378 – AI, Bias and Critical Thinking in Counselling

Making Menopause Matter – When Counselling Skills Feel Difficult

In Episode 378 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly take us through this week’s three topics:

Firstly, in ‘Ethical, Sustainable Practice’, they explore AI, bias and critical thinking in counselling, examining the risks of bias and discrimination and the importance of critical thinking when using AI in counselling practice.

Then in ‘Practice Matters’, Rory speaks with Emma Neville about making menopause matter – exploring lived experience, advocacy, education, and the importance of open conversations around menopause.

And finally, in ‘Student Services’, Rory and Ken discuss why counselling skills can sometimes feel difficult and how students can build confidence and trust in their developing practice

AI, Bias and Critical Thinking in Counselling [starts at 03:30 mins]

In this section, Rory and Ken explore AI, bias and critical thinking in counselling, looking at the ethical implications of AI in practice and why critical thinking is vital for safe, inclusive, and effective client work.

Key points discussed include:

• AI tools used in counselling may contain bias if they are trained on limited or non-diverse datasets.
• Therapists need to critically evaluate whether AI systems reflect the lived experiences of the clients they work with.
• Bias can exist across culture, gender, sexuality, neurodivergence, disability, language, and social class.
• AI should support reflection rather than replace professional judgement or human connection.
• Counsellors are encouraged to research AI tools carefully, remain sceptical of fixed recommendations, and use supervision to explore any uncertainty.
• The human relationship remains central to counselling – AI should never replace empathy, relational understanding, or therapeutic presence.

Making Menopause Matter [starts at 26:26 mins]

In this week’s ‘Practice Matters’, Rory speaks with Emma Neville, menopause coach, counsellor, and founder of This Is Me, about her lived experience of early menopause and her mission to raise awareness and improve support.

Key points from this conversation include:

• Emma shares her experience of being diagnosed with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) at the age of 40 and the emotional impact this had on her identity and wellbeing.
• Menopause education and awareness are often lacking, leaving many women feeling isolated, dismissed, or unsupported.
• Partners, families, employers, and healthcare professionals all have an important role in understanding and supporting people experiencing menopause.
• Emma explains how coaching and community can help women feel seen, heard, validated, and empowered.
• Her online community ‘This Is Me’ was created to encourage open conversations, shared experiences, and greater connection around menopause.
• Emma encourages listeners to trust their bodies, advocate for themselves, seek education early, and remember that they are not alone.

When Counselling Skills Feel Difficult [starts at 53:59 mins]

In this section, Rory and Ken discuss why counselling skills can sometimes feel difficult during training and how students can develop confidence over time.

Key points include:

• Many counselling students experience imposter syndrome and worry that they are ‘doing it wrong’.
• Counselling skills are not about performing perfectly – they are about creating genuine human connection.
• Different counsellors may use different skills in the same situation, and there is rarely one ‘correct’ response.
• Feedback from the person acting as the client can often be more meaningful than feedback from observers.
• Practising counselling skills outside formal class time can help build confidence and familiarity.
• Over time, counselling skills become more natural as therapists learn to trust themselves and focus more fully on the relationship.

Links and Resources

Counselling Skills Academy

Advanced Certificate in Counselling Supervision

Basic Counselling Skills: A Student Guide

Counsellor CPD

Counselling Study Resource

Counselling Theory in Practice: A Student Guide

Counselling Tutor Training and CPD

Facebook group

Website

Online and Telephone Counselling: A Practitioner’s Guide

Online and Telephone Counselling Course