AI x Mental Health Series - Session 3 Intimacy and Connection

​Join us at West End Neighborhood Library for Session 3 of the AI x Mental Health Series, an evening of fresh ideas, honest conversation, and good energy. We will dig into how AI is showing up in mental health, what feels exciting, what feels complicated, and what all of it could mean for the way people access care, support, and information. Expect a lively mix of perspectives, thoughtful discussion, and the kind of exchange that keeps you thinking long after you leave.

​Hosted by Jabari Grubb, Gina Hafez, Elif Nisa Polat, Lauren Watkins, and Mady Fredriksz, this session is a chance to learn, ask questions, and hear how others are making sense of a fast-moving space. Whether you work in tech, care deeply about mental health, or are simply curious about where these worlds meet, you will find plenty to take in and talk about. Come ready for sharp insights, real questions, and a warm room full of conversation.

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​​5.15-5.30 Mingle

​​5.30-5.35 Gina & Elif opening remarks

​​5:35- 6.00 Demo

​​6.30 - 6.45 Lauren Watkins Breathwork

​​6.45 - 7.15 Daniel Fleshner Talk

​​7.15-7.30 Q & A

​​Join us virtually if you can’t make it in person!

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​​Speaker Background:

​​Daniel Fleshner is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Sex Therapist whose work sits at the intersection of mental health, intimacy, and emerging technology. In his clinical practice, Daniel specializes in sex therapy and relational dynamics, with a particular focus on how cultural and technological shifts shape desire, attachment, and expectations around intimacy.

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​​In this talk, Daniel explores how AI, particularly the rise of NSFW chatbots and simulated sexual or romantic interactions, is quietly reshaping how people understand sex, connection, and relationships. Rather than offering definitive answers, He examines unknowns around how repeated interaction with artificial partners may influence arousal patterns, emotional regulation, consent norms, and real-world intimacy. Drawing from clinical experience and a therapist’s lens, Daniel considers what questions technologists, clinicians, and users alike should be asking before the long-term impacts are fully visible.

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​​Join us for the third session of the AI x Mental Health Series, where we'll explore the intersection of AI, emotional connection, and intimacy through breathwork, live visualizations, and a real-world look at how AI tools are assessed for clinical use. Whether you're a practitioner, builder, or just someone who's wondered what happens to your data after the session ends, this one's for you.

​​​Please be advised: Unfortunately, space is very limited at these community events and we can not always accept everyone we would like to. If you are not accepted to this event, please keep applying! We appreciate your application tremendously and we are looking forward to seeing you at a future event very soon!