Mental health is changing. Some of the most exciting technological developments in the history of humankind are occurring right now. Whether it's treatment, research, or the nature of today's patients, today's professional must adapt to the high-tech paradigm of the new millennium.

People who seek mental health treatment most likely use computers at work, school, or home. Whether sitting behind a screen, using video conferencing, or computer software, adults, kids, families, friends use computers as partners, associates, assistants, and research tools. Then they go home to computers who are household members - from big screen TVs and AOL to cell phones and kitchen tools.

People work, make friends, communicate, make plans, and play in computerized worlds. They do just about everything online, in simulated environments, that they do offline. These are the experiences and relationships mental health professionals hear about every day. Kids leave school and instead of hanging out on street corners they go to chat rooms. Young people meet significant others online - they hang out, they date, and they eventually meet offline. Many cyber-relationships lead to marriage. One matchmaking service boasts over 700,000 registered members. But this isn't the sole domain of the young. There are sites for senior citizens looking for partners - as well as every specific interest, orientation or preference. And the friendships, professional affiliations, business contacts are all part of our daily lives.

This leads to a whole host of new disorders - everything from compulsive overuse to cyberinfidelitites. The bottom line is that the internet - and all our cyberspaces - are computerized simulations of our lives off-line. If we don't use computers, the internet, multimedia, and virtual reality in mental health we ignore a very large part of our patients' lives.

Check out Dr. Fink's books and articles, exploring critical issues for mental health professionals practicing in an electronic age.

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