Tele-analysis: the use of media technology in psychotherapy and its impact on the therapeutic relationship

The Journal of Analytical Psychology
Christian Roesler

Abstract

A growing number of approaches in psychotherapy make use of internet- and other media-based interactions. This paper discusses the impact on the therapist-client relationship of using media technology and gives an overview of the current state of the debate. It is suggested that the technical conditions of internet-based interactions produce new forms of social relationships that differ significantly from face-to-face-interactions and that unconscious, nonverbal cues get lost. Research on the therapeutic interaction making use of 'discourse linguistic' methods is presented. The loss of nonverbal cues has implications for psychotherapy in general and especially for the treatment of patients who have difficulties relying on a secure therapeutic relationship. Emotional security in interactional relationships is transmitted to a much greater extent by nonverbal cues than by verbal content; psychoanalytic methods are specialized to refer to this level of interaction. Two alternative scenarios are discussed based on the psychoanalytic theories of Winnicott and Lacan: the risk of an illusionary, idealized image of the other and the possibility that cyberspace can be used for psychological development as a transitional space.

References

Oct 27, 2001·The Psychoanalytic Quarterly·G O Gabbard
May 25, 2002·Cyberpsychology & Behavior : the Impact of the Internet, Multimedia and Virtual Reality on Behavior and Society·Jonathan E Cook, Carol Doyle
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Sep 3, 2009·Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association·Kourosh Dini
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Mar 24, 2015·Journal of Medical Internet Research·Christine KnaevelsrudBirgit Wagner
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May 19, 2016·The Journal of Analytical Psychology·John Merchant

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Citations

Jun 5, 2018·Zeitschrift für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie·Manfred E BeutelRüdiger Zwerenz
Jun 27, 2020·Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association·Vera BékésLeon Hoffman
Jul 22, 2020·Australasian Psychiatry : Bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists·Nabil Chherawala, Shane Gill
Dec 15, 2020·Psychotherapy Research : Journal of the Society for Psychotherapy Research·Matthew PughAlison Dixon
Jul 8, 2021·The Journal of Analytical Psychology·August J Cwik
Jul 8, 2021·The Journal of Analytical Psychology·John Merchant
Sep 4, 2021·Psychodynamic Psychiatry·Robert M GordonR Dennis Shelby
Sep 1, 2021·Psychotherapeut·Alena LeukhardtChristiane Eichenberg
Nov 2, 2021·Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy·Vera BékésLeon Hoffman

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