Is Cybertherapy the Way Forward for Counselling and Psychotherapy?

The past 30 years has seen the Internet has revolutionize and give rise to countless opportunities in the communication and deliverance of counseling services (Sampson, and, Kolodinsky, 1997). Currently the Internet is used by more than 600 million people worldwide (Nua Internet Surveys, 2002), with surveys revealing that sought after health information is as widely used as music downloads or on-line shopping (Reuters, 2001). This medium of technology has created new possibilities for improving counseling services (aka "cybertherapy") and it being powerful enough to reach those who are unable to visit psychotherapists for geographical, physical of lifestyle reasons (Suler, 2000).
Within the domain of Internet opportunities lies several deliverance methods of intervention which clinicians have been exploring. Communication advantages of text based or simulated pathways versus traditional face-to-face therapy, are still being identified, each with its' own pro's and con's.
Also critical in this technological arena are the countless aspects of the many different types of treatments sought. The counseling of issues regarding eating disorders have shown the Internet to be a useful tool, however, other issues e.g. treatment of schizophrenia, have less supporting evidence.
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