Generative Artificial Intelligence in Counselor Development: Examining Systemic Influences on Training

The use of large language models (LLMs) and generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT, AI-assisted supervision platforms, and AI-powered role-play simulations) in counselor education is changing the way counselors-in-training (CITs) are trained and has both risks and benefits for the field. This conceptual article applied Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to evaluate the impact of these technologies at multiple levels within the counseling training environment. The microsystem is described as the interactions between CITs and the AI they use to support their training experiences (e.g., AI-based learning tools, role-playing simulations). The mesosystem refers to the movement of AI across different training environments (e.g., classroom, clinical supervision, and field work), with the potential for cohesive communication or disjointed messages. Exosystem factors, such as institutional policies and procedures, accreditation requirements and standards, and resource inequities, create the context in which AI can be integrated into counselor education programs. Macrosystem factors include the broader societal values, professional ethics, and commitment to the values of social justice and cultural humility that may converge with the integration of AI into counselor education. The chronosystem is concerned with time-related issues; specifically, the developmental stages of CITs and the evolving pace of new AI technology. Utilizing an ecological framework, counselor educators can take a proactive approach to address the systematic efforts of AI and support the incorporation of critical AI literacy into all aspects of counselor education (curriculum design, supervisory processes, policy development, and research agendas). Ultimately, the decisions made now by counselor educators will determine whether AI enhances or diminishes the humanistic, multicultural, and social justice values that are fundamental to the counseling profession.