New Technological Settings of Communication to Improve the Traditional Techniques in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy

Internet and new communication technologies have achieved a rapid development in the last years producing a significative impact on clinical psychology and psychotherapy. Psychotherapists seem to rely with more and more interest on the new technological tools such as telemedicine, audio and video chats, e-mail, SMS, MMS and the Instant Messaging Tools (IMs). All these technologies outline a stimulating as well as complex scenario: in order to effectively exploit their potential, it is important to study which is the possible role played by the Internet-based tools inside a psychotherapeutic or psychological treatment. The main goal of this article is to provide a framework for the integration of new technologi- cal tools and settings in mental health care. Different theoretical positions about the possible role played by Internet based therapy (e-therapy) are reported showing the possible changes that psychotherapy will necessarily cope with.