Will AI replace empathy? - What is the essence of person-centered counseling?

Will AI replace empathy? - What is the essence of person-centered counseling?

We would like to invite you to participate in a panel discussion hosted by the Person-Centered Institute of Asia. The topic of the panel is: “Can AI replace empathy? What is the essence of person-centered consulting?” The panel will be open to all attendees on Sunday, April 19, Central America time or April 20, UK and Europen time. (See below the schedule in different time zones)

The development of artificial intelligence is accelerating, gradually impacting our work and lives. Different people have different attitudes toward AI. In the field of psychological counseling, some companies are exploring the use of AI for therapy, while others are researching AI for supervision. Today, we borrow this title to explore the concept of “empathy “ and discuss the topic of person-centered therapy.

The original intention of this event is to bring together more person-centered practitioners from around the world to exchange ideas, break language barriers, and engage in meaningful conversations. Perhaps our discussions may not always be directly related to AI or our theme, but what truly matters is that we have met each other and heard each other’s voices.

We will invite person-centered practioners from China, Japan, Europe and North America to participate in the panel. The panel will be held in two sessions: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Asia and North America session; 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m, Asia and Europe session;

Panel Disscussion:

Each session will feature about 5 panelists, each with about 5 minutes to speak, followed by about 1 hour of discussion among the panelists.

Group Disscussion:

After panelists’ disscussion, there will be 1.5 hours of open discussion among all participants. Presentations can be speak in Chinese/English/Japanese, and the session will be accompanied by interpreters.

Language:

Anyone can speak in English, Japanese, or Chinese, and each language will be translated into the other two.

Self-Selected Price (Donation Based)

We are runing this event based on a self-selected sliding scale price. You can choose any price that you are willing to pay, from zero to unlimited.

The reference price for the whole event (both sessions) is 60CAD (42 USD, 33GBP, 38EUR), for one 3-hour session it’s 30CAD (21USD, 16.5GBP, 19EUR). But you can donate as low as 0 CAD.

For some areas only one session out of the two will be reasonable due to time differences.

Recording

This conference will not be recorded, Please be informed.

Speaker Introduction:

I have been learning and practicing person-centered approach for 50 years. It is just like PCA is living in myself and I am living in PCA. Through this experience I am interested in PCA on these areas.

1. Human and Organizational Development: It may call Bifocal approach, Human Development and Organizational Development.

2. Adapting PCA into social work：social work with individuals, with families, with groups, with organizations and communities. I believe PCA will contribute to make social work more humanistic.

3. Humanistic Education. I ever worked at a small alternative school named “Play Mountain Place” in Los Angeles as an intern teacher for two years. This school has been influenced by Carl Rogers’ ideas. I learned many things from this school. Now, I am teaching my learning to Japanese child caregivers.

4. Buddhist counseling：“Dharma-based person-centered approach.” I learned PCA and Shin- Buddhism (Pure-land Buddhism) from Professor Saiko Gisho. Now I am awakening both are deeply connected in myself. Saiko called this approach, “Dharma-based

Now I work as a clinical psychologist at a psychiatric clinic.I also work for the Japanese Society of Certified Clinical Psychologists(JSCCP), a professional organization for counselors.There, I am in charge of coordinating mental health telephone counseling and “Hikikomori” support service.

I became interested in Encounter Group(EG) when I was a university student, and learned about EG in graduate school.I have been hosting EG with my mentors and colleagues for over 20 years.And I am still excited by the depth and fun of EG.Also, I am a staff member of “人間関係研究会（Human Relations Research Group）”, which has been holding PCA workshops in Japan for over 50 years.We work on various projects.For example, last year we had a meeting at a hot spring and talked about the future of PCA and our mutual interests.

I am a psychotherapist, a practitioner of the person-centered approach, and a member of the Carl Rogers Center.

When it comes to introductions, I struggle to find a description that truly represents me—so instead, let me share how I encountered the person-centered approach.

In my practice, it is not just something that influences my therapy work; in fact, I don’t see it as a tool to achieve a certain goal at all. Rather, it shapes how I see myself, how I understand people, relationships, and the world around me. This shift has allowed me to engage with the complexity and diversity of the world and others—not just to tolerate them, but to truly embrace and appreciate them. At the same time, it has given me the space to exist as I am, in all my complexity and diversity.

Through this journey, many parts of myself that I once suppressed or overlooked have found space to breathe, opening up new possibilities. I am still exploring and seeking to understand what it truly means to be person-centered. Perhaps it is not a conclusion to reach but a path filled with countless moments of encounter.

The reason for my practice of client-centered therapy is its commitment to respect for the person’s inherent dignity and personal power. One descriptor for this sort of practice is nondirective ethical encounter. I meet the other person as a self-determining, autonomous human. I have been educated in the field of counseling psychology at the Illinois Institute of Technology and Northwestern University where I completed my PhD in 1990. I began my practice at the Chicago Counseling and Psychotherapy Research Center in 1970 where I had the good fortune to meet Barbara Temaner Brodley. Through Barbara’s consultation and teaching, I was educated in the approach and met Carl R. Rogers at the first Chicago Conference of ADPCA in 1986. At the Illinois School of Professional Psychology where I was appointed to full Professor, I taught client-centered psychotherapy, as well as social psychology, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex issues, as well as qualitative research methods. I am married to Denise and have two spectacular cats, Miles and Atticus.

I currently live in Beijing and have over 20 years of experience as a psychotherapist. I have an educational background in medicine and psychology, along with national professional qualifications. I worked for 15 years in the clinical psychology department of a large general hospital in Beijing.

Now, I primarily focus on private psychotherapy practice and teaching, with a particular interest in the person-centered approach and transpersonal psychology. My other hobbies include reading, meditation, music, movies, running, and outdoor hiking.

National Level-2 Psychological Counselor
Registered Psychologist
Chinese Instructor at the International Institute for Existential-Humanistic Psychology

After twenty years in I.T. working in aerospace and power generation, I changed career and deliberately trained as a Person-Centred Counsellor. I spent about ten years as a Hospice counsellor before settling into a quiet private practice at home. Over my time in counselling I have been involved in organisations such as BAPCA (the British Association for the PCA) (now tPCA, the Person-centred Association), WAPCEPC, ADPCA and ADPCA-UK, sometimes becoming involved with the issues around Statutory Regulation. I am currently an active member of the Peace Project for the 21st Century, which emerged from CSP (Center fot the Studies of the Person) in La Jolla, CA..My time in I.T. saw me develop an interest in A.I., which I link to the concept of free-will. This is enriched by my understanding of the PCA and then of organisation and professionalisation.My basic position is that whilst A.I. can mimic empathy, it will alway lack humanity, and spirit.

I am a Catholic and a practitioner of the person-centered approach. I have undergone continuous training in humanistic-focused therapy and have been actively participating in Focusing peer support experiences and Encounter groups in recent years.

At this stage, my aspiration is to practice the Catholic concept of synodality through Encounter groups, creating an inclusive and diverse space for public dialogue. Through experiences of safety, trust, and equality, this space aims to restore humanity and foster individual potential.