March 2010

Dana Scarton, The Washington Post has written interesting article Google and Facebook raise new issues for therapists and their clients

“We are just beginning to understand what ethical issues the Internet is raising,” says Stephen Behnke, ethics director for the American Psychological Association. “To write rules that allow our field to grow and develop and yet prevent [patient] harm at the same time: That’s the challenge.”In fact, the tremendous availability online of personal information threatens to alter what has been an almost sacred relationship between therapist and patient. Link to read full article

Source: Washington Post

Fast food makes people impatient

burgerFast food is not only bad for your body but may also harm your bank account.

Eating habits have shifted dramatically over the last few decades — fast food has become a multibillion dollar industry that has widespread influence on what and how we eat. The original idea behind fast food is to increase efficiency, allowing people to quickly finish a meal so they can move on to other matters. [continue reading…]

Social Networks have been both embraced and vilified by the American public. Go ahead and bellyache aboutTwitter tips them, but like it our not they are here to stay.

On March 17, 12010 the Pew Internet and American Life Project was released, it showed that 8 in 10 internet have looked online for health information. Many patients say the internet has had a significant impact on the way they care for themselves or for other. 20% of these patients are going to social networking sites where they are sharing what they know and learn from their peers.

The impact Web 2.0 technologies bring to the balance of power between the client and professional is significant. The challenge for us as psychologists is in just how we will adapt and use this tool to reach out and connect to others in new and exciting ways. [continue reading…]