Citation

Bhuvaneswar CG, Gutheil TG. Am. J. Psychother. 2008; 62(3): 241-261.

Affiliation

University of Pennsylvania, Department of Psychiatry, USA. mahadeviyakka@hotmail.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Association for the Advancement of Psychotherapy)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

18846971

Abstract

In this paper, we consider the use of e-mail in psychotherapy and its impact on the experience of therapy for both patient and clinician. We discuss in detail the potential for boundary compromise by e-mail use and consider how e-mail may undermine the therapeutic alliance and the cultivation of empathy. Case studies illustrate the possible positive aspects of e-mail and elucidate several fundamental problems with any use of e-mail in psychodynamic treatment.

Language: en