THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEMS FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT UNDER MARTIAL LAW CONDITIONS IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article analyzes contemporary approaches to the use of artificial intelligence in psychological counseling and substantiates the feasibility of its application in wartime conditions in Ukraine. The relevance of the study is determined by the growing demand for psychological support amid mass psychotraumatization of the population, shortage of qualified specialists in frontline and de-occupied regions, and limited access to traditional forms of psychological assistance.Three main directions of AI implementation in psychological practice have been systematized: digital assistants for self-help, chatbot counselors, and integration solutions that complement the work of specialists. The technical capabilities and methodological compliance of AI systems with psychological care standards have been analyzed, particularly in the context of cognitive-behavioral therapy. The ability of technologies to provide emotional support, create a safe environment, and form a functional analogue of the therapeutic alliance has been examined.It has been established that in wartime conditions, AI counseling acquires critical significance as a tool for ensuring round-the-clock availability of psychological support for vulnerable population groups, particularly residents of frontline territories, internally displaced persons, and civilians during shelter stays. Significant limitations of technologies in reproducing genuine empathy, recognizing nonverbal signals, and working with less structured methods have been identified, which narrows AI capabilities to the level of primary support and psychoeducation.Ethical challenges related to data confidentiality, algorithmic biases, and decision transparency have been examined. The necessity of a hybrid model has been substantiated, where AI serves as a complementary tool in the psychologist’s work rather than a replacement for traditional counseling. The critical role of the psychologist-moderator in ensuring intervention safety, especially when working with crisis states, has been emphasized.The novelty of the study lies in systematizing the possibilities and limitations of AI use in psychological counseling specifically under martial law conditions in Ukraine, which has been comprehensively analyzed in scientific literature for the first time.