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Cyndi Sarnoff-Ross is a licensed psychotherapist with almost twenty years of clinical experience in the fields of clinical psychology and organizational management. She has worked extensively with a wide variety of…
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Is the Future of Therapy on the Internet?
Technology can take the place of many things but can it really replace the relationship between client and therapist? Scientists at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine are developing web-based technologies that may in fact do just that.
While it may not eliminate the need for therapy altogether, it could greatly reduce the necessity of weekly office visits. From a behavioral standpoint, I believe this new technology could be of tremendous benefit to those suffering from depressive disorders.
Picture someone who has a long-standing chronic depression as they begin to spiral into a deeper depressive episode. Typically there are warning signs when this begins to happen. It is not uncommon for someone experiencing depression to begin to isolate and to alter his or her daily routine.
Imagine if this individual’s phone or computer were able to track these subtle behavior changes, and begin to prompt the user to call friends, go to the gym, or make plans. This technology is just around the corner and the glitches are currently being ironed out. It is called Mobilyze! and it has already proven in tests to help reduce symptoms of depression.
Other interesting developments are on the horizon as well, such as a virtual human coach that will be able to help teens and adults improve their social skills. A prototype of this technology is in the works at the University of Southern California.
The program will be able to role-play difficult situations, as well as help teach assertiveness skills. Increased confidence and the ability to navigate one’s social environment comfortably, can help prevent early signs of depression, which can put individuals at risk for a later diagnosis.
Clearly these apps and programs don’t address many of the deeper issues of human complexity but I applaud their development and believe that, done correctly, they will provide a valuable service to those in need.
- Cyndi
While it may not eliminate the need for therapy altogether, it could greatly reduce the necessity of weekly office visits. From a behavioral standpoint, I believe this new technology could be of tremendous benefit to those suffering from depressive disorders.
Picture someone who has a long-standing chronic depression as they begin to spiral into a deeper depressive episode. Typically there are warning signs when this begins to happen. It is not uncommon for someone experiencing depression to begin to isolate and to alter his or her daily routine.
Imagine if this individual’s phone or computer were able to track these subtle behavior changes, and begin to prompt the user to call friends, go to the gym, or make plans. This technology is just around the corner and the glitches are currently being ironed out. It is called Mobilyze! and it has already proven in tests to help reduce symptoms of depression.
Other interesting developments are on the horizon as well, such as a virtual human coach that will be able to help teens and adults improve their social skills. A prototype of this technology is in the works at the University of Southern California.
The program will be able to role-play difficult situations, as well as help teach assertiveness skills. Increased confidence and the ability to navigate one’s social environment comfortably, can help prevent early signs of depression, which can put individuals at risk for a later diagnosis.
Clearly these apps and programs don’t address many of the deeper issues of human complexity but I applaud their development and believe that, done correctly, they will provide a valuable service to those in need.
- Cyndi
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I like that my therapist is philosophical, like me. We communicate well. I like that it is an hour just for me, without guilt (because I'm paying for it and they chose to do it). I like that it helps me process my thoughts and what is happening in my li
Posted on 03/06/12 09:58:34 am
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I will be very interested in the release of Mobylize and hope that it will be easily affordable.
Thanks for the post and please post when Mobilyze is released or send the details to me where to watch for release.
Now can someone lost the spam from pizzshop.com that is listed as comment number 8?? SHEESH, have they no dignity at all?
They can be cruel,pretend to be cancer patients, give advise or worse.
Maybe they do not realize that a negative comment can affect a cancer patient to stop treatments because they believe in some comment, this patients are very fragil.
Counsellors need to talk about this problem.
The Internet can be of great help but also can harm.
I work in a hospital and we advise our patients that have mental problems that also they have to be very protective of what, who they communicate on line, they also can became victims just like the cancer patients.
There is an added bonus to online therapy. If properly set up (including permission from the person getting therapy) the therapist could read the interactions a person is involved with on this site, and make that part of the therapy service.