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Solmaz Kaynama, PhD, is a 2026 graduate of the PhD program in Counselor Education & Supervision, Antioch University, Seattle.

Stephanie Thorson-Olesen, PhD, Committee Chair

Misty Grant, PhD, Committee Member

Ali Corey, PhD, Committee Member

Keywords

relational leadership, psychological safety, workplace well-being, AI integration

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

This study explores employee psychological safety, or its lack, during artificial intelligence (AI) integration in the workplace through a relational leadership lens. The population included employees of for-profit business corporations currently integrating or adopting AI technologies (N = 14). Participants completed in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Results showed eight themes: relational leadership creates a psychologically safe workplace climate; unsupportive and dysfunctional leadership erodes trust and psychological safety; psychological safety determines whether employees speak up openly or hold back; employees’ experience daily work through workplace culture, pace, and remote or hybrid conditions; AI may delivers immediate productivity benefits while introducing new psychological and ethical concerns; structural weaknesses in AI implementation create confusion, pressure, and resistance; leadership determines whether AI is adopted strategically, ethically, and humanely; trust, support, and transparency shape long-term acceptance and future impacts of AI. Implications for counseling professions and business corporations are presented. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

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Photo of the author of this dissertation.

Solmaz Kaynama, Phd, 2026

ORCID iD  0009-0001-2413-0761

Dr. Solmaz Kaynama, PhD, MBA, RCC, CCC, is a relational leadership and organizational consultant, educator, researcher, and clinical psychotherapist based in the Greater Vancouver area. Her work and research focus on the intersection of psychology, relationships, and humanity’s evolving role in an AI-driven world. Her approach emphasizes curiosity, self-awareness, compassion, adaptability, and emotional intelligence, helping individuals and leaders better understand themselves, strengthen relationships, and navigate personal and professional challenges. She provides consulting services globally, partnering with organizations and professionals across diverse industries and leadership contexts, with a particular focus on working with leaders. Grounded in the belief that leadership development has a powerful ripple effect, she supports leaders in cultivating greater self-awareness and relational capacity that can positively influence teams, organizations, and communities. Her broader mission is to help people reconnect—with themselves, others, and the world around them—based on the belief that the quality of our relationships shapes the quality of our lives.

https://www.yourstoryyourspace.com

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/solmaz-kaynama-vancouver-bc/1648333

https://www.linkedin.com/in/solmazkaynama/

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