"Can I have my friend attending with me?" : design implications for using virtual supporters in remote psychotherapy

Abstract

Virtual agents have shown promising potential in mental healthcare applications, but current research has predominantly focused on contexts outside of traditional therapy sessions. In contrast, this study explores the design implications for integrating virtual supporters within remote therapy sessions. Drawing from the experiences of five therapists’ using human supporters in therapy, our findings reveal both opportunities and challenges in translating human supporter functions to virtual agents. We highlight key considerations for trust development, role boundaries, and privacy concerns. This research extends the understanding of virtual agents in mental health beyond conventional applications, offering insights for designing AI-supported interventions that could complement traditional therapeutic practices while maintaining appropriate clinical boundaries.