AI, Grief and the Ethics of Digital Afterlifes

Psychotherapist Megan Devine is a celebrated speaker, best-selling author, and a pioneer in the movement for a kinder, more human approach to grief – from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don’t call grief. With an audience in the millions, Megan’s ability to make complex emotional issues acceptable, relatable, and a lot less awkward has made her a sought-after leader. Known for her insight and practical guidance, she serves as a consultant to the entertainment and healthcare industries, speaks and teaches across disciplines, and maintains a select private practice.

Megan’s books, It’s OK that You’re Not OK, and How to Carry What Can’t Be Fixed, are the best-selling books on grief in over a decade, with nearly a million copies sold. Her work has been featured in The Atlantic, APM’s Marketplace, SELF, The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNBC, NPR, Harvard Business Review, Stanford University, GQ magazine, Oprah Daily, and many others. Find her at megandevine.co and refugeingrief.com.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Megan Devine is the founder and CEO of Refuge in Grief. She maintains a private practice and is the on-line advisor/author of Empowering Parents, and is the creator and host of It’s Ok that You’re Not OK with Megan Devine. She receives royalties as a published author. Megan Devine receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Megan Devine has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Michael Jones, PhD, NCC, BC-TMH is a tenured professor of counselor education with over two decades of experience in clinical mental health practice, supervision, and training. A nationally recognized expert in telemental health and AI ethics in counseling, Dr. Jones developed the first AI Care Ethics Certificate Program for mental health professionals in the United States, and NBCC-approved continuing education offering grounded in the NBCC Ethical Principles for Artificial Intelligence in Counseling. He has trained over 10,000 clinicians in telemental health practice and serves on the NBCC Minority Fellowship Program Advisory Council. His forthcoming book, Mental Health and the Black Man: A Mixtape Experience of Hardship and Harmony (Cognella, 2026), addresses culturally responsive approaches to mental health care. Dr. Jones brings a unique integration of clinical expertise, ethical scholarship, and practical training experience to emerging questions about technology and grief.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Michael Jones has employment relationships with the University of the Cumberlands and Renewed Vision Counseling. He receives royalties as a published author. Michael Jones receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Michael Jones serves on the NBCC Minority Fellowship Advisory Council Committee. He is a member of the American Counseling Association, the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development, and the Arkansas Counseling Association.