The Edge: Peak Performance Psychology

Essentials of optimal performance.

Changing the Map of the (Psychotherapy) World

Have you gotten information about your therapist via the Internet?

Have you been in psychotherapy, and either sought or found information about your therapist on the Internet? If so, you are invited to participate in a survey, "Clients Encountering Therapist Information on the Internet."

Let me tell you a bit about the survey:

  • It's being conducted by two licensed psychologists, Drs. Keely Kolmes and Dan Taube. They both are engaged in the process of learning about best practices as we all come to understand more about the ways in which the net has an impact on so much in our lives-including various aspects of psychotherapy;
  • In order to participate, you need to be 18 years old or older, currently in psychotherapy or have been in psychotherapy in the past-and have encountered or sought information about your therapist on the Internet;
  • Your participation in the survey will either be entirely anonymous or, if you are interested in contacting Drs. Kolmes or Taube, may become confidential rather than anonymous;
  • Whether or not you participate, you are welcome to share the link to the survey with others who might qualify and wish to participate.

I'm not involved in the survey at all. I am, though, very interested in the ways in which our interactions as therapists and clients are influenced and changing because of the internet. What's going on is not anywhere near as revolutionary or truly map-changing as other events currently in the news, but it is important that we all come to understand the changes that are happening in the psychotherapy world.

I've "met" Dr. Kolmes through an email list of the American Psychological Association's Division of Psychologists in Independent Practice http://www.apa.org/about/division/div42.aspx. She's that Division's Director of Digital Communications. I'm looking forward to meeting her in person in a few weeks: she will be participating in a workshop at the Annual Convention of the Ontario Psychological Association http://www.psych.on.ca/ concerning "Digital Boundaries": the use of technology in clinical practice.

Interested in this research? For detailed information, go to Dr. Kolmes' blog: http://bit.ly/heuEqv

And meanwhile, speaking of psychology and psychotherapy: In Canada, February is Psychology Month! "Psychology is for everyone" is the very apt slogan. General information is available @ http://www.cpa.ca/februaryispsychologymonth/ or check out what is happening in your locale by contacting your provincial psychology association.

 



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Kate F. Hays, Ph.D., is a psychologist and author whose practice in Toronto, The Performing Edge, focuses on sport and performance psychology.

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