373 – Defensible Decision Making

This episode of the Counselling Tutor podcast explores three critical areas for mental health practitioners: ethical and sustainable decision-making in the age of AI, the legal implications of counselling notes in criminal proceedings, and the realities of balancing time and training as a counselling student. Rory Lees-Oaks and Ken Kelly begin by discussing the importance of 'defensible decision-making'—a structured, documented approach to using technology in practice, especially AI tools. They emphasize that therapists must be able to justify their choices based on client welfare, confidentiality, and professional standards, not gut instinct. The episode highlights the need to review terms and conditions, assess data security, and seek supervision when adopting new tools. In Practice Matters, Irini Hajianu discusses the new UK government guidance effective January 2026, which restricts police access to counselling notes, protecting the privacy and dignity of survivors of sexual violence. She explains how these changes reduce re-traumatization and reinforce the importance of confidentiality in pre-trial therapy. The episode concludes with a candid conversation about the intense demands of counselling training, where Sarah Henry and the hosts stress the emotional, relational, and time-related challenges students face. They advise prospective students to have honest conversations with their support networks and to prepare for a transformative, all-consuming journey that requires sacrifice and commitment. Key takeaways include: 1) Always document your reasoning when adopting new technology to ensure defensible decision-making; 2) Be aware that police can no longer request counselling notes routinely—this is now a rare, senior-level decision; 3) Counselling training is a full-time commitment that reshapes your worldview and requires significant personal sacrifice; 4) Prioritize consistent attendance in training to maintain relational and experiential learning; 5) Seek supervision and peer support when navigating ethical or emotional challenges; 6) Prepare your personal life for disruption before enrolling in a practice-based course; 7) Use tools like AI responsibly to help interpret complex terms and conditions; 8) Remember that your practice is ultimately your responsibility, even when working in agencies.