E-mail and psychiatry: some psychotherapeutic and psychoanalytic perspectives.
In this paper, we consider the use of e-mail in psychotherapy and its impact on the experience of therapy for both patient and clinician. We discuss in detail the potential for boundary compromise by e-mail use and consider how e-mail may undermine the therapeutic alliance and the cultivation of empathy. Case studies illustrate the possible positive aspects of e-mail and elucidate several fundamental problems with any use of e-mail in psychodynamic treatment.
University of Pennsylvania, Department of Psychiatry, USA. mahadeviyakka@hotmail.com
C G
CG
Bhuvaneswar
T G
TG
Gutheil
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000941:ethics; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy / Q000941:ethics; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000941:ethics; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology