# Chaplains' Reflections on the Design and Usage of AI for Conversational Care

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.04017 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.04017/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 26 of its 124 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 3 Feb 2026.

## Builds on (most cited first, 26 of 26)

- [Bridging the Gulf of Envisioning: Cognitive Design Challenges in LLM Interfaces](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.14459/) (2023)
- [Expressing stigma and inappropriate responses prevents LLMs from safely replacing mental health providers](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.18412/) (2025)
- [The Dark Side of AI Companionship: A Taxonomy of Harmful Algorithmic Behaviors in Human-AI Relationships](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.20130/) (2024)
- [MindfulDiary: Harnessing Large Language Model to Support Psychiatric Patients' Journaling](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.05231/) (2023)
- [ChaCha: Leveraging Large Language Models to Prompt Children to Share Their Emotions about Personal Events](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.12244/) (2023)
- [GPTCoach: Towards LLM-Based Physical Activity Coaching](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.06061/) (2024)
- [If I Hear You Correctly: Building and Evaluating Interview Chatbots with Active Listening Skills](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2002.01862/) (2020)
- [From Text to Self: Users' Perceptions of Potential of AI on Interpersonal Communication and Self](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.03976/) (2023)
- [The Role of AI in Peer Support for Young People: A Study of Preferences for Human- and AI-Generated Responses](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.02711/) (2024)
- [Evaluating the Experience of LGBTQ+ People Using Large Language Model Based Chatbots for Mental Health Support](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.09260/) (2024)
- [A Taxonomy of Linguistic Expressions That Contribute To Anthropomorphism of Language Technologies](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.09870/) (2025)
- [A Piece of Theatre: Investigating How Teachers Design LLM Chatbots to Assist Adolescent Cyberbullying Education](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.17456/) (2024)
- [Mitigating Response Delays in Free-Form Conversations with LLM-powered Intelligent Virtual Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.22352/) (2025)
- ["It's the only thing I can trust": Envisioning Large Language Model Use by Autistic Workers for Communication Assistance](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.03297/) (2024)
- [Comparing How a Chatbot References User Utterances from Previous Chatting Sessions: An Investigation of Users' Privacy Concerns and Perceptions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.04879/) (2023)
- [Beyond Turn-taking: Introducing Text-based Overlap into Human-LLM Interactions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.18103/) (2025)
- [The Impact of a Chatbot's Ephemerality-Framing on Self-Disclosure Perceptions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.20464/) (2025)
- ["I Cannot Do All of This Alone": Exploring Instrumental and Prayer Support in Online Health Communities](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.11884/) (2020)
- [EmoWear: Exploring Emotional Teasers for Voice Message Interaction on Smartwatches](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.07174/) (2024)
- [The Dilemma of Building Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Solutions for Workplace Accessibility](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.18148/) (2025)
- [Understanding Adolescents' Perceptions of Benefits and Risks in Health AI Technologies through Design Fiction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.13389/) (2025)
- ["Can't believe I'm crying over an anime girl": Public Parasocial Grieving and Coping Towards VTuber Graduation and Termination](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.13421/) (2025)
- [Remini: Leveraging Chatbot-Mediated Mutual Reminiscence for Promoting Positive Affect and Feeling of Connectedness among Loved Ones](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.03355/) (2025)
- [Design Patterns for the Common Good: Building Better Technologies Using the Wisdom of Virtue Ethics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.10288/) (2025)
- [Meeting Patients Where They're At: Toward the Expansion of Chaplaincy Care into Online Spiritual Care Communities](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.11366/) (2025)
- [Beyond Words: Infusing Conversational Agents with Human-like Typing Behaviors](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.08912/) (2025)

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [CounselReflect: Opportunities and Challenges for Designing Tools to Support Self-Reflection on Mental Health and Well-Being Conversations with AI](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.29429/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Despite growing recognition that responsible AI requires domain knowledge, current work on conversational AI primarily draws on clinical expertise that prioritises diagnosis and intervention. However, much of everyday emotional support needs occur in non-clinical contexts, and therefore requires different conversational approaches. We examine how chaplains, who guide individuals through personal crises, grief, and reflection, perceive and engage with conversational AI. We recruited eighteen chaplains to build AI chatbots. While some chaplains viewed chatbots with cautious optimism, the majority expressed limitations of chatbots' ability to support everyday well-being. Our analysis reveals how chaplains perceive their pastoral care duties and areas where AI chatbots fall short, along the themes of Listening, Connecting, Carrying, and Wanting. These themes resonate with the idea of attunement, recently highlighted as a relational lens for understanding the delicate experiences care technologies provide. This perspective informs chatbot design aimed at supporting well-being in non-clinical contexts.