Practical Strategies for Using AI in Couple and Family Therapy While Protecting Ethics and Trust

Desert–CAMFT

presents

in collaboration with the Central Coast chapter

Practical Strategies for Using AI in Couple and Family Therapy While Protecting Ethics and Trust

with Shiri Sadeh-Sharvit, PhD

Friday, February 27, 2026
9:30am-11:30am

Online Via Zoom

(link will be provided in confirmation and reminder emails)

2 CE Credits

Description

Artificial intelligence is rapidly shaping how individuals, partners, and families seek support, gather information, and communicate about their mental health. Couple and family therapists are already encountering clients who use chatbots for emotional support, rely on AI companions during periods of conflict or loneliness, or bring AI- generated content into sessions. At the same time, clinicians are exploring AI tools for documentation, case formulation, and care coordination. Many LMFTs want guidance on how these tools fit within a systemic model of care.

This presentation introduces a grounded, relationship-centered approach to evaluating and integrating AI in couple and family therapy. We will look at how AI affects family dynamics, attachment patterns, conflict cycles, parent–child interactions, and caregiver burden. Participants will learn how to talk with clients about their use of AI tools, how to protect confidentiality and prevent triangulation with technology, and how to assess the appropriateness of AI tools for different relational systems. The session is practical, nontechnical, and rooted in systemic principles that honor culture, context, and the therapeutic alliance.

Education Goals

This training is designed to help couple and family therapists evaluate and integrate AI tools in ways that strengthen relationships, support ethical care, and improve communication within families and couples.

Learning Objectives

In successfully completing and attending this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Identify three ways AI tools are currently influencing couple and family dynamics, including communication patterns, emotional regulation, and problem solving.

2. Describe at least three ethical risks specific to relational therapy, such as triangulation with chatbots, confidentiality concerns, and uneven access to tools within a family system.

3. Identify two culturally responsive strategies to recognize and mitigate bias when using or recommending AI tools with diverse families and youth.

4. Apply a structured decision-making framework to a relational case scenario, determining when AI may support or undermine therapeutic goals within a couple or family system.

Shiri Sadeh-Sharvit, PhD is a Stanford-trained clinical psychologist and Distinguished Professor of Research at Palo Alto University. With more than two decades of experience treating complex mental disorders, she specializes in developing and evaluating AI-based tools that support therapists and clients. Dr. Sadeh-Sharvit has delivered invited keynotes and workshops for the American Psychological Association, the Academy for Eating Disorders, state associations, and international conferences. Her work bridges evidence-based clinical care and emerging technology, helping mental health professionals prepare for the future of practice.

Cost/Registration

$25 for Desert-CAMFT Members

$15 for Prelicensed Members

$35 for Non-members or Guests

Closing date for registration is Thursday, February 26, 2026.

Questions

Please email Chaundra Prehara, Director of Events at chaundraprehara@yahoo.com.