Into the unknown of psychotherapy and online social media

Abstract

As psychotherapists we cannot avoid the significant impact and relevance of online social media to our thinking about relationships. This article discusses the world of online social media and its relationship to psychotherapy. The rise of and exponential increase in interactive online social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and blogging have been collectively dubbed “Web 2.0.” This term refers to the fact that the internet has become a user-interactive space for relating and, as such, increasing numbers of people are starting and maintaining personal and professional relationships online. The article provides a brief introduction to these terms, relevant websites, and the different uses and applications of these sites. Some relevant research into the effects of the use of social media on mood and experiences of social relationships is also included. Research in this field supports the idea that our online relating is consistent with our offline behaviour. The article concludes with some guidelines based on being a “participant observer” and psychotherapist.

Whakarāpopoto

Kāre e taea e tātou e ngā kaiwhakaora hinengaro te karo i te paanga me te hāngai o te hapori pāpāho ipurangi ki tā tātou aronga atu ki te whakawhanaungatanga. E matapakihia ana e tēnei tuhinga te ao o te hapori pāpāho ipurangi me tōna pānga atu ki te whakaoranga hinengaro. Ko te aranga, ā, te pikinga ake hoki o te hapori kōmitimiti pāpāho ipurangi pēnei i a Matapuka (Facebook), Tiotio (Twitter), Honomai (Linkedin), me blogging kua tapaina katoahia ēnei ko “Paetuku tuarua.” E tohu ana tēnei kupu ki te meka kua riro te ipurangi ki tētahi ātea taumahitahi hai whakawhanaunga ā, nā tērā, ka rahi ake ngā tāngata e tīmata, e ū ana ki ngā mahi whakahoahoa ā-mahi, ā-whaiaro mā te ipurangi. He whakaaturanga poto tā tēnei tuhinga ki ngā kupu, ngā paetukutuku, me ngā tūmomo mahi katoa ā ēnei tauranga ipurangi. Kua whakaurua mai hoki ngā rangahau e hāngai ana ki te hua puta ake mai i ngā mahinga hapori pāpāho ki te whanonga me ngā wheako. Ko ngā rāngahau mai i tēnei āpure e tautoko ana i te ariā e rite ana ngā whanaungatanga ipurangi ki tērā whanonga o waho mai. E waiho ana ētahi aratohu i puta ake i te kaupapa “hoamahi kaititiro” me te kaiwhakaora hinengaro hai whakamutu ake i tēnei tuhinga.