Keynotes

The advent of Large Language Models (LLMs), and in particular the release of ChatGPT by OpenAI in November of 2022, has ignited a discourse of the utility of LLMs and other AI tools for addressing a range of social problems. The introduction of these tools into the mainstream of society has significant implications for the mental health field. LLM technologies have been introduced in areas of mental health practice as banal as the transcription and production of session notes and integration with electronic health records to more high stakes applications, such as directly delivering client care. Computer science and engineering have a long time interest in using digital strategies for improving mental health care, while mental health practitioners have not always been early adopters of digital and now AI therapeutic enhancements. Dr. Lauri Goldkind, a public interest technologist, and Dr. Derek Tice-Brown, a behavioral health practitioner, will present examples of AI implementations across the mental health field. They will offer examples from both the provider and client perspectives. Using a conversational format, the pair will debate the benefits and risks of using AI in Integrative Mental Health grounding the conversation in frameworks of social justice and human rights. Topics such as algorithmic bias, the client-worker therapeutic relationship, human connection, service access, assessment, intervention, and service outcomes will be discussed. They will also offer real world examples of how clients are engaging with non-human provided treatments and supports. During the second half of the session, Drs. Goldkind and Tice-Brown will facilitate an interactive discussion with the audience of the utility of our enhanced AI systems for mental health practice, research, and education.

This session champions the reality that mental health is not binary. Everyone’s mental health lives and moves on a “continuum,” or in simpler words, a “Scale” that stretches from “Thriving” to “Sinking.” The most common question asked every day is: “How are you?” Because there is no common language in mental health, the most common answers are: “Good, Fine, OK.” None of these are actual responses, nor do they help us see trends or track changes in the way we think/feel/function/perform.

This interactive workshop introduces the SameHere Scale (based on “Polyvagal,” Dr. Stephen Porges) in both hard copy and app formats. Participants will learn about the balance between our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system responses, and how that balance can be compromised. They will learn about movement on the SameHere Scale – and how someone’s Scale “position” can be discovered based on their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors they are experiencing. Attendees will walk away with a common language to do check-ins with patients, clients, students or whomever attendees do their clinical and/or advocacy work with.

A panel discussion will examine how this language can be brought into various integrative modalities.