2024
AI Ethics in Youth Mental Health Care: A Framework for Clinicians
Ongoing series examining privacy, bias, efficacy, and ethical considerations of AI-powered mental health tools for young people.
Research Series
About Grace
Licensed clinical social worker, educator, and researcher at the intersection of technology and youth mental health.
Professional Biography
Grace Berman is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in adolescent mental health, technology's impact on development, and AI ethics in clinical practice. She brings together clinical expertise, academic research, and public education to address one of the defining challenges of our time: how to support young people's mental health in an increasingly digital world.
As a therapist at The Ross Center in Washington, DC, Grace works primarily with children, adolescents, and their families, addressing anxiety, depression, ADHD, and the complex relationship between technology use and mental wellbeing. Her clinical approach integrates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) with an understanding of how digital experiences shape emotional development.
Grace serves on the faculty at Columbia University School of Social Work, where she teaches future clinicians about evidence-based practice and emerging issues in mental health care. Her teaching focuses on preparing the next generation of therapists to navigate a landscape transformed by technology—from teletherapy platforms to AI-powered mental health tools.
As a recognized voice in AI ethics, Grace examines the intersection of artificial intelligence and youth mental health care. Her work asks difficult questions about privacy, algorithmic bias, the therapeutic relationship, and the commercialization of mental health data. She writes and speaks regularly on these topics, translating complex ethical considerations into practical frameworks for clinicians, educators, and policymakers.
Grace is an active member of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), contributing to professional discussions about anxiety disorders, treatment innovation, and the evolving challenges facing young people. She presents regularly at national conferences and has been featured in outlets including Psychology Today and The New York Times as an expert source on adolescent mental health and technology.
Her current projects include developing school-based mental health programs that bring DBT skills to educational settings, creating free webinar series for parents and professionals on digital wellness, and leading an ongoing research initiative examining AI ethics in youth mental health care.
Grace approaches her work with the conviction that we can preserve the benefits of technological connection while addressing its mental health risks—but only if we're willing to ask hard questions, challenge industry narratives, and center the wellbeing of young people over engagement metrics.
Education & Credentials
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Columbia University School of Social Work
Clinical concentration with focus on children, youth, and families
Bachelor of Arts
Specialized in Psychology and Human Development
Graduated with honors
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Washington, DC
Licensed for independent clinical practice
Certified in DBT
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Training
CBT Specialization
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Trauma-Informed Care
Advanced Clinical Training
ADAA Member
Anxiety & Depression Association
Selected Publications & Contributions
2024
Bringing DBT to Schools: An Implementation Guide
Practical framework for educators and school counselors to integrate dialectical behavior therapy skills into educational settings.
Professional Guide
2023
Beyond Screen Time: Understanding Quality of Digital Experiences
Moving past simplistic time limits to examine how the nature of technology use affects adolescent mental health.
Clinical Perspective
2023
Anxiety, Algorithms, and Adolescents: What Clinicians Need to Know
Examination of how recommendation systems and social media platforms influence teen anxiety and depression patterns.
Professional Education
2022
Supporting Teens Through Academic Anxiety
Evidence-based strategies for families and clinicians addressing perfectionism, test anxiety, and college preparation stress.
Family Resource
Approach & Philosophy
Evidence-Based, Human-Centered
I believe in rigorous research and proven interventions, but I also know that adolescents are not data points. Effective treatment requires meeting young people where they are, understanding their unique context, and adapting evidence-based approaches to their lived reality.
Technology-Informed, Not Technology-Deterministic
Technology is neither inherently good nor bad for mental health. The question is how we design, regulate, and use it. I approach this work by examining specific mechanisms—how algorithms shape behavior, how design choices affect wellbeing—rather than making broad pronouncements about "kids these days."
Systems-Level Thinking
Individual therapy is essential, but we also need to address the systems shaping adolescent mental health: school policies, platform design, healthcare access, family dynamics, and societal pressures. Real change requires working at multiple levels simultaneously.
Ethical Complexity Over Easy Answers
AI in mental health raises genuinely difficult ethical questions without clear right answers. I prioritize honest examination of trade-offs, acknowledgment of uncertainty, and frameworks that prioritize patient wellbeing over technological optimism or moral panic.
Work With Grace
Available for speaking engagements, professional consultations, training programs, and media inquiries.