Forms of interaction in virtual space: Applications to psychotherapy and counselling

Abstract

Electronic virtual communication is likely to become increasingly used and relied upon in the future, particularly because en-face interactions between client/patients and professionals will become less convenient and health systems overloaded. However, this raises interesting issues about the form of communication which is best suited for the imparting of authoritative advise to clients/patients, how to ensure that advice is treated seriously and followed, the types of condition and situation that most lend themselves to virtual (as opposed to en-face) therapeutic interactions, and how behaviours in virtual situations varies from en-face reality. The present paper discusses some of these issues and data will be presented from preliminary studies aimed at addressing the above issues. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.