributes to the emerging literature on AI-assisted counseling by offering an ethically grounded and practice-oriented model for counseling professionals interested in engaging with these technologies responsibly.