Copyright 1995-2001 Martha Ainsworth. All rights reserved. Click on the book icon below to find more on the subject. There are now several dozen websites devoted entirely to online care. The hosted chatrooms , in which a psychologist is present as moderator, are especially popular.
Many people also use self-help groups, for example for depression or relational problems.
Counseling for sexual problems is also available on the Web. An observation of an online support group on eating problems revealed that the sessions served mainly to impart information, share experiences, and offer emotional support. Unhealthy postings, such as anonymous tips about laxatives, were the exception. Nevertheless, America s psychological associations are treating this development with caution. They say the two top areas of uncertainty concern whether U.S. therapists are allowed to treat patients outside their own state, and how to protect the exchange of confidential information from being accessed by unauthorized readers.