I recently consulted with a therapist who resides in another country. He offers online therapy/consult services to individuals in the United States. His referrals come from health practitioners here in the U.S. so he receives the referral, provides the requested service to the patient and sends recommendations to the health practitioner. Recently, one steady referral… [Read More]
Group Therapy Online via Chat- Optimum Group Size?
I was asked to participate in a group discussion online. I am a member of an organization that hosts a listserv and forums. Most recently, the idea of one big chat was suggested and all of us were invited to log on and participate. Had all of us logged on, there would have been… [Read More]
Are Relationships Online as Valid as Face-to-Face Relationships?
Voices: The Art and Science of Psychotherapy just published an article I wrote entitled Filling the Void in the Virtual Consultation Room. I describe in a rather existential and experiential way, my experience of conducting psychotherapy via chat. With no visual or auditory cues, the experience of psychotherapy online is different. Not less valid, but… [Read More]
Online Support Forums and World AIDS Day
Today is World AIDS Day which has prompted me to write about support forums online. The internet has changed the way some of us approach living with a new diagnosis. Now with the internet we have instant access to information that used to require library access. And the internet goes beyond just allowing access to… [Read More]
Social Networks for Mental Health Therapists
With the proliferation of social networks and most recently, the budding of new niche social networks geared toward specific groups, therapists are finding many places to connect and discuss! The Online Therapy Institute features discussion groups at Linkedin, Links for Shrinks and Facebook. We encourage open discussion of all issues related to technology and mental… [Read More]
Email Therapy Exchange: How Long is Too Long?
I am wondering if any of you have a sense of how long an email response should be? If a client emails a long and heartfelt story outlining questions and concerns, how does a therapist determine how long the response should be? Should the therapist match the length of the client’s email in his or… [Read More]
Treating an Internet Addiction via the Internet
While the debate rages on about whether or not internet addiction really exists or is an actual diagnosis, some people use the internet to the point that real world relationships become difficult to establish or maintain, tasks of daily living are effected and work is compromised. More and more people are seeking psychotherapy and support… [Read More]
Using social networking for pre-university networking
Read the full article at http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/sep/30/students.facebook Anthony Cugliari shouts to Aradhna Jaswar above the raging dance beat at Birmingham University’s freshers’ fair. “Hey, we’re Facebook friends. It’s Aradhna, right?” “Yeah. Hi,” she says, eagerly extending the hand that’s not clutching her new posters and freebies. Cugliari, 33, from Canada, and Jaswar, 18, from Wolverhampton, arrived… [Read More]
