The Internet and Its Relevance to Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapists

Abstract

The potential uses of the Internet to behavioural and cognitive psychotherapists and researchers are manifold. This article summarizes what the Internet is, how to connect to it, searching the Web, on-line publishing, discussion forums, chat-rooms, literature searching, transfer of documents and creating a web-site. It considers the potential of Internet technology in therapy and enhancing patient/therapist contact. A web page containing links to many of the sites referred to in this article as well as additional links and resources is accessible through the BABCP website (www.babcp.org.uk).

The Computer‐Assisted Cognitive/Imagery System for Use in the Management of Pain

“…While many early computer psychotherapy modules were largely didactic in nature and focused on psychoeducation interventions, several programs have been developed to be more interactive (8,14). The use of the internet has furthered this aim by providing psychotherapy modules that sometimes involve real human interactions carried out in cyberspace (15)(16)(17)(18).…”

Technological Implications for Clinical Supervision and Practice

“…According to Frame (1998) and Riley and Veale (1999), some distinct advantages to using the Internet as a means of "cyber-counseling" include: a. the administration and following up on between session homework assignments, b. facilitating online administration and scoring of standardized assessment measures (which might then be directly downloaded into a client's notes/file held on computer), c. offering services to hearing impaired clients, those who live in remote areas, as well as those who have health problems/constraints that prevent them from going out of their home.…”

Neue Beziehungsformen im Internet

“…Im Internet gibt es sowohl Beratungs-als auch Psychotherapieangebote [1,6,16,25,22]. Die Durchführung von Psychotherapien im Internet, auch "Cybertherapy" genannt, wird allerdings von den meisten Autoren skeptisch beurteilt 2 [28,2,23,6,16,13].…”

“…Eine gewisse Bedeutung als therapeutisches Medium wird dem Internet am ehesten durch Therapieformen zugeschrieben, welche die therapeutische Beziehung nicht als zentrales Medium der Behandlung verstehen, z. ren 3 [7,13,22].Akute oder chronische Suizidalität wird jedoch allgemein als Kontraindikation für eine Psychotherapie im Internet angesehen [1,17,13,26]. "Auf der virtuellen Couch" [16], "Übertragung im Internet" [25],"Cybertherapie?"…”