Wave 2 - 2026

Therapy & Companionship
with AI

Therapy and Companionship with AI examines the growing role of AI as a conversational partner in education and wellbeing. Educators explore the ethical, relational, and pedagogical dimensions of students using AI for emotional support, study companionship, and reflective dialogue.
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Host

Matthew Esterman

Who is this for

  • Leadership
  • Classroom teachers
  • Casual teachers
  • Secondary school
  • Primary school

Standards

APST 4.4
APST 7.1
APST 4.1

Included

  • Templates and resources
  • Applied implementation tasks
  • Community access
  • Certificate of completion

Course Description

Therapy and Companionship with AI addresses one of the most sensitive and rapidly evolving uses of AI in schools: its role as a conversational companion. As students increasingly turn to AI chatbots for emotional support, study help, and even friendship, educators need frameworks for understanding what is happening and how to respond.

This course explores the psychology of human–AI interaction, including why students form attachments to AI, what benefits conversational AI can offer (such as low-stakes practice in social-emotional skills), and where the risks lie. Participants examine case studies involving AI companionship tools and consider the boundaries between helpful scaffolding and harmful dependency.

The course also addresses duty of care, mandatory reporting obligations, and how schools can develop policies that acknowledge student use of AI companions without ignoring safeguarding responsibilities.
Educators leave with practical strategies for talking to students about AI relationships, guidelines for responsible use, and a clearer understanding of the emotional landscape AI is creating in schools.

What you will learn

  • How to understand why students form attachments to AI companions and what needs those interactions may be meeting
  • How to distinguish between healthy AI-supported reflection and signs of dependency or risk
  • How to respond to student use of AI companionship tools within duty of care and safeguarding obligations
  • How to establish clear, age-appropriate boundaries and guidelines for AI companionship in your school context

Designed for Real Classrooms

Every strategy in this course has been tested in schools navigating real constraints: time, governance, workload and accountability. This is not theory. It is applied practice.

From Curiosity to Capability

AI experimentation is easy. Sustained capability is not. Educator Intelligence helps schools move from isolated exploration to shared professional judgement.
Your host

Matthew Esterman

Matthew Esterman is a nationally recognised educator, school leader and AI consultant working at the forefront of AI in education. He has supported independent, Catholic and government schools across Australia and internationally to integrate AI responsibly, strengthen governance, and build professional capability in teaching and leadership.
Educator Intelligence is founded by Matthew Esterman and ClassCover.

 An initiative of