Plus, no one can say how effective e-therapy is. The APA views e-therapy as a supplement to conventional counseling. Yet for many others, the Web may be their only option. A December 1999 U.S. Surgeon General report shows that nearly two-thirds of people with diagnosable mental disorders never seek treatment. A lingering stigma against therapy is a major reason, one that could be erased by the anonymity of virtual treatment.
Many people also live far from a certified therapist or are just too busy.
Under these circumstances, e-therapy can help. Maricle found, too, that her treatment was less costly than office visits. All Rights Reserved Ziff Davis Media and ZDNet are independent companies and are no longer affiliated with each other.