Psychoanalysis and Shrinkyourself

[salambo]

It sounds like the underlying theory of the Shrinkyourself method is Lacanian psychoanalysis, although the method itself does not seem to be the traditional psychoanalytic technique. Do you think web-based 'self'-treatment can be a substitute for the interpersonal dynamics of the psychoanalytic transference?

[Jaquta]

If the self-help treatment is interactive and offers insights (and the person is receptive to them) then yes I believe it could be as effective.
You're right, transference's are rife on the forums.

I think the concept has both advantages and disadvantages.

I think if you have a good clinician/ community leader then it would be OK.  

I would say I have had a degree of experience of both web-based support and personal therapy.  I think the biggest asset is the skill and experience of the therapist.  I think personal qualities of a T are also very important.

I think there probably is a place for something like what you mention.  I think it would require people to adapt and also to change their attitudes.

Most banking, etc is automated these days, why not therapy?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

that is a very good question, and it is hard to give a short answer...I have incorporated the principles of psychoanalysis and my practice into a self learning process...at the end of the day, the person has to learn something new regardless of the method the therapist uses.  This is an opportunity to do that to scale at an extremely low price.

But wait a week, and go to my new website launch...www.masteringmylife.com....take the free session and look at the Smart Plan for a Better Life....there you will see how I have taken four critical elements of therapy and transformed them into a self help learning project.

[salambo]

Thanks Jaquta, I intuitively agree with you on this, however even in this posting board the transference of common posters on the Doctor ( the position one gradually assumes within this virtual community ), is literally (a)live and kicking.  I just wonder whether this could initiate us in a new realm of treatment: groups analysis, albeit much cheaper and widely accessible than the current paradigm.

[Jaquta]

In my experience the therapeutic relationship is the most important tool in eliciting change.  
I think in certain contexts (inaccessible treatment, etc) that web-based self-help treatment programs could be (and are) used as a substitute but I would doubt that they would be as effective as working with the transference.

That's just one lay-persons perspective.  It's hard for me to conceive that a self-help program would be more effective than a private consult.  I guess it comes back to the integrity of the relationship though.  And also the goals of treatment.