Integrating Implementation Science into Social Work Research: Exploration and Practice

Organizer: Dr. Sharon How (Associate Professor, MAHSA University, Malaysia)

Sharon How 博士（馬來西亞瑪莎大學副教授）

Date, Time, & Location: Sunday, June 7, 2026 | 9:00 – 10:30 | L207

[Abstract] In recent years we have seen an integration of AI in the field of mental health. AI offers an alternative to traditional face to face delivery of mental health interventions to treat a range of disorders including but not limited to anxiety, depression, and insomnia. AI provides a suitable alternative, particularly for patients with job commitments who seek privacy or for those with busy lifestyles who may find attending face to face sessions a challenge.

Many psychotherapeutic methods are being adopted by AI which include for example Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy & Clinical Hypnotherapy. Clinical Hypnotherapy has been around for many years and is often underrated as a therapy, most notably due to its inaccurate reference to stage hypnosis. It is nonetheless a well-respected therapy often used to treat a range of mental health disorders such as mild depression, anxiety, phobias, and insomnia. Clinical Hypnotherapy is also used to treat dental anxiety, pain as well as chronic disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The therapeutic process in clinical hypnotherapy for each session follows a very distinct set of stages as follows: Consultation and Goal Setting, Induction and Deepening, Therapeutic Suggestion & Intervention, Emergence/Awakening & Reinforcement & Follow-Up. Empathy, good communication skills and rapport are of utmost importance in all treatment modalities including Clinical Hypnotherapy. However, the use of AI may pose a challenge where it is used as a treatment modality particularly regarding the timing of the stages which are of paramount importance specifically for the success of the therapeutic session and for the safety of the patient. This discussion seeks to explore the potential advantages and disadvantages of hypnotherapy and AI by exploring the processes involved and what and why some of those challenges might exist.

Below is a list of questions for discussion among the contributors.

1)  What could be the potential safety issues regarding AI & Clinical Hypnotherapy with regards to for example abreactions/trauma? 

2)  The process of Clinical hypnotherapy when being delivered has a set of steps which must be followed including the use of scripts which are tailored to individual patients. How can this process be followed diligently when using AI? What could go wrong?

3)  The voice of the therapist in Clinical Hypnotherapy is of key importance and is thus adjusted to the patient where careful monitoring takes place from the therapist. How can this be regulated and maintained when using AI?

4)  Empathy and communication may be lost when using AI. Can AI replace these essential skills?

5)  Going forward can AI replace real time therapists when using Clinical Hypnotherapy as a treatment modality?

B3.1 Reconstructing Psychological Safety: Therapeutic Mechanisms of Hypnotic Intervention and Aromatherapy, and the Pitfalls of Replacing the Human Therapist with AI

*Wei Ren¹

¹China Youth University of Political Studies, Beijing, China

B3.2 From Evidence to Practice: A Pilot Study of Integrative Clinical Hypnosis and Aromatherapy for Adolescent Depressive Symptoms and What AI Cannot Replicate

*Pei Zhang¹

¹City University of Macau, Macau, China

B3.3 Discussion among contributors

*Sharon How¹

¹MAHSA University, Malaysia