Internet-Delivered Therapeutic Interventions in Human Services

There has been exponential growth in use of the Internet to deliver therapeutic and supportive human services. Online interventions are known by a variety of names, including online practice, e-therapy and others. All refer to the delivery of services over the Internet through a variety of delivery systems including asynchronous email, video and chat communication, and closed-circuit video conferencing. They include services delivered by professionals such as psychiatrists, social workers, psychologists, counsellors and nurses as well as self-help groups with a therapeutic purpose and supportive services provided by trained volunteers. This book presents the most current research on online practice. Topics include: descriptions of innovative online practice, evaluation studies of online practice with specific disorders, meta-analysis of the effectiveness of online practice, education and training of online practitioners, methods for the delivery of online practice, organizational policy and ethical issues related to online practice, online crisis intervention and hotline services, and considerations for meeting legal and ethical requirements of online practice. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Technology in Human Services.

Jerry Finn is currently a Professor of Social Work, University of Washington Tacoma teaching research and human behavior. He serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Information Technology in Human Services and several other social science journals, and is co-editor of the Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics. Dick Schoech is a Professor teaching administration, community practice, and human services technology at the University of Texas -Arlington (UTA), School of Social Work. He the chair of HUSITA (www.husita.org), an international organization promoting the ethical and effective use of technology to better serve humanity and is the founding editor (1985) of The Journal of Technology in Human Services, published by Taylor and Francis.

1. Introduction Jerry Finn and Dick Schoech 2. A Comprehensive Review and a Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Internet-Based Psychotherapeutic Interventions Azy Barak, Liat Hen, Meyran Boniel-Nissim and Na'ama Shapira 3. Development of a New Approach to Guided Self-Help via the Internet: The Swedish Experience Gerhard Andersson, Jan Bergstrom, Monica Buhrman, Per Carlbring, Fredrik Hollndare, Viktor Kaldo, Elisabeth Nilsson-Ihrfelt, Bjorn Paxling, Lars Strom and Johan Waara 4. An Internet-Based Self-Help Program for the Treatment of Fear of Public Speaking: A Case Study C. Botella, M. J. Gallego, A. Garcia-Palacios, R. M. Banos, S. Quero and V. Guillen 5. Evaluation of the RAINN National Sexual Assault Online Hotline Jerry Finn and Penelope Hughes 6. A Safe Place for Predators: Online Treatment of Recovering Sex Offenders Poco D. Kernsmith and Roger M. Kernsmith 7. The Need for Web-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy Among University Students Ove K. Lintvedt, Kristian Srensen, Andreas R. Ostvik, Bas Verplanken and Catharina E. Wang 8. Issues in the Evaluation of an Online Prevention Exercise Bhavana Pahwa and Dick Schoech 9. The LivePerson Model for Delivery of Etherapy Services: A Case Study Jerry Finn and Sharon Bruce 10. Ethical Issues in the Provision of Online Mental Health Services (Etherapy) Donna M. Midkiff and W. Joseph Wyatt 11. How Sturdy is that Digital Couch? Legal Considerations for Mental Health Professionals Who Deliver Clinical Services via the Internet Jason S. Zack 12. Best Practices in Online Therapy Jo-Anne M. Abbott, Britt Klein Lisa and Lisa Ciechomski 13. Grounding Online Prevention Interventions in Theory: Guidelines from a Review of Selected Theories and Research Brian Peng and Dick Schoech 14. Design Imperatives to Enhance Evidence-Based Interventions with Persuasive Technology: A Case Scenario in Preventing Child Maltreatment Walter LaMendola and Judy Krysik 15. Therapeutic Applications of Online Gaming Paul P. Freddolino and Christina M. Blaschke 16. Cybercounseling Online: The Development of a University-Based Training Program for E-mail Counseling Lawrence Murphy, Robert MacFadden and Dan Mitchell 17. Etherapy: A Training Program for Development of Clinical Skills in Distance Psychotherapy Georgina Cardenas, Berenice Serrano, Lorena Flores and Anabel Rosa 18. Conclusion Jerry Finn and Dick Schoech