Semantics and Cybertherapy

• Semantics and Cybertherapy by Peter Chechele, 7/18/98
  
  

I agree, Peter. Language lets us down here. In addition to being handicapped by the language we use in face-to-face contacts, I believe we are handicapped by the medical model.

We often seem to think that the only way to use our expertise to help someone is to "diagnose" them and "treat" them. I believe that we can be helpful to people without doing that. The shift that some mental health professionals are making toward assisting organizations (as reflected on this site) is a similar shift in thinking.

I know that one early use of the term "Cybertherapy" was in a May 96 US News and World Report article at http://www4.usnews.com/usnews/issue/shrink.htm .

Leonard

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