About Grace
Clinical social worker, educator, and advocate bridging mental health practice with technology ethics.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker | Mental Health Educator | AI Ethics Advocate
Grace Berman is a licensed clinical social worker with over a decade of experience working with adolescents, families, and adults navigating mental health challenges. Her clinical practice is informed by attachment theory, trauma-informed care, and a deep understanding of how digital environments shape emotional development.
As digital technology has become increasingly central to adolescent life, Grace recognized the need for mental health professionals to understand these environments not as threats to be feared, but as contexts requiring thoughtful engagement. This realization led her to develop educational programs focused on social media literacy, digital wellbeing, and the intersection of technology and mental health.
In recent years, Grace has turned her attention to the ethical implications of artificial intelligence in mental health care. She brings a clinician's perspective to conversations often dominated by technologists and policymakers, asking critical questions about how AI tools can enhance care without replacing the relational elements essential to healing.
Grace's work appears in academic journals, popular media outlets, and conference presentations nationwide. She is known for translating complex clinical concepts into accessible language and for challenging both uncritical enthusiasm and reflexive dismissal of new technologies.
Professional Background
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), New York State
- Master of Social Work (MSW), Columbia University School of Social Work
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Yale University
- Certificate in Technology Ethics, Stanford Center for Internet and Society
- Advanced training in adolescent development, trauma-informed care, and family systems
Clinical Experience
- Private practice specializing in adolescents and young adults (2015-present)
- School-based mental health services, New York City public schools (2012-2018)
- Crisis intervention counselor, adolescent psychiatric unit (2010-2012)
- Clinical supervisor for early-career therapists (2018-present)
Current Work
- Developing evidence-based mental health literacy curricula for schools
- Writing and speaking on AI ethics in mental health care
- Consulting with technology companies on mental health features
- Training educators and parents on adolescent digital wellbeing
- Providing clinical supervision with a focus on technology integration
My Approach
On Clinical Practice
I believe therapy is fundamentally a relational process. While techniques and interventions matter, healing happens in the context of a safe, authentic relationship where clients feel truly seen and understood. My role is to create that space while bringing clinical expertise, cultural awareness, and genuine curiosity about each person's unique experience.
On Technology
Technology is neither inherently good nor bad—it's a tool that can be used wisely or poorly. Rather than demonizing digital spaces or embracing them uncritically, I advocate for thoughtful engagement. This means understanding how platforms are designed, teaching critical thinking skills, and helping people set boundaries that serve their wellbeing.
On Education
The best public education on mental health combines clinical accuracy with accessibility. I translate complex psychological concepts into language that makes sense to non-clinicians, but I never oversimplify to the point of losing nuance. My goal is to empower people with knowledge while respecting the complexity of human experience.
On Advocacy
Effective advocacy requires both grassroots education and policy engagement. I work at multiple levels: training individual therapists, developing school programs, consulting with tech companies, and pushing for regulatory frameworks that protect vulnerable populations. Systemic change requires persistence at every level.
Recognition & Affiliations
Professional Memberships
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
- Clinical Social Work Association
- American Educational Research Association
- Association for Computing Machinery, Ethics Committee
Awards & Recognition
- Mental Health America: 25 Experts to Follow (2024)
- NASW: Excellence in Macro Practice Award (2023)
- Stanford Tech Ethics Fellow (2022-2023)
- NY State School Counselors: Community Partner Award (2022)
Beyond the Bio
When I'm not immersed in questions of mental health and technology, I'm likely reading fiction, hiking in the Hudson Valley, or experimenting with new recipes. I'm a firm believer that clinicians need rich lives outside of clinical work—both for our own wellbeing and to stay connected to the full range of human experience.
I live in Brooklyn with my partner and our rescue dog, who has taught me more about attachment theory than any textbook ever could.
Working Together
Speaking & Workshops
I'm available for keynotes, panel discussions, and interactive workshops on mental health, technology ethics, and adolescent development.
View speaking topics →Consultation
I consult with schools, organizations, and technology companies on mental health program development and ethical technology design.
Learn about my work →Clinical Supervision
I provide supervision for LMSWs working toward clinical licensure, with a focus on technology-informed practice.
Inquire about supervision →