Virtual Client for Counseling Intervention
Emotionally realistic agents for high-stakes practice
LLMRAGSimulation
Yusen Zhai, PhD
Assistant Professor at University of Florida • Irving and Rose Fien Endowed Professorship • Counselor Education • AI & Mental Health • AI for Counseling
I study how AI can augment counseling and psychotherapy practice and counselor training to improve client mental health and student learning outcomes. My work bridges counseling practice, machine learning, and health policy.
About
I am a faculty at the University of Florida. I obtained my PhD from the Pennsylvania State University, and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor. I chair the AI Task Force of the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, as well as the Data-Driven Mental Health Working Group of the American Mental Health Counselors Association. I am also a member of the AI Task Force of the American Counseling Association.
Research
Virtual Supervisor for Real-time Feedback
Augmented learning environment and clinical co-pilot
NLPEvaluationEducation
Health Policy
Causal impacts of policy and social determinants on health outcomes
DiDTime series analysisPublic Health
Machine Learning
Machine learning for counseling research
Machine learningDeep learningAnalytical method
AI Simulated Client
Preview of a simulated counseling client powered by one of our early prototypes.
Click here to startSelected Publications
- 2025Zhai, Y., Boitet, L., Soldner, J., Lockman, J., & Du, X.Trends in clinically significant anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and service utilization among US medical students, 2018-2023BMJ Mental Healthhttps://doi.org/10.1136/bmjment-2024-301528
- 2025Zhai, Y., Xiong, Y., Almaawali, M., Tian, X., & Du, X.National trends of mental health and service utilisation among international students in the United States, 2015–2024General Psychiatryhttps://doi.org/10.1136/gpsych-2025-102124
- 2025Beeson, E. T., Zhai, Y., Fulmer, R., Burck, A. M., & Maurya, R.A pilot study evaluating the fidelity of ChatGPT in client simulationsJournal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 19(3), 1-16http://dx.doi.org/10.70013/d2a58d79
- 2025Zhou, K., Richard, C., Zhai, Y., Li, D., & Fry, H.Employment-Related Assistive Technology Needs in Autistic Adults: A Mixed-Methods StudyEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 15(9), 170 (invited submission)https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe15090170
- 2024Zhai, Y., Zhang, Y., Chu, Z., Geng, B., Almaawali, M., Fulmer, R., Lin, Y. W., Xu, Z., Daniels, A. D., Liu, Y., Chen, Q., & Du, X.Machine learning predictive models to guide prevention and intervention allocation for anxiety and depressive disorders among college studentsJournal of Counseling & Development, 103(1), 110-125https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12543
- 2024Zhai, Y., Fan, M., Geng, B., Du, X., Snyder, S., & Wilkinson, L.Impact of phased COVID-19 vaccine rollout on anxiety and depression among US adult population, January 2019–February 2023: a population-based interrupted time series analysisThe Lancet Regional Health–Americashttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2024.100852
- 2024Fulmer, R., & Zhai, Y.Artificial intelligence in human growth and development: Applications through the lifespanThe Family Journal, 33(1), 5-13https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480724128233
- 2024Zhai, Y., & Du, X.Trends in diagnosed posttraumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder in US college students, 2017-2022JAMA Network Open, 7(5), e2413874https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.13874