AI Philosophy, Mental Health and Human Flourishing

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My interest in AI and human flourishing combines 20+ years experience as a psychotherapist with 6 years studying, collaborating and consulting on the philosophy and ethics of Artificial Intelligence for human flourishing. 

I am currently part of the development of a cross-disciplinary collective investigating possible positive futures, bringing together voices from Philosophy, Computer Science, Economics, Psychology & Mental Health, Creative Arts and Environmental Development, linked by our shared desire for optimistic, human-first social progress.

As a consultant I have worked with AI organisations committed to prioritising wellbeing. I help clarify the Why? of projects, asking questions that introduce new perspectives and provide a more complex understanding of what is at stake.

I have helped develop roadmaps that never lose sight of the intended human benefit, highlighting risk, mitigating harms and interrogating implications and outlier scenarios.

My experience includes:

  • Helping start ups build in safety from the outset, based on safety-by-design principles
  • Interrogating intended human benefits and ensuring business models put human flourishing first
  • Advising on limitations, risks and appropriate use of LLMs in mental health areas
  • Evaluating products for mental health safety and effectiveness
  • Development of protocols: distress/risk tier frameworks, escalation process, crisis management
  • Red teaming LLM mental health products for safe response vulnerabilities
  • Prompt engineering: creating/designing/developing safer, more effective prompts
  • Advising on appropriate tone, language and conversation structures for effective wellbeing support
  • Designing safeguards around early beta testing

I have been offering professional consultancy since September 2025 having explored the field of AI ethics and mental health both academically and in practical application, specifically:

  • July 2020: Part of original feedback group for NHS certified clinical AI tool Limbic
  • 2020-22: MA Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence, Northeastern University, London
  • April 2023: London Generative AI Hackathon – exploring prompt design to develop a mental health app prototype
  • Sept-Dec 2023: Consulting on grant application for community organisation AI project, providing public access and education on LLMs to enhance digital literacy
  • 2023-24: Developing and implementing a Therapeutic Advocacy tool – helping advocates use LLMs to access information and support neurodivergent parents’ communication with external bodies
  • Sept-2025-present: Member of the AI Mental Health Collective, enabling cross discipline dialogue and collaboration. Part of the Clinician’s Circle working group developing AI resources and guidance for mental health professionals
  • Oct 2025-present: Consulting a number of AI wellbeing start ups on safety protocols and exploring safety parameters for LLMs in a mental health setting
  • May 2026-present: Co-founder of a cross-disciplinary group investigating possible positive futures, bringing together voices from Philosophy, Computer Science, Economics, Psychology & Mental Health, Creative Arts and Environmental Development.

Contact dinahpurton@gmail.com for information on consultancy, connection or collaboration