Your Mental Health Matters

As we all navigate through life, it’s crucial to remember that our mental health matters just as much as our physical health. Despite the stigma that has surrounded mental health for many years, it’s important to break these barriers and openly discuss the importance of maintaining a healthy mind. Mental health literacy is crucial for all of us. Learn more so that we do not overdiagnose. With this in mind, let’s delve into the significance of mental health.

Our mental health encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, impacting how we think, feel, and act. It also plays a fundamental role in how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Without positive mental health, it’s difficult to fully enjoy life and deal with its challenges.

There are many ways to look after your mental health. Each day is a new opportunity to take care of your mind. Remember to stay active, even if it just 15 minutes a day to start. Eat a balanced diet as often as possible. Maintain a regular sleep schedule, and take time each day to relax and do things that you love. Reach out to friends and family, talk about your feelings, and don’t be afraid to seek professional help. If you’re struggling. School Counsellors are always there to freely help you. They are trained mental health professionals.

Remember, It’s Okay Not to Be Okay

Lastly, remember that it’s okay not to be okay all the time. Everyone has good days and bad days, and it’s perfectly normal to feel down sometimes. What’s important is to recognise these feelings, accept them, and take steps to look after your mental health. If you’re struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out for help.

You can take active steps to prioritize your mental health and learn mental health literacy skills. Let’s strive to create a world where mental health is no longer stigmatized, but understood, accepted, and prioritized. Let’s treat people with the same dignity we treat someone with a physical illness.

Human Connection Will Always Matter: AI From A Counselling Perspective

Someone asked me why at my age I am so interested in AI. There are so many reasons, but it is mainly because I care about humanity. I want to learn so that I have a better understanding for my children, your children and my future grandchildren. Besides we are never too old to learn and now is the opportune time to do so.

As a Psychologist and former School Counsellor, I hope that you will explore resources and information that will guide you on a journey to understanding the complex world of AI. More importantly, I hope that you will bring humanity into all your conversations when it comes to AI.

I believe that the therapeutic alliance will be more essential than ever before. AI won’t be able to connect the way a counsellor or therapist can. AI won’t be able to help in crisis situations. AI is not human although some may begin to treat it so. The counselling relationship is key and will always matter when it comes to being a helping professional. AI will most likely be used to augment and enhance counselling processes, so understanding how to utilize it will be of the utmost importance.

AI has the potential to impact an individual’s well-being, privacy, and autonomy. As counsellors, it is crucial to address the ethical implications of AI and ensure that its development, implementation, and use align with ethical standards.

As counsellors and therapists our ethical standards will need to be revised.

Discussing AI from a counselling perspective will allow for a critical examination of its potential benefits and risks, fostering informed decision-making and responsible use now and in the future.

Throughout these months in ETMOOC2 for which I am extremely grateful, I have been doing a lot of reading, discussing and thinking about AI. I hope that you too will begin exploring and learning. We are just at the beginning stages of paying attention and learning how AI will impact all of us. 

AI technology will most likely have psychological effects on individuals. For example, chatbots or virtual assistants designed to provide emotional support may impact the therapeutic relationship between clients and human counsellors. There is no way to predict how and what impact this will have. Time will tell, but we will need to assist clients who develop a trusting relationship with an AI instead of a human and the impacts that could potentially have on their therapeutic outcomes.

Addressing AI from a counselling perspective will allow for the exploration of the potential benefits and drawbacks of incorporating AI into therapeutic settings and school settings . We will need to consider the psychological impact on clients and students in the near future. How will you address these issues?

How will AI gather personal data, analyze emotional expressions, or even provide mental health assessments accurately?  It is important to discuss the potential impact of AI on emotional well-being and mental health, ensuring that AI systems are designed and used in ways that promote individuals’ psychological well-being.

There is much to consider when it comes to AI.

How will AI enhance your counselling process?

Will AI help, harm or heal?

What part will you play in making a difference when it comes to AI?

How will you keep up and pay attention to the ethical considerations?

Will AI ever be able to show empathy, compassion, intuition, or cultural nuances?

I really like what Sherry Turkle asks, “Are we really ready to become a machine’s companion even if they are willing to become ours?”

As AI technology becomes more prevalent, individuals will continue to increasingly interact with AI systems in various domains of life. As Counsellors we can play a significant role in helping individuals navigate these interactions, offering support in establishing healthy boundaries, managing expectations, and coping with potential challenges that may arise in human-AI interactions. Knowing what resources are helpful will make a difference in you assisting your clients.

