ABSTRACT
Background
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly present in counselling, from clinical practice to the classroom. To date, little empirical research has examined how counsellors themselves view the role of AI in the profession.
Objective
This study aimed to explore counsellors’ attitudes, beliefs and emotional responses to AI in counselling practice, ethics and future applications.
Methods
We assessed emotions and attitudes toward AI among professional counsellors (N = 159) through a Qualtrics-based survey.
Results
Counsellors most strongly endorsed positive emotions, such as excitement about AI’s potential to address problems, while expressing concerns related to diminished human connection, privacy and bias. Results also revealed counsellors’ favourable attitudes toward AI in practice and optimism about its ability to reduce workload and burnout, but scepticism remained regarding AI’s relational capacity. Notably, school counsellors and counsellors from racial and ethnic minority groups reported greater optimism about AI.
Conclusions
Findings suggest that counsellors view AI as a promising addition to the profession, despite concerns.