In Considerations for the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Counseling Profession, NBFE Executive Director Dr. Aaron Norton examines the rapidly expanding role of artificial intelligence in counseling practice, education, supervision, and research. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature and emerging ethical standards from national counseling organizations, Dr. Norton outlines both the promise and the risks of AI and GenAI, offering practical, ethically grounded recommendations to guide responsible use. This article provides mental health professionals with a timely, balanced framework for understanding how AI can enhance—without replacing—professional judgment, client welfare, and clinical integrity.

Read the University of South Florida's announcement about the article.

Order a copy of the full article from Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education.

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Dr. Aaron Norton, executive director of NBFE, and Dr. Tony Tan, an educational psychologist at Xi’an Jiaotong University and the University of South Florida, conducted a study on how clinical mental health counselors (CMHCs) in the U.S. handled emotional support animals (ESA) letter requests and whether the assessments used by CMHCs for clinical decision making were related to whether they would decline or agree to write the ESA letter.  Overall, they found that (1) whether CMHCs assessed for disability, inquired as to how ESAs alleviated symptoms, and discussed alternatives to ESAs predicted the likelihood that a CMHC would approve or deny a client request for an ESA letter; and (2) most CMHCs lacked formal training in ESA assessment, and many relied on personal discretion rather than established guidelines in making clinical decisions.  This study draws attention to the importance of training clinicians on appropriate methods for assessing ESA letter requests.  The study was published in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry.  

In Through the Lens of Trauma: My Role in a Vehicular Homicide Defense, NBFE Board Member Richard J. Stride, PsyD, LPC, LMHC offers a compelling, trauma-informed forensic perspective on a high-stakes vehicular homicide case involving an adolescent defendant.

Drawing on behavioral observation, developmental psychology, and multidisciplinary collaboration, Dr. Stride illustrates how trauma, dissociation, and emotional presentation can shape investigative conclusions and courtroom outcomes. This article underscores the critical role forensic mental health professionals play in helping legal systems move beyond surface-level assumptions toward nuanced, ethically grounded understanding. NBFE members are encouraged to read this article in advance of upcoming NBFE webinars exploring trauma-informed forensic evaluation, expert testimony, and the interpretation of behavior under extreme stress.  Click here to read it!

Dr. Aaron Norton, executive director of NBFE, chimes in on the use of artificial intelligence in counseling and psychotherapy as the cover story of the American Mental Health Counselors Association's "The Advocate Magazine."  Read the article here.

Equipping Counselors to Become Forensic Mental Health Evaluators.pdf

Parents Magazine.pdf

Laws related to emotional support animal (ESA) letters have evolved since NBFE published its first article published in December 2018.  Get updated by reading our article published in the Winter 2022 issue of the American Mental Health Counselors Association's The Advocate Magazine. 

Read the article online or download a PDF.

Please click here to access article.