Ensuring that all voices are included in the training of AI systems so that biases will appear less frequently is essential. AI algorithms already perpetuate and amplify these biases. Let’s work together for positive change that is more inclusive for all.

Understanding AI from a counselling perspective will allow for discussions of the potential preferences in AI systems and their implications. We need to ensure that our, and our client’s privacy rights are respected and protected now and in the future.

By addressing AI from a counselling perspective, you as a helping professional can help raise awareness, promote responsible and ethical AI practices, and support individuals in navigating the impact of AI on their well-being and mental health. My suggestion for learning how AI will impact what you do is to start slow and learn as much as you can whenever you can. 

AI does matter when it comes from a counselling perspective. My hope is that you take a look at some of the resources below and share your resources, thoughts and ideas. Some articles could be used as a starting dialogue for professional development sessions, others may pique your personal interest in this topic.

My suggestion is to put down or better yet put away your phones whenever you are face-to-face with another person. Have a real conversation making them the most important person in the room whether discussing AI or not. I look forward to staying connected with others who will commit to keeping AI and humanity at the forefront of their growth knowing that human connection will always matter.

AI References and Resources

• A Chatbot is No Good In A Crisis

• AI and the Future of Mental Health – CENGN

• Artificial Intelligence in Psychology: 9 Examples & Apps

• Can Artificial Intelligence Map Our Moods?

• Counseling with artificial intelligence

• Eliza, a chatbot therapist

• Esther Perel on The Other Ai: Artificial Intimacy | SXSW 2023

• Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker: The idea that A.I. will lead to the end of humanity is like the Y2K bug

• Johannes Eichstaedt: Exploring the Intersection of Psychology and AI

• Machines can do most of a psychologist’s job. The industry must prepare for disruption

• Multichannel Connectors – Onlim

• NIMH Cognitive psychology-based artificial intelligence review – PMC

• Psychology Today Basics of AI

• Psybertronic

• The Promise and Challenges of AI

• The therapists using AI to make therapy better | MIT Technology Review

• Thoughts on AI from a Psychological Perspective: Defining Intelligence | by T. Panova | Becoming Human  T Panova. 

• Unlocking AI for Psychology

• What Can AI Learn from Human Intelligence?

• People are using AI for therapy, whether the tech is ready for it or not

As the Washington Post suggests , I hope it never comes down to these bots replacing School Counsellors as schools respond to shortages within their districts . Let's work together to continue to put the face of humanity into places where counselling occurs and continues to meet the needs of our young people who we care about deeply.

Chat GPT Prompts and the School Counsellor: A Chat GPT Cheat Sheet

BEST PROMPTS  for the School Counsellor to use :

Note: 

• Chat GPT can make mistakes and give incorrect info.

• It is important to start a new chat when changing topics.

• Always fact check Chat GPT

1. I want you to act as a School Counsellor.  I will provide some details about the current situation and goals for the student, and it will be your job to come up with strategies that can help me help the student make better decisions and reach those objectives. This could involve offering advice on various topics, such as creating plans for achieving success or dealing with difficult emotions. My first request is dealing with a grade 8 student dealing with (topic) ex: stress.  Next prompt – can you suggest videos? – next prompt- suggest age-appropriate articles. Next prompt- Create tip sheets. next prompt – can you suggest age-appropriate books – next prompt – suggest activities for each.

1. Provide 20 resources on [topic].

1. Help me find an interactive game or activity to help reinforce [concept].

1. Suggest a book or article my students can read to learn more about [topic].

1. Come up with 10 creative ways to teach [topic] to my students.

1. Provide 10 examples of real-world applications of [concept] to help my students understand it better.

1. Suggest 10 ways to differentiate instruction for students with different learning styles or needs. On the (topic).

1. Provide 10 tips or strategies for helping my students improve their coping skills.

1. Suggest 10 ways to incorporate technology into my lessons to make them more engaging and interactive.

1. Can you provide some examples of how [historical event, scientific concept, etc.] has impacted society or the world?

1. Suggest 10 ways to help my students develop their [ skills], such as communication,  emotional regulation teamwork, or leadership. Be specific as to age/grade level.

