AI-supported counselor training for socio-ecological resilience
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Date
2025-12-10
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Plovdiv University Press "Paisii Hilendarski"
Abstract
As higher education experiences rapid technological advancements, the integration of intelligent technologies and generative artificial intelligence into counselor training presents a practical approach to bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, while also promoting environmentally sustainable, low-resource, paperless instructional methods. This research introduces an AI-enhanced instructional ecosystem for counseling psychology, which combines HeyGen to simulate therapeutic sessions, Canva for organizing and delivering interactive content, and ChatGPT combined with Designrr to produce customizable, digital workbooks. Prior studies suggest that embedding large language models within course design enhances transversal skills such as critical thinking, structured reasoning, and professional communication; avatar-based storytelling and simulations increase engagement, retention, and analytical depth in university contexts; and personalized digital workbooks support knowledge organization and higher-order cognitive processing. The evaluation used a design-oriented approach that examined workflow usability and material efficiency (e.g., paper savings) for the Canva–HeyGen–Designrr algorithm. Ecologically, the workflow explicitlyprepares trainees to identify and address uncertainty-related eco-anxiety and climate distress through targeted simulations and structured reflective prompts, while its fully digital infrastructure reduces paper consumption by replacing printed vignettes, supervision materials, and journals with reusable electronic resources. The findings suggest that AI-supported, environmentally sustainable training can simultaneously enhance counseling competencies and promote sustainable educational practices, if the energy consumption associated with AI technologies is appropriately monitored and managed within program implementation.
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Keywords
counseling psychology education, simulation-based learning, generative AI, personalized digital workbooks, eco-anxiety, socio-ecological resilience, sustainable higher education