AI in Psychotherapy Roundtable
Friday, February 20th at 10 AM-12 PM
@ 3660 Stoneridge Rd., Building F-102, Austin, TX 78746
Cost: $30 for 2 CEs in Ethics
Join Earley Barnes-Ullrich, Mae Gowda and Colleen Bardelli for an honest, grounded conversation about AI in psychotherapy. Together, we’ll explore where AI may support clinical practice, where it raises ethical and relational concerns, and how therapists can engage with these tools thoughtfully rather than reactively. This panel is designed for therapists who feel curious, skeptical, nervous, or all three, and want a space to think critically about the future of care.
Whether you’re already experimenting with AI or unsure you want it anywhere near your practice, this conversation centers clinical values, human connection, and responsible decision-making.
Participants will engage in a balanced discussion that integrates evidence-based practice, clinician experience, and ethical frameworks. This panel is designed for therapists seeking to increase their competence in evaluating AI tools, understanding associated risks, and making informed, values-aligned decisions about the role of AI in clinical practice.
Meet the Panelists
Earley Barnes-Ullrich, LCSW-S, RPT-S™, ADS, RST has over 15 years of experience providing individual, family, and group therapy for children, adolescents, and adults. She is the owner of Hopeful Waters Wellness, PLLC, where she supervises staff and actively integrates AI into clinical practice. She is an assistant adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work where she teaches Methods of Play Intervention.
Headshot of Earley Barnes-Ullrich
With over a decade of experience in human-centered design and systems thinking, Mae Gowda has led UX teams across startups and Big Tech, currently at BetterUp—previously Meta, Visa, and EA. Today, she works at the intersection of ethical AI, automation, and care-oriented professions, bringing a design-first lens to how emerging technologies can responsibly support humans.
Headshot of Mae Gowda
Colleen Bardelli, MA, LPC-S, LMHC, RPT-S is a therapist with over 10 years of experience providing mental health services to children, teens, and adults. Colleen’s clinical work is grounded in compassion, acceptance, and developmentally responsive care. For this panel, Colleen offers the perspective of a clinician thoughtfully exploring AI’s potential while remaining attentive to its risks and implications for the core of psychotherapy, and she will also serve as the panel monitor.
Headshot of Colleen Bardelli
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this panel, participants will be able to:
Identify current and emerging uses of AI relevant to psychotherapy practice.
Describe ethical and clinical risks associated with AI integration, including impacts on the therapeutic relationship.
Apply a critical, values-based framework to decision-making about AI use in clinical settings.