1. Create a newsletter on (topic) for students/parents/ teachers.

1. Tell me 10 great resources for teaching about (topic).

1. Recommend  10 videos on ( topic) (grade level).

1. 1O creative ways to make ( subject /topic more interesting) for students.

1. Recommend 10 good podcasts related to (a topic that my students can listen to.

1. Recommend 10 good articles on (topic).

1. 10 effective strategies for teaching empathy to ( age/grade level).

1. 10 ways students can develop their self-awareness and self-reflection skills.

1. 10 engaging mindfulness activities for (age/grade level).

1. 10 ways to develop positive peer relationships with peers ( age/ grade level).

1. 10 ways to deal with difficult emotions ( age/ grade level).

1. 10 tips for being resilient for (age/ grade level). 

1. 10 ways I can be a better student  (age/ grade level).

1.  10 activities for building (self-esteem, confidence etc. for (age/grade level).

1. 10 specific activities for coping with (topic … anxiety).

1. 10 self-talk statements to deal with (topic) age level/grade level.

1. Simulate a job interview for an (age of student).

1. List 10 possible careers for a student who is interested in …

1. Act as a School Counsellor and help a student with the following concerns. 

1. I want you to act as a School Counsellor. I will provide you with an individual looking for guidance on managing their emotions, stress, anxiety and other mental health concerns. Use your knowledge of DBT, CBT, solution-focused therapy, brief therapy,  meditation techniques, mindfulness practices and other counselling techniques to create strategies that a student can implement in order to improve their overall well-being. My first request is” I need someone to help me with a grade ___ student who needs help managing their (depressive symptoms).

1. I want you to act as a career counsellor for an (age/ grade I will provide you with an individual looking for guidance in their life, and your task is to help them determine what careers they are most suited for based on their skills, interests and experience. You should also conduct research into the various options available, explain the job market trends in different industries and advice on which qualifications would be beneficial for pursuing particular fields. My first request is “I want to advise someone who wants to pursue a potential career in …

1. Act as a School Counsellor I will provide you with some information about a student’s goals and challenges, and it will be your job to come up with strategies that can help this person achieve their goals. This could involve providing positive affirmations, giving helpful advice or suggesting activities they can do to reach their end goal. My first request is …

1. Respond to this angry parent in a positive tone.

1. Write an email to a parent in a positive tone letting them know …

1. Create a tutorial on … topic/grade level.

1. Create some hands-on activities on (topic/grade level).

1. Act as a School Counsellor: develop a visual graphic for a student in Grade —- on the topic of —-

1. Teach me how to use google sheets as a School Counsellor to …

1. Create 10 reflection questions to discuss (topic) in a group.

1. Create an inspirational blog post for students in grade on the topic of —-

1.  Develop a 30-minute lesson plan on the topic of ____ from a School Counsellor’s perspective.

1. Put _____ in alphabetical order.

1.  List categories for each of these topics. 

1. Create monthly topics on social-emotional learning for grade ____ students from a School Counsellor’s perspective. – NEXT PROMPT – Create activities for each. 

1. Create 10 great tips that Elie Wiesel may give to grade —- students.

1. Create 10 great tips that Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, Oprah Winfrey, Terry Fox, Rosa Parks, Anne Frank, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandella, Leo Buscaglia or anyone who inspires you may give to grade — students. 

You could create a tips sheet for the students out of the responses.

1.  Create 10 great tips that Carl Rogers, Bruce Perry, Ed Jacobs, Donald Michenbaum Dr. Erin Mason,  may give to grade —- students.

49. Generate an analogy for …

50. Imagine … how would you cope with …

51. Generate open-ended questions on (topic)

52. Suggest 10 interactive activities to explain (topic) from a School Counselling Perspective

53. Explain the process of ( nurturing healthy relationships) in ten steps.

54. Explain the concept of cognitive behaviour therapy ( in simple steps that will help me with (topic)

55. Provide me with 10 engaging energizers from a school Counselling Perspective that I can use with a group on (topic)

56. From a School Counselling perspective recommend 5 books on the topic of ____ that will. help with (topic)

60. Make a list of …

Ask Chat GPT to create 100 more prompts for School Counsellors especially when you have been inputting information as a School Counsellor.

You can also use your counselling skills when talking to chat GPT say … tell me more.

Resources:

Now it’s your turn. Share any resources/ ideas/tips you have … You can add to this cheat sheet I created that I will be updating to assist you in the amazing work you do.