Archive for October, 2008

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 for mental health issues online. Comfort with technology is closing the divide as access to quality services and navigation on the web becomes easier.

It might not be so unusual for someone who is struggling with an internet addiction to reach out for help on the internet. Determining whether or not this is a suitable approach should be on a case by case basis but let’s consider the following as a point for further thought:

A person who has a history of building unstable and untrustworthy virtual relationships may have the opportunity for a positive experience through therapeutic dialogue with a therapist via the internet.

This intervention may be as adjunct to an existing face-to-face relationship and the experience may be modulated as part of an overall plan. Or a person who may not consider face-to-face therapy may reach out on the internet when his or her life has become unmanageable. Interventions may be text-based via chat and/or email, videoconferencing/webcams or by using avatars in a virtual world such as Second Life.

What do you think?

DeeAnna

Known as the Virtual Space Station, a new project aims to give astronauts an onboard therapist for long-duration missions, either in Earth orbit or on longer journeys to the moon and Mars.

Astronauts suffering from depression, arguing with colleagues, or wrestling with their workload, will be able to receive video counselling from recordings by Mark Hegel, a psychologist at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.

Read more at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/oct/25/nasa-space-astronaut-houston-therapy

Top Stories

The woman, who has been jailed on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data, used his ID and password to log onto the popular interactive game Maple Story to carry out the virtual murder in May, a police official in the northern city of Sapporo said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of department policy.

“I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry,” the official quoted her as telling investigators and admitting the allegations.

The woman, a piano teacher, had not plotted any revenge in the real world, the official said.

She has not yet been formally charged. If convicted, she could face up to five years in prison or a fine up to $5,000.

More at:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081023/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_avatar_murder

Kate will be interviewed by The Psychologist Magazine on Friday for an article on Second Life and Virtual Worlds in relation to counselling and psychotherapy – Watch this space to find out when publication is due!

Kate and DeeAnna

We are excited about our new social network which offers the opportunity for members and friends to create a free listing, featuring a bio, as well as links to one’s website and blog.  Our social network is a way for members and non-members alike to connect.  While social networks are popping up everywhere, ours is a bit of a niche focusing on a place for people who share a common interest about online counseling and the impact of mental health on technology.

Membership in the social network is free, and while the social network does not offer all of the benefits of membership in the institute, it is another way to meet and greet.  Your profile can be viewed by everyone so the network doubles as a listing feature to market your services and products.

Please consider joining up! It is yet another place to get linked, get to know others and get known!!

OTI’s Social Networking website: www.onlinetherapyinstitute.ning.com

DeeAnna & Kate

OTI has added an Events Calendar to the website to list conferences, conventions, workshops and other happenings related to online counseling, mental health and technology, internet addiction, and cyberpsychology. 

We will be glad to list conferences and conventions sponsored by organizations and universities so please give us a heads up at info@onlinetherapyinstitute.com. Members of OTI can list other workshops, keynotes, appearances or other events that meet the mission of OTI.   The OTI Events Calendar is accessible to the public with a search feature and an RSS feed for those who wish to subscribe.

We look forward to filling the calendar!  See you at an event soon!

The Fall 2008 issue of Telehealth World Magazine features an article about Second Life.  The article, written by DeeAnna Merz Nagel is entitled Health Education & Intervention In a Virtual World  and summarizes several health related education and intervention locations within Second Life including IBM and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The article takes a look at how conventional organizations and businesses are bringing mainstream health care to 3D virtual reality. The full article can be found here on page 8:

http://www.telehealthworld.com/images/TeleHealthFallEzine.pdf

Read the full story at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/oct/08/google.email

“An altruistic Google employee has come up with a system that will block -or at least make you think twice about – the kind of message you will only regret the next day. Mail Goggles, which can be set to spring into action late at night and at weekends, asks emailers to answer a series of short mathematical posers before sending their message off. The idea, according to Gmail engineer Jon Perlow, is to help people who are a little too tired and emotional to foresee the consequences of their actions.”