Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, approximately half of U.S. chaplains practiced telechaplaincy. Since then, telechaplaincy has grown rapidly and is increasingly used throughout the world. It poses unique challenges and opportunities that require new skills to master.
However, there are few resources for chaplains to learn and improve their work, and chaplains and providers regularly request training to implement or improve telechaplaincy.
To meet this need, the Telechaplaincy Community of Practice, an international group of healthcare chaplains and researchers hosted by the Transforming Chaplaincy Initiative and the University of Zürich, was founded.
The Community of Practice meets regularly via Zoom to
March 27, 2026, 12-1 PM ET (6-7 PM CEST)
People increasingly turn to AI chatbots for mental well-being. While these systems promise accessible support, clear gaps remain between chatbot capabilities and people’s expectations. This talk presents findings from two studies on the role of large language models in everyday self-care: the first examined how individuals used LLMs and how counsellors perceived this practice, while the second involved chaplains building and critically reflecting on chatbots for mental well-being. Across both studies, professionals pointed to both the promise and current limitations of AI chatbots in supporting psychological needs. I will illustrate these promises and limitations and outline future directions for designing more meaningful AI support.
Joel Wester is a postdoctoral researcher with the Human-Centred Computing group at the University of Copenhagen. Through qualitative and quantitative empirical studies, he investigates people’s experiences of AI-powered interactions and how design shapes user perceptions.
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We currently meet several times per year.
The meetings are free of charge and you may opt out at any time.
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To access previous meetings, visit “Events“.
An international group of telechaplaincy practitioners and researchers hosted by Transforming Chaplaincy and the University of Zürich.
Participation is free.