Internet som samtalsrum
En studie som undersöker videosamtal över Internet som samtalsarena för stödsamtal
Internet's entry into our home has changed our communication capabilities. As a result more and more services in the digital world are available. Besides e.g. shopping, gaming and general information, different social networks now offer preventive and therapeutic health-oriented services. When being asked by several young people, with whom I have been working in a clinical setting, to offer conversations over the Internet that enables both to see and to hear each other in real time, I decided to conduct a pilot study which is presented in this paper. The aim was to investigate the feasibility of offering supportive therapy using video calls over the Internet. In addition questions concerning technology, alliance, affects, and frame were studied. Three young women after initial clinical assessment by the therapist, participated in the study and they were offered ten sessions of supportive therapy from autumn 2009 to spring 2010. The starting point of the study was exploratory with a hermeneutical approach and both qualitative as well as quantitative evaluations. Results showed that the alliance was well developed. However, the affective work was not as good as in traditional therapy because of picture/sound limitations altering both how much one could see in the picture as well as the quality of transmission. Furthermore, participants experienced the method as very positive for their treatment. They described to be encouraged to open up through the use of the technology which somehow bridged the distance. In addition, participants perceived it as positive to be able to stay at home in a comfortable and safe environment.In conclusion, this technical tool and setting can be useful for supportive therapy but occasionally requires other approaches and tools compared to traditional therapy. More extensive studies should be carried out in order investigate which target groups may benefit from using this technology in supportive therapy.