During this time we also discussed issues of confidentiality and the protocol for the group. It was decided that each week one person would present an issue to the other group members. After that, the group therapist would write an overview of what he thought or would ask questions of various individuals to expand upon or clarify what they had expressed. Each segment was done by email to the whole group and took one week. Issues arose about whether email communications which were spontaneous and related to personal situations would be permitted or whether that would result in chaos.
Group therapy is a valid method of treatment for many psychopathologies.
The development and research of online support groups will add another modality to this from of intervention. Training courses are being developed that will assist professionals in gaining the knowledge needed to effectively lead online support groups. Video connections may allow future therapists to work with video mail and video conferences as a means of implementing support groups for geographical remote members.