AI Systems in Text-Based Online Counselling: Ethical Considerations Across Three Implementation Approaches
- URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2601.08878v1
- Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2026 12:04:11 GMT
- Title: AI Systems in Text-Based Online Counselling: Ethical Considerations Across Three Implementation Approaches
- Authors: Philipp Steigerwald, Jennifer Burghardt, Eric Rudolph, Jens Albrecht,
- Abstract summary: Text-based online counselling scales across geographical and stigma barriers, yet faces practitioner shortages, lacks non-verbal cues and suffers inconsistent quality assurance.<n>This paper analyses three AI implementation approaches - autonomous counsellor bots, AI training simulators and counsellor-facing augmentation tools.
- Score: 0.0
- 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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