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 skillsFollow-up support for continued learningImplementation 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 avatarsCustomizable scenarios reflecting Fort Health’s diverse patient populationPersonalized feedback based on EBT objectives and CBT competency frameworksSix distinct avatar personalities, ensuring varied, realistic interactionsGenerative AI analysis of content and delivery, identifying strengths and areas for improvementSoft 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.