Archive for January, 2009

A random thought on the back of DeeAnna’s last blog entry…

I believe I am the same person in cyberspace as I am within what is sometimes, paradoxically, called Real Life (RL).  The fact that I exist within my writing over the Internet is what is important here, not the fact that I write.  I use writing to convey myself to others because it is the easiest form of communication that currently exists on the Internet, just as the simplest form of communication face-to-face is the spoken word.  I don’t use technology for my professional work for the sake of using technology; it is just the communication system that works best for me for that client at that time.

Would you agree that’s a fair comment and it would apply to you also?

Kate

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 different. I explain how it is different and what about the process I find to be rich and fulfilling.

Two commentaries follow  my article. Neither commentary is particularly supportive or positive about what I offer.  And that is not really the point. After years of training therapists in text-based therapy, and now as my training includes therapy conducted in virtual world settings, I am quite accustomed to opposition. But I have noticed a common theme emerging.

Counselors and psychotherapists tend to discount relationships online.  As more technology infiltrates our lives, online relating becomes more and more off-putting to some.  I personally have never posited that online counseling will replace face-to-face psychotherapy.  I find that both experiences hold depth for the client and psychotherapist.  I see the benefit of delivering psychotherapy in the flesh as well as via technology.

Mental Health practitioners often do not understand how the art of psychotherapy can occur online. As with anything new, it takes a while to make the shift. And some choose not to- which is fine. But with the advent of email, chat, social networking and virtual worlds, our work becomes transformed as psychotherapy meets mixed reality.  While online relating is not enjoyable or fulfilling for some, others view their online relationships as a viable part of life and as real as any relationship that occurs face-to-face.  I find some in this profession are threatened by this notion.  But I think there are enough differences between us with our lives now full of so many choices for relating, both traditionally and through social media, that there is room for growth and expansiveness within the art of pscyhotherapy.

What do you think?

DeeAnna

I think this is fascinating, although there seems to be some controversy around it.  However, this is about socialisation for Asperger’s patients – rather than psychotherapy.  So the patient learns interactions inworld and then is able to translate them into RL.  Well, that’s the hypothesis.

BUT the article also notes that people with this condition are notoriously inflexible – so if someone in RL uses, say, sarcasm slightly differently to how the patient learnt to recognise it in SL, the idea doesn’t work.  I’m looking forward to the results of the research and indeed the new platform they are developing which seems to be more catered towards this client group.

Kate

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/OnCall/story?id=4133184&page=1

Online Counselling and Therapy In Action (OCTIA) have launched the website with details of the forthcoming conference on th 25th April 2009 at the University of Leicester, UK.

Keep an eye on the updates at http://octia.eventbrite.com/ or from our Directory listings at http://www.onlinetherapydirectory.net/tag/Training.   OCTIA are currently recruiting speakers <<Kate waves>>.  What’s VERY exciting for us at OTI is that you can be there from all over the world without having to travel – let’s hope that other conferences worldwide finally take the initiative!  You can attend in person (very reasonable accomodation costs on-campus), online, and through Second Life.

Kate

The Online Therapy Institute offers several venues to engage in vibrant discussion about bringing mental health and technology together. Online therapy, cyberpsychology, the use of the internet to enhance private practice, internet addiction and behavioral telehealth are but a few of the topics that pop up on our discussion boards.  We have groups and discussions located at LinksforShrinks, Facebook, Second Life, Linkedin and the Online Therapy Institute Social Network  Check out OTI on the Web!

For secure and encrypted communication with other Online Therapy Institute Clinical Members, consider joining and gain access to the OTI Member Forum. Clinical Members can staff cases and engage in peer supervision in a confidential environment.

See you online!

DeeAnna

Central Alberta Canada’s daily newspaper, the Red Deer Advocate featured an article on Online Counselling (called Online Advice…).  The article features the organization, Shepell.fgi E-Counselling and quotes the founder of Shepell.fgi’s e-counselling division, Cedric Speyer:

“Our experience as online clinicians demonstrates that some individuals are more honest, more uninhibited and more expressive in writing than face-to-face,” said Speyer, who has been involved in researching, teaching and publishing in this new form of counselling for over eight years.

The full article is available here: Online Advice

Speyer is a long-time colleague and presented online counselling in a positive light.  He has helped bring etherapy into the Employee Assistance Program counselling model in Canada, the United States and across the globe.

As with most news articles of this sort, they do a fine job presenting the concept, and stressing the importance of security and encryption, as one example. But the article does point to a valid concern.  In this article, the concern is ensuring that who you reach online for services truly IS who you intend to receive services from. 

We recommend potential consumers of online therapy check out the person they are considering working with if that person is working independently and not part of a company or group that would verify credentials.  Online therapists should have enough verifiable information on their website to bolster consumer confidence. For instance, education with school name and year of graduation, license and certifications with numbers and a link to licensing boards or accrediting bodies as applicable, as well as contact information for the therapist beyond an email address are examples of extending credibility to the practitioner.

Cedric- thanks for your contributions to the field!

DeeAnna

Helen Thomas, Professional Member of OTI, is conducting a research study in partial fulfilment of a Master’s degree at the University of Wales Newport (that’s in the UK btw).

She is inviting participants in this voluntary study; the only requirement to participate is that you are currently delivering a therapeutic mental health service via the Internet, or have done so in the past.

The study will explore practitioners’ perceptions and experiences of the strengths and limitations of online practice. She hopes that the empirical evidence generated from this research will contribute towards policy development in this field and inform future practice.

The URL is http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=rGSa26se8AlJM9h7Rj7bzA_3d_3d or you can also find her in the OTI Directory.  We’re really looking foward to the results )

Kate

Whether your practice is face-to-face or online (or perhaps a combination!)- this resource is a great tool for building your business.  Be a Wealthy Therapist,  a book about creating wealth in all aspects of your life, is being offered until 1/7/2009 as a free ebook download.  Casey Truffo, author and and licensed Marriage and Family Therapist , offers a WEALTH of information.  I have read the book and highly recommend it.  While not all therapists will benefit from all parts of the book,  most will find at least some nuggets of wisdom.  The book can be downloaded here: http://www.beawealthytherapist.com/ebook/

I hope you find this resource beneficial!

Happy New Year to everyone!

DeeAnna