Curt Widhalm, LMFT is the owner of Real Honest Therapy in Encino and West Los Angeles that specializes in working with teenagers and provides EMDR and comprehensive DBT. He is a member of the CAMFT Ethics Committee and a lecturer at California State University Northridge where he teaches Law & Ethics in the MFT program. Curt is also the co-host of “The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide” podcast.

Katie Vernoy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a practice in Torrance, CA (Katharine Vernoy, CA LMFT42604, AZ LMFT15931, FL TPMF977). She provides individual therapy in office as well as through an online platform, so she can support entrepreneurs, leaders, and helping professionals throughout California, Arizona, and Florida to create careers that are both meaningful AND sustainable.

"Artificial Intelligence in the Room: The Therapist's Guide to Ethical Practice"

October 17, 2025 | 12:45 PM – 2:45 PM  (2 CE hours)

Description: Artificial intelligence has brought emerging ethical challenges and opportunities for clinician use in psychotherapy. As AI-powered tools become more prevalent in clinical practice, from scheduling and note-taking to diagnostic assistance and even direct client interaction, therapists must understand the tools’ capabilities, impacts on client care, and client’s roles in decision making. This course explores the current landscape of AI in mental health, identifying both the promising advancements and the potential pitfalls.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify at least three key ethical principles that are directly impacted by the use of AI in psychotherapy
• Evaluate the risks and benefits of integrating AI tools into their clinical practice, distinguishing between assistive technologies and direct client-facing applications.
• Develop a framework for obtaining informed consent from clients regarding the use of AI, ensuring transparency and client autonomy.
• Formulate a plan for maintaining ethical boundaries and professional responsibility when interacting with AI systems and their outputs.

This course satisfies the Law & Ethics requirement for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs which is required for each license renewal cycle.