Project Objective and Goals (Revised for Student Scope)



The objective of this project is to explore and design the foundation for an AI-powered intake assistant that can support New Pathways Therapy Centre in streamlining its client intake process. Rather than fully building a product, students will engage in research, workflow analysis, and prototyping to understand how AI tools could be applied ethically and effectively in a mental health business context.

The goals of the project are to:

1. Learn about the current intake workflow at a mental health clinic and identify key challenges.
2. Research AI and chatbot tools that could support automated intake processes (no-code platforms, GPT-powered bots, scheduling integrations).
3. Develop sample conversation flows that demonstrate how an intake bot might interact with clients while maintaining warmth and professionalism.
4. Provide recommendations for next steps in development, including potential platforms, ethical considerations, and integration points.
5. Present findings in a way that showcases both technical exploration and practical business application.
6. This project gives students hands-on experience at the intersection of AI, business process design, and health services, while keeping the scope achievable within a 60-hour commitment.

Expected Project Outcomes and Deliverables

By the end of the project, students should demonstrate:

• Understanding of clinic values and intake needs – Gain insight into New Pathways’ mission, client population, and the importance of building a warm, ethical, and efficient first point of contact.
• Workflow mapping – Document the current intake process and identify the main steps, challenges, and opportunities for automation.
• Exploration of AI chatbot options – Research available platforms (e.g., no-code chatbot builders, GPT integrations, or scheduling tools) and assess which could best support an intake assistant.
• Recommendations for development – Provide clear, step-by-step recommendations for how an intake bot could be built and tested at the clinic, including key features, ethical safeguards, and integration possibilities.

Bonus steps (if time allows):

• Drafting sample intake conversation flows (scripts) to show how a chatbot could gather client information, answer FAQs, and direct people to book a consultation call.
• Creating a simple wireframe or prototype demo using a no-code chatbot builder to illustrate the concept.
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Final deliverables will include:

1. A final report – Summarizing workflow mapping, research on AI tools, and actionable recommendations for building the intake assistant.
2. A 10-minute presentation – Highlighting findings, chatbot design ideas, and suggested next steps for implementation