Projects

• Role: Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI)

• Partner & Sponsoring Organization: University of Florida, University of Central Florida, University of Nebraska Omaha

• Focus Population: Counselors-In-Training, Mental Health Workforce

• Timeline: 2025–2027

This multi-course educational research project examines the feasibility, usability, and educational impact of PracAI, an AI-simulated client platform designed to support counseling skill development in graduate counseling education. As counselor education programs face increasing constraints on live practice opportunities, supervision capacity, and standardized training experiences, AI-based simulation tools offer a potential supplement for experiential learning across diverse instructional contexts.

As a Co-Principal Investigator, my contribution focuses on the conceptualization and evaluation of PracAI as a pedagogical tool for counselor training. The study investigates how structured interaction with AI-simulated clients supports trainees’ perceived competence, confidence in counseling skills, and opportunities for repeated, low-risk practice. PracAI simulations are integrated into multiple core counseling courses, including Counseling Theories, Ethics in Counseling, and Skills/Practicum courses, allowing examination of how AI-supported practice functions across different stages of professional development.

Using mixed-methods data, the project evaluates students’ learning experiences, perceived educational value, and usability of AI-simulated clients, as well as variations across course types. Findings from this study aim to inform evidence-based integration of AI technologies in counselor education, clarify their role alongside traditional training methods, and contribute to emerging scholarship on technology-enhanced experiential learning in mental health professional preparation.

Explore the PracAI Website