CyberPsychology meets clinical psychology: The emergence of e-therapy in mental health care

Clinical psychologists have traditionally shied away from technology, perhaps because many of the therapeutic elements of psychotherapy rely on verbal and nonverbal interpersonal communication. Although nothing will ever replace face-to-face communication as the key element of psychological practice, the advance of technology is now offering new communication tools that psychologist and their patients feel comfortable using for clinical care. This chapter presents the concept of e-therapy and examines the possible role of Internet and related media in psychotherapy. Current clinical applications are presented including equipment, research, and examples of direct clinical care. Different modes of online mental health care, including e-mail counselling, selfhelp therapy and self-help groups are analysed and discussed. The chapter also focuses on the technology used in e-therapy ¿ email, IRC, videoconference - providing information about the equipment and its clinical use. A particular focus is given to the analysis of shared hypermedia, new Internet tools in which different users, who are simultaneously browsing the same Web site, can communicate and share files. The chapter concludes with suggestions for evaluating the value of adding e-therapy to existing clinical practices.