Patient- Centered Internet Counseling Services

Background: Literature has clarified positive relationship between psychological problems (i.e. suicide, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, some personality disorders, internet addiction, and narcissism) and the usage of Social Networking Sites (SNSs) such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Linkedin, Bebo, Telegram, Instagram, Tumblr, Flickr, etc. Nevertheless, the Internet is one a useful multi-faceted mass media. The computer-mediated communication and the Internet can be used for the patients who do not intend to face-to-face interventions and also face-to-face contacts with their therapists. Crisis Intervention and counseling via email is one of innovation therapy modes. There are some possibilities and advantages for crisis intervention and counseling by e-mail. The use of the Internet and e-mail can be considered as a method of interaction between patients and therapists in Iran. In this paper using situations, special problems, structure, process and effectiveness usage of the Internet and e-mail in crisis intervention and counseling will be discussed.