At the “PDR Summit and Workshop” held at İstanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, the effects of artificial intelligence on the field of psychological counseling, the opportunities it offers, and the risks it brings were discussed.
At the program titled “The New Vision of Psychological Counseling: AI-Supported Psychological Counseling,” evaluations were made on the relationship between technology and humans, the effects of digitalization on psychological processes, data security, empathy, guidance services, and the relationship young people establish with the digital world. The summit, organized by the İZÜ PDR Club, was attended by İZÜ Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Küçük, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Nihat Erdoğmuş, Küçükçekmece District Director of National Education Emin Çıkrıkçı, Küçükçekmece Guidance and Research Center Director Tuncay Sabah, academics, and students.
LACK OF THE HUMAN DIMENSION IN TECHNOLOGY
PDR Club Advisor Dr. Çiğdem Demir Çelebi stated in her opening speech that university life is not only about academic success, but that students’ social and psychological well-being is also important. Emphasizing that the opportunities offered by technology should be evaluated within the framework of values and a critical perspective, Çelebi said that university years are a period in which individuals get to know themselves and strengthen their search for meaning. Küçükçekmece Guidance and Research Center Director Tuncay Sabah stated that the recent incidents of violence in educational institutions have made the importance of psychological counseling and guidance work more visible. Sabah expressed that opportunities as well as risks should be evaluated in studies that will shape students’ futures. Head of the İZÜ Department of Psychological Counseling and Guidance Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osman Soner also stated that artificial intelligence is now making its influence felt in all areas and said that this technology should be properly integrated into the field of psychological counseling.
ÇIKRIKÇI: “WE NEED PROPER GUIDANCE MORE THAN EVER”
Küçükçekmece District Director of National Education Emin Çıkrıkçı stated that artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of every aspect of life and that access to information has become easier compared to the past. However, emphasizing that there are serious problems in accessing accurate information, Çıkrıkçı said, “We need proper guides both to produce and to use it correctly.” Drawing attention to the effects of social media environments on children, Çıkrıkçı stated that guidance counselors provide students with guidance that affects not only their educational lives but also their entire lives.
KÜÇÜK: “NOTHING CAN REPLACE HUMAN TOUCH”
İZÜ Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Küçük stated that discussions on artificial intelligence should not only be evaluated within the axis of technological developments, but that the effects of this transformation on human life should also be taken into account. Drawing attention to children’s emotional needs, Küçük said, “When a child comes home, there is no longer an environment that touches their emotions. Yet nothing can replace human touch,” and advised graduating PDR students to approach children not only as part of their professional responsibilities but also with the sensitivity of a family member.
ULUDAĞ: “TECHNOLOGY CAN MAKE THE HUMAN MIND LAZY”
Dr. Kadir Uludağ, a faculty member at Capital Medical University who attended the program online, evaluated the effects of artificial intelligence in the field of psychology and stated that this technology provides significant convenience in research processes. Stating that artificial intelligence offers advantages such as rapid analysis and empathetic support, Uludağ said that the dependence of thinking processes on technology carries serious risks. “There are studies suggesting that artificial intelligence applications may irreversibly make the human brain lazy,” said Uludağ, adding that especially young people are heavily affected by digital technologies and that this may lead to negative consequences in social relationships.
ZEREN: “OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS MUTUALLY TRANSFORMING”
Prof. Dr. Ş. Gonca Zeren, a faculty member at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, stated in her speech titled “Artificial Intelligence: Confidant or Enemy?” that the interaction between technology and humans mutually transforms both sides. Zeren stated that artificial intelligence applications provide speed and practicality in psychological counseling processes, while also drawing attention to risks such as privacy violations, data security, and the reduction of human interaction. Zeren stated that artificial intelligence offers important opportunities in areas such as understanding individuals, data analysis, and digital intervention, but that it has limitations in matters such as empathy and crisis management.
THE EFFECTS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING WERE DISCUSSED
In the panels and workshops organized within the scope of the summit, the areas of use of artificial intelligence in psychological counseling processes, ethical boundaries, data security, digital intervention methods, empathy simulations, working processes with children and adolescents, and the psychological effects of AI-supported applications were discussed.