Prof. Joseph Levine, M.D. is an emeritus associate professor in the Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University in Israel. Prof. Levine is a certified psychiatrist with clinical experience in controlled trials of adult psychiatric disorders and in psychotherapy. He was awarded a NRSAD independent investigator grant for the study of Creatine Monohydrate in psychiatric disorders -- mainly Schizophrenia. He resides and treats patients in Tel Aviv and all of central Israel.
Talk 79: Exploring the Integration of AI-Generated Avatars into Reference Group Focused Therapy (RGFT)
Hello readers,
The field of psychotherapy is constantly evolving, with an increasing emphasis on innovative approaches to addressing the multifaceted nature of mental health challenges. Among these developments, Reference Group Focused Therapy (RGFT), originally developed by one of us [I.S.], stands out as a contribution to short-term interventions based on social psychology.
RGFT distinguishes itself by taking a comprehensive view of an individual's social environment, which includes both external reference groups such as family and workplace, and internalized representations of significant others. This holistic perspective recognizes that an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are profoundly shaped by their interactions and identifications within these social contexts.
It is assumed that understanding and addressing the dynamics within the person’s social matrix is essential for therapeutic progress. This fundamental principle creates a compelling rationale for exploring tools that can effectively represent and interact with this complex social environment in the therapeutic setting.
At the same time, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in mental health heralds growth in the development and use of AI-generated avatars in various therapeutic contexts.
The potential application of AI avatars in areas such as the treatment of auditory hallucinations in people with psychosis demonstrates the transformative potential of digital representations to alter deeply internalized experiences.
We hypothesize that the success of these interventions suggests that similar approaches may be effectively adapted to represent the internalized significant others that are central to the principles of RGFT.
Below we will delve into how AI-generated avatars of significant others can be effectively and ethically integrated into RGFT to improve therapeutic outcomes. By examining the theoretical foundations of RGFT and the current landscape of AI avatars in psychotherapy, we seek to provide an understanding of the possibilities, benefits, challenges, and ethical considerations associated with such an innovative integration.