Challenge
Traditional role-play or analyzing a TV character doesn't let students ask a client questions, follow up, and respond in the moment. Faculty wanted that practice before practicum, with reflection kept at the center.
Case study · MSW education
Simmons MSW students practice with a shared AI client before field placement
Faculty at Simmons University School of Social Work built TMind AI into SWO 421A, the generalist practice course students take right before practicum. Dr. Amy Skeen shared what they've learned at the CSWE 2026 Annual Conference.
Simulated client Shared by the class
Isabel “Isa” Rodríguez, 29
Session feedback Example
- Empathy4/5
- Client-centered approach5/5
- Cultural humility3/5
- NASW Code of Ethics4/5
Example from Dr. Skeen's CSWE 2026 presentation. Students compare feedback like this with their own reflection.
- Institution
- Simmons University School of Social Work
- Course
- SWO 421A Generalist Practice (pre-practicum)
- Faculty
- Dr. Amy Skeen, Dr. Noelle Dimitri
- Presented
- CSWE 2026 Annual Conference, Atlanta
At a glance
What they did
Students practiced with a shared simulated client, Isa, and reflected on their work across engagement, assessment, and collaborative planning, comparing each reflection with TMind's feedback.
Early results
- Improvement in empathy, with positive trends in client-centered practice, ethics, and cultural humility
- Instructors observed clinical growth and valued working from a shared client
- More confidence and less imposter syndrome
- Transcripts showed instructors how each student communicates
Program-evaluation findings and instructor observations, not yet statistically tested. Details
Three phases of reflection
Reflection follows the social work process, with one guiding question per phase. After every session, students also ask what assumptions shaped their response and what they would do differently, then compare the reflection with TMind’s feedback, connect it to the NASW Code of Ethics, and cite one or two evidence-based sources.
- Phase 1 Engagement How did I build rapport and respond to the client?
- Phase 2 Assessment How did I explore the client's biopsychosocial-spiritual needs and experiences?
- Phase 3 Collaborative planning How did I work with the client to identify priorities and develop next steps?
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What instructors saw
Instructors observed clinical growth and valued that the whole class worked with the same client. In focus groups they described more confidence, less imposter syndrome, and students more comfortable sitting with uncertainty instead of rushing to fix the client's problem. Transcripts showed them each student's communication patterns.
“Unlike traditional role-play or analyzing a TV character, AI simulation lets students ask questions, follow up, and respond in the moment.”
“Practice builds experience. Reflection deepens learning.”
Some students had emotional responses to the simulated client. Faculty use those moments to open conversations about the relational and ethical sides of AI simulation.
What TMind changed after the pilot
Voice
A talking client
Students can now speak with the client through a built-in microphone. Text chat stays for students who prefer a slower, more reflective pace.
Sessions
Clear session boundaries
A 10-minute inactivity timeout gives each session a clear start and end, so sessions can be compared.
Scoring
Stricter scoring
During the pilot, students said their scores felt too generous, so the evaluation criteria were recalibrated to reflect where students actually are.
What's next
Students who complete both the pre- and post-surveys get free, unlimited TMind access in SWO 421B, the next course in the practice sequence. Faculty plan to build more debriefing around students' experiences with simulated clients and to look at how simulation fits alongside coursework, live-actor simulation, and practicum.
Frequently asked questions
Has a social work program studied AI simulated clients in MSW training?
Yes. Simmons University School of Social Work uses TMind AI's simulated client in SWO 421A, a generalist practice course MSW students take before practicum. The study has been expanded under IRB approval, and Dr. Amy Skeen presented early findings at the CSWE 2026 Annual Conference in October 2026.
Does practicing with an AI simulated client help MSW students prepare for field placement?
Early findings are positive. Simmons faculty reported improvement in empathy, with positive trends in client-centered practice, ethics, and cultural humility, and instructors observed clinical growth, more confidence, and less imposter syndrome. These are program-evaluation findings; the first pilot sample was too small for significance testing.
How did Simmons build reflection into AI simulation assignments?
After each session with the simulated client, students reflect on engagement, assessment, or collaborative planning: what they thought and felt, what assumptions shaped their responses, and what they would do differently. They connect the reflection to the NASW Code of Ethics, compare it with TMind's feedback, and cite one or two evidence-based sources.
How do social work instructors use TMind AI session transcripts?
At Simmons, instructors read students' simulation transcripts to see how each student communicates with a client. They said this let them teach to specific patterns and assess professional use of self more directly.
What does TMind AI give feedback on?
In the Simmons course, TMind's feedback covers four dimensions: empathy, client-centered approach, cultural humility, and adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics.
What is TMind AI?
TMind AI is a clinical training platform where social work, counseling, and mental health students practice with AI simulated clients and get feedback on each session. Programs using it include Simmons University, Salisbury University, University of Washington, National University of Singapore, Delaware State University, University of South Carolina, Texas Christian University, and the University of Houston.
Sources
- Skeen, A. (2026, October 23). Using AI Simulation in Social Work Education: Practice, Reflection, and Learning. In P. Desrosiers (Facilitator), Promoting Sustainable Teaching Practice Through the Use of Generative AI [Panel]. CSWE 2026 Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
- Bridging Theory and Practice: The Impact of Simulation on MSW Student Readiness for Practice, executive summary of the Simmons University School of Social Work pilot.
- Faculty: Dr. Amy Skeen and Dr. Noelle Dimitri, Simmons University School of Social Work.
- Course: SWO 421A Social Work Practice.
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