What to Do About AI:
Ethical Integration in Clinical Practice
Presenters: Mercy Connors, Ph.D. & David Jenkins, Psy.D. & Jason VanRuler
Tuesday, March 10th, 2026
6:00 – 8:30 PM ET
Level: Beginner
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Continuing Education
Continuing Education Accreditations applicable to this workshop:
Live: Approved for 2 ASWB, NBCC and IBCC Credits*
On Demand: Approved for 2 ASWB, NBCC and IBCC Credits*
CE Statement
Summary
AI is here to stay and is transforming how psychologists, licensed mental health professionals, medical personnel, and ministry leaders do their jobs in every setting. This workshop will focus on how to use AI tools in an ethically sound manner, with special attention to the new additions in the AACC Code of Ethics related to AI and digital practice. Attendees will identify multiple ethical pitfalls that clinicians are currently encountering when using AI in clinical work and will explore how to recognize these dilemmas in their own settings. Participants will also learn practical strategies to mitigate or avoid unethical practice by applying the APA, ACA, and updated AACC guidelines for the ethical use of AI in clinical care. Finally, attendees will examine concrete ways clinicians can use AI to enhance assessment, documentation, psychoeducation, and ministry support while maintaining clear ethical safeguards, as well as how to evaluate whether a specific AI tool meets emerging professional and faith-informed ethical standards.
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
- Identify ethical pitfalls that arise when using AI in clinical practice.
- Describe strategies to mitigate these ethical pitfalls by applying the APA, ACA, and the newly revised AACC guidelines on the ethical use of AI.
- Outline practical ways clinicians can use AI in their work without concern for unethical practice and articulate criteria for determining whether an AI tool is ethically appropriate for use in clinical care.
- Analyze their relationship with AI and apply ethically and clinically sound approaches to discussing AI with clients.
Continuing Education Statement
Live: Approved for LPC, LMFT, LCSW, and IBCC
The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) offers some psychologists, therapists, counselors, social workers, and play therapists Continuing Education (CE) credit due to good standing with certain states and a limited number of professional organizations. It remains the responsibility of each participant to be aware of state licensure and CE requirements. Participants should check their state and/or local regulations regarding required Continuing Education hours. *For Professionals needing Live CE Credits, Webinars Must be watched live. Webinars will remain Live until 12 am ET.
Psychologists
- The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. AACC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Licensed Mental Health Professionals
- The AACC is approved in multiple states to give Continuing Education to licensed mental health professionals. When requesting CEs, please indicate in which state you are licensed in on the Continuing Education Form. If this is not indicated, you may receive the wrong CE certificate for your state.
- The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), #1400, is approved as a provider for social work Continuing Education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), www.aswb.org, through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. ASWB Approval Period: (09/06/2023 to 09/06/2026). Licensed social workers should contact their individual regulatory boards to review current Continuing Education requirements for licensure renewal. Any presentation that is less than 50 minutes in duration is not approved by the ASWB for Continuing Education credits.
American Association of Christian Counselors has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7543. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. American Association of Christian Counselors is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
On-Demand: NBCC & IBCC
Effective immediately, participants can now earn 2 NBCC and IBCC credits for CounselTalk webinars that are not attended live. To receive this credit, participants must complete a 10-question quiz and an evaluation following the On-demand (recorded) CounselTalk webinar.
The CounselTalk webinar will switch to “On-Demand” credit after 11:59 pm on the day of the webinar.
American Association of Christian Counselors has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7543. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. American Association of Christian Counselors is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
IBCC: The training offered through AACC-sponsored conferences and training programs also meets the ongoing CE requirements for counselors, life coaches, and crisis responders who are credentialed through the International Board of Christian Care (IBCC) or one of its affiliate boards: the Board of Christian Professional and Pastoral Counseling (BCPPC), the Board of Christian Life Coaching (BCLC), the Board of Mental Health Coaching (BMHC), and the Board of Christian Crisis and Trauma Response (BCCTR).
Learn more about our Continuing Education Policies
Presenters
Mercy Connors, Ph.D., is the Senior Director of Counseling, Continuing Education, and Credentialing for the American Association of Christian Counselors and Director of Counseling and Director of the International Board of Christian Care. Dr. Connors is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor, and a Certified Enneagram Coach. She is a member of American Association of Christian Counselors and the Virginia Counseling Association. Dr. Connors received her B.S. in Counseling Psychology from Toccoa Falls College, her M.A. in Human Services and her Ph.D. in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. As an expert in Christian Counseling Ethics, Dr. Connors was the Chief Editor for the Y-2023 American Association of Christian Counselors Code of Ethics and she fields all ethical questions from the members of the AACC. She has spoken on the topic of ethics at professional conferences and private events and is the Co-Director of the Ethics and Advocacy Division of the AACC. Dr. Connors also co-wrote a peer-reviewed article on the biblical theory of change.
David Jenkins, Psy.D., is a Professor of Psychology and the Director of Clinical Training in the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in the Clinical Psychology program in the Department of Psychology at Liberty University. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, American Association of Christian Counselors, and Christian Association for Psychological Studies. Dr. Jenkins received his B.A. in Psychology from Covenant College, an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Appalachian State University and another from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, and his Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from George Fox College. Dr. Jenkins has been an influential contributor to the development and updates of the American Association of Christian Counselors Ethics Codes in 2014 and 2023, and he has presented on ethics and law issues for mental health providers numerous times to a number of audiences. Dr. Jenkins is an expert in ethics as he has taught Ethics at the Master’s level of Psychology for over 15 years. Furthermore, Dr. Jenkins is an expert in working with addictions as he worked as a substance abuse provider for many years and is the head of the Addictions Division for the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Jason VanRuler is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Therapist in Private Practice in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He specializes in providing individual, couples, and group therapy to adolescents and adults, with a focus on addiction, trauma, and sexual health. Mr. Van Ruler is also a Group Facilitator for Bethesda Workshops in Nashville, TN. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from South Dakota State University in 2010, followed by a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Sioux Falls Seminary in 2013. In 2017, he completed a Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies from the University of South Dakota. He is licensed as a Mental Health Counselor in South Dakota and Iowa, and is a Qualified Mental Health Provider (QMHP) in South Dakota. With his extensive experience and education on sexual addiction, Mr. Van Ruler is a sought after speaker on this subject.