AI in therapy: safe and ethical practice

Professor Elvira Pérez Vallejos, PhD – professor of mental health and digital technology, University of Nottingham

Bio: Professor Elvira Pérez Vallejos is an expert in ethical and responsible technological innovation in mental health and wellbeing. Her research focuses on optimising care through the ethical use of digital technologies, promoting a human-centred approach in which innovations such as generative AI act as supportive tools rather than replacements for human relationships. She holds a joint appointment between the Schools of Computer Science and Medicine at the University of Nottingham and was recognised in 2025 as one of the 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics.

Session: Elvira will explore the ethical implications of AI use in therapy, including trust, transparency, informed consent and responding to clients using AI tools.

Dr Paul Bradley – chief clinical information officer, Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT)

Bio: Dr Paul Bradley has worked at Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust since 2006 and is both a consultant psychiatrist for adults with intellectual disabilities and the Trust's chief clinical information officer (CCIO). He was part of the first cohort of the NHS Digital Academy, completing a master’s degree in digital health leadership, and is a Fellow of the BCS, the chartered institute for IT. Paul chaired the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Informatics Committee from 2019 and, in 2025, was appointed associate registrar for digital.

Session: Paul will provide a clinical and systems perspective on the safe and responsible use of AI, focusing on risk, accountability, governance and professional oversight.

Wasseem El Sarraj – clinical psychologist and writer working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and mental health

Bio: Wasseem El Sarraj is a clinical psychologist and writer whose work focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence and mental health. His doctoral research examined the use of AI simulation tools in clinical training. His writing on AI and mental health has appeared in Psyche, The Psychologist, The New Yorker and The Guardian, and he has published peer-reviewed research on NHS staff attitudes towards AI. His applied AI work includes collaborating with the University of Roehampton on a mental health benchmarking tool for AI safety, and he is a collaborator on the University of Oxford's AI in Education project. He is currently working on a forthcoming Routledge book exploring the future of artificial intelligence in clinical psychology training.

Session: Wasseem will focus on practical guidance for therapists, including common AI use cases, real-world scenarios and decision-making in practice.

Dr Helen Molden – UKCP psychotherapist

Bio: Dr Helen Molden (CPsychol) is a counselling psychologist and integrative psychotherapist registered with UKCP and HCPC. She has worked across a range of NHS physical and mental health settings, including cancer, neurology and ophthalmology services, and now provides assessment and therapy in independent practice. Alongside her clinical work, Helen is an active researcher with interests in the factors that shape wellbeing, including mental health, physical health and wider environmental influences. She serves on the British Psychological Society's Ethics Committee and Media Advisory Ethics Group and has published on the ethics and use of AI in mental health.

Session: Helen will chair the seminar, helping to ground discussions in the realities of therapeutic practice and facilitating audience questions and discussion throughout the event.