dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaAI Systems in Text-Based Online Counselling: Ethical Considerations Across Three Implementation Approaches
| Authors | Philipp Steigerwald, Jennifer Burghardt, Eric Rudolph, Jens Albrecht |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | 2601.08878vv1 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.08878 |
| License | http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/ |
Abstract
Text-based online counselling scales across geographical and stigma barriers, yet faces practitioner shortages, lacks non-verbal cues and suffers inconsistent quality assurance. Whilst artificial intelligence offers promising solutions, its use in mental health counselling raises distinct ethical challenges. This paper analyses three AI implementation approaches - autonomous counsellor bots, AI training simulators and counsellor-facing augmentation tools. Drawing on professional codes, regulatory frameworks and scholarly literature, we identify four ethical principles - privacy, fairness, autonomy and accountability - and demonstrate their distinct manifestations across implementation approaches. Textual constraints may enable AI integration whilst requiring attention to implementation-specific hazards. This conceptual paper sensitises developers, researchers and practitioners to navigate AI-enhanced counselling ethics whilst preserving human values central to mental health support.
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"abstract": "Text-based online counselling scales across geographical and stigma barriers, yet faces practitioner shortages, lacks non-verbal cues and suffers inconsistent quality assurance. Whilst artificial intelligence offers promising solutions, its use in mental health counselling raises distinct ethical challenges. This paper analyses three AI implementation approaches - autonomous counsellor bots, AI training simulators and counsellor-facing augmentation tools. Drawing on professional codes, regulatory frameworks and scholarly literature, we identify four ethical principles - privacy, fairness, autonomy and accountability - and demonstrate their distinct manifestations across implementation approaches. Textual constraints may enable AI integration whilst requiring attention to implementation-specific hazards. This conceptual paper sensitises developers, researchers and practitioners to navigate AI-enhanced counselling ethics whilst preserving human values central to mental health support.",
"arxiv_id": "2601.08878",
"authors": [
"Philipp Steigerwald",
"Jennifer Burghardt",
"Eric Rudolph",
"Jens Albrecht"
],
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"cs.CY"
],
"license": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
"title": "AI Systems in Text-Based Online Counselling: Ethical Considerations Across Three Implementation Approaches",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.08878",
"version": "v1"
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