Robin Lefever has a BSc in Psychology from the University of Kent and is the managing director of Promis Clinics and a director of Cardinal Clinic.

Robin is also a skilled therapist, and his clinical interests include a wide range of therapies, including EMDR, EAP, psychodrama, group therapy, family therapy and early interventions.

Having been a part of the Promis Research Group, Robin has been published in articles and papers in international scientific journals. He brings a deep understanding of therapeutic practice and research to his work, informed by a commitment to innovation in behavioural health.

PRESENTATION (copresented with Johan Sorensen)

Why AI – artificial intelligence – is essential for clinicians

AI is knocking on the door of the therapy room, and it’s a visitor we, as mental health professionals and healthcare leaders, need to understand. The question is no longer if AI will impact our practice, but how we can ethically and effectively harness its power to enhance patient care, streamline our workflows, improve clinical outcomes, and optimise resource allocation. For clinicians, this means augmenting clinical skills. For leaders, this means unlocking efficiencies and cost savings that can strengthen the sustainability of mental health services. One of the most persistent myths is that AI aims to replace the clinician. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The goal of evidence-based AI in mental health is augmentation, not automation. So, how can AI practically support our day-to-day work and organisational operations? Attend this presentation to discover what applications are available and how they can help both therapeutic and administrative work.

Learning objectives

• At the end of this presentation, delegates will be able to:
  Explain the paradigm of AI as an augmentative tool (rather than a replacement) in mental health care, and articulate how evidence-based AI can ethically enhance clinical decision-making, patient care, and therapeutic outcomes
• Identify practical AI applications currently available to support both therapeutic work (e.g., augmenting clinical skills and client engagement) and administrative/operational tasks (e.g., workflow efficiency, resource allocation, and documentation)
• Evaluate the potential benefits and implementation considerations of AI integration for mental health clinicians and service leaders, including improvements in clinical outcomes, cost savings, and long-term sustainability of mental health services.