FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT TO INTERVENTION IN DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Covid- pandemics exerted limitations and fostered developments in clinical psychology assessment, intervention, education and supervision practices. The hard-to-reach professional services are becoming more available, new technological solutions are offered for both assessment and therapeutic techniques, communication between different parties is facilitated and, while disembodied, the Internet-assisted interaction must be thought as an ecologically valid one in contemporary world. We propose a term “telepathopsychology” for a discipline that designates both the clinical and abnormal psychology practices in virtual format and the scientifi c study of risks for health inherent to the usage of digital technologies. The practice of Internet-assisted clinical psychological assessment can be conceptualized using the metaphor of dramatic action to underline some particularities that distinguish it from ordinary assessment. The construct of “performance” points to the role-taking aspect inherent in any virtual behavior and importance of the process of mutual creation of the images of both the psychologist and the client. The idea of “curtains” indicates the limitation of space and a special focus that leaves important circumstances “behind the stage”, including people that can perform as prompters or audience. “Stage direction” involves idea and “liberal theatre” with possibilities for rule-breaking, role-reversals and enjoyment of omnipotence, in example via cheating on psychologist and of Internet being a “deviant place”. Finally, metaphor singles out the need for creativity and openness to experience required from both psychologist and the client. For both assessment and psychotherapy intervention in the digital format does not present critical technical diffi culties and opens opportunities to develop a more contemporary, open, non-expert, participatory and help-oriented approach, particularly when working with children.