Jacqui Gratton · Freedom from Torture · United Kingdom
Our project, The Application of GenAI as a Therapy Assistant for Treatment of PTSD, is a Wellcome-funded research collaboration between Freedom from Torture, University College London (UCL), the University of Hamburg and CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security. Freedom from Torture is the lead organisation and project sponsor. The project brings together expertise in clinical psychology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, ethics, privacy, security and survivor leadership.
The project explores whether a GenAI therapy assistant could support people experiencing distress between therapy sessions.
The research will be co-produced with survivors and clinicians and will include co-design workshops, development of an AI prototype, ethics and security training, iterative testing and refinement, and phased evaluation. The project is investigating three core questions: whether a GenAI therapy assistant is useful, whether it works, and whether it is safe and secure. It also aims to produce and publish protocols and good practice on the safe and ethical use of AI.
Generative AI · human–AI teaming
PTSD · trauma