Fort Health Partners to Train Therapists with AI Patient Avatars

What You Should Know:

– The high stakes nature of youth mental health therapy requires thorough preparation and applied evidence-based skills.

–  Today, Fort Health, a specialty outpatient pediatric mental health provider, announced that it has partnered with Collevato train its therapists with AI avatar-led, face-to-face simulations. By providing highly relevant and engaging customized scenarios, Fort Health is able to rapidly upskill its therapists using evidence-based therapeutic protocols, ultimately leading to improved client care and operational efficiency. The initial series of custom training scenarios resulted in 83% of clinicians feeling more prepared and 95% able to apply what they have learned.

Fort Health Leverages AI-Powered Avatars to Enhance Pediatric Mental Health Training

Founded in 2022, Fort Health is a leading pediatric mental health provider, transforming care for children and adolescents (ages 4-24) through evidence-based therapy, psychiatry, and parent coaching—all covered by insurance. By seamlessly integrating with pediatricians, Fort Health ensures accessible, high-quality mental health care across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Illinois. Developed in partnership with the Child Mind Institute, a renowned nonprofit dedicated to advancing children’s mental health, Fort Health is at the forefront of innovative care delivery.

Addressing Training Gaps in Evidence-Based Therapy (EBT)
Research from the National Institute of Medicine highlights significant challenges in training clinicians in EBTs. Traditional training often lacks:

• Hands-on application of skills
• Follow-up support for continued learning
• Implementation feedback to ensure adherence to best practices

Additionally, the ongoing behavioral health workforce shortage underscores the need for scalable, cost-effective training solutions that equip therapists with the skills necessary to deliver high-quality care.

AI-Powered Simulations: A Breakthrough in Therapist Training
“AI-powered avatar simulations are revolutionizing therapist training by enabling immersive, risk-free practice of critical decision-making and patient interactions,” said Natalie Schneider, founding CEO of Fort Health. “Colleva’s AI coaching platform allows us to create dynamic, real-world scenarios that help therapists refine their skills, ensuring high-fidelity adherence to evidence-based treatment protocols. By integrating AI-driven patient avatars, we are making mental health training more proactive, personalized, and scalable to meet growing demand.”

How It Works: AI-Driven Therapist Training
Fort Health’s agentic AI training platform, modeled on the Unified Protocol for children, adolescents, and caregivers, provides therapists with:

• Realistic role-play sessions using AI-powered avatars
• Customizable scenarios reflecting Fort Health’s diverse patient population
• Personalized feedback based on EBT objectives and CBT competency frameworks
• Six distinct avatar personalities, ensuring varied, realistic interactions
• Generative AI analysis of content and delivery, identifying strengths and areas for improvement
• Soft skill evaluation, providing instant feedback on key therapeutic competencies

By integrating AI-driven simulations, Fort Health is pioneering a new era in mental health training, equipping therapists with the tools they need to deliver exceptional, evidence-based care to children, adolescents, and their families.