ABSTRACT

We define computer-mediated psychotherapy (CMP) as a computer application that: (a) is explicitly created to serve a psychotherapeutic purpose; (b) implements the principles and methods of bona fide psychotherapy; and (c) involves the patient into a range of psychotherapeutic activities. Relying on an extensive review of the literature, we found, from a developer perspective, clear reasons of optimism: the efficacy of CMP is comparable with that of traditional face-to-face therapies; its benefits exclude the costs and the demand is high. Hybridized forms show superiority over pure computerized therapies. CMP has the potentialities to produce substantial improvement of mental-health care system by: a) switching the focus of psychotherapy from symptom alleviation to enhancement of help seeking behavior; b) focusing on client as the agent of therapeutic change; and c) capitalizing on theoretical and methodological achievements from e-learning.

KEYWORDS: computer-mediated psychotherapy, e-therapy, computerized therapy, e-health, PAXonline.

PAGES:185-208