Digital Forms of Psychological Support in the Post-Pandemic Era: Between Technology and Therapeutic Relationship
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18778/2300-1690.29.06Keywords:
psychological support, online therapy, artificial intelligence, e-health, COVID-19 pandemicAbstract
The article analyzes the development and functioning of online forms of psychological support, which gained particular significance during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It discusses various modalities—ranging from video therapy and chat-based counseling to self-help programs and AI-assisted tools. Attention is given to both the potential and the limitations of online therapy, with emphasis on ethical, legal, and technological issues. The analysis integrates a scholarly perspective with the author’s practical experience as a psychologist working online. The findings indicate that psychological support delivered via the Internet constitutes an essential component of the contemporary therapeutic landscape. Despite numerous advantages—such as increased accessibility and anonymity—these forms of support require continued reflection on ethical and legal grounds. Their effectiveness depends on the therapist’s competencies, the quality of the therapeutic relationship, and technological security.
Downloads
References
Aronson, J. K. (2001). Use of the Telephone in Psychotherapy. New York: Jason Aronson Publishers
Chang, Y.-L. B. (2024). Applications of AI-powered Conversational Chatbot for Mental Health, Highlights in Science Engineering and Technology, 120:43–48. https://doi.org/10.54097/4vcjj296 DOI: https://doi.org/10.54097/4vcjj296
Colì, E., Gavrila, L., Cozzo, D., Falcone, R., (2024). Online psychological support in the COVID‐19 era: Social representations, trust and perceived effectiveness from the perspective of mental health service users in Italy, Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 24(4), 1415–1431 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12779
Council on Bioethics Raport. (2022). The role of technology in mental healthcare, Nuffield Council on Bioethics. https://www.nuffieldbioethics.org/wp-content/uploads/NCOB-Briefing-The-role-of-technology-in-mental-healthcare.pdf
Davey, E., Bryant-Waugh, R., Bennett, S. D., Micali, N., Baudinet, J., Konstantellou, A., Clark-Stone, S., Green, A., & Shafran, R. (2025). Guided Self-Help Treatment for Children and Young People With Eating Disorders: A Proof-Of-Concept Pilot Study, European eating disorders review: The Journal of the Eating Disorders Association, 33(3), 595–607. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.3171 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.3171
Davis, N., & Calitz, K. (2014). Online support groups: a review of the literature, International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 8(1), 1–12
Dinger, U., Morschek, L., Nyblade, L., Stangl, A., Israel, D., Schopper, A., Thanbichler, E., Zumbaum-Fischer, F., Hippchen, T., Merle, U., Tarbet, K., & Nikendei, C. (2022). Psychosomatic-psychotherapeutic support for Covid-19 patients in domestic quarantine: a content analysis of supportive telephone calls, Zeitschrift Fur Psychosomatische Medizin Und Psychotherapie, 68 3(3), 283–296. https://doi.org/10.13109/zptm.2022.68.3.283 DOI: https://doi.org/10.13109/zptm.2022.68.3.283
Dohnány, S., Kurth-Nelson, Z., Spens, E., Luettgau, L., Reid, A., Gabriel, I., Summerfield, Ch., Shanahan, M., Nour, M. M. (28 July 2025). Technological folie à deux: Feedback Loops Between AI Chatbots and Mental Illness, arXiv:
Dominiak, M., Gędek, A., Antosik, A.Z. and Mierzejewski, P. (2024). Mobile health for mental health support: a survey of attitudes and concerns among mental health professionals in Poland over the period 2020 – 2023. Front, Psychiatry 15:1303878. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1303878 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1303878
Dutz, C., et al. (2016). Usability challenges in the design of mHealth apps for elderly users with chronic diseases: A systematic review, Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 23(6), 1144–1152
Dupré H. M., (10 June 2025). People Are Becoming Obsessed with ChatGPT and Spiraling Into Severe Delusions”, Futurism. Retrieved 29 June 2025
Fang, A., Yang, W., Shah, R.S., Mathur, Y., Yang, D., Zhu, H., Kraut, R., (2023). What Makes Digital Support Effective? How Therapeutic Skills Affect Clinical Well-Being. Human-Computer Interaction, arXiv:2312.10775 [cs.HC]. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2312.10775 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3641029
Farzan, M., Ebrahimi, H., Pourali, M., et al. (2024). Artificial Intelligence-Powered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Chatbots, a Systematic Review, Iranian Journal of Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.18502/ijps.v20i1.17395 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijps.v20i1.17395
Fernandez, E., Salem, D., Swift, J. K., & Ramtahal, N. (2015). Meta-analysis of dropout from cognitive behavioral therapy: Magnitude, timing, and moderators, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 83(6), 1108–1122. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000044 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000044
Fieldhouse, R. (18 September 2025). “Can AI chatbots trigger psychosis? What the science says”. Nature. 646 (8083): 18–19. Bibcode:2025Natur.646…18F. doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03020-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-03020-9
Gallegos, C., Kausler, R., Alderden, J., Davis, M., Wang, L. (2024). Can Artificial Intelligence Chatbots Improve Mental Health? A Scoping Review. Comput Inform Nurs. 2024 Oct 1;42(10):731–736. doi: 10.1097/CIN.0000000000001155. PMID: 38934788 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/CIN.0000000000001155
Griffiths, K. M., Crisp, D., Christensen, H., Mackinnon, A. J., & Bennett, K. (2010). The ANU WellBeing study: a protocol for a quasi-factorial randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of an Internet support group and an automated Internet intervention for depression, BMC psychiatry, 10, 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-10-20 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-10-20
He, Y., Zhu, X., Wu, B., et al. (2022). Mental Health Chatbot for Young Adults With Depressive Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Single-Blind, Three-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial, Journal of Medical Internet Research. Nov 21; 24(11)e 40719. doi:10.2196/40719 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/40719
Hill, K. (13 June 2025). “They Asked an A.I. Chatbot Questions. The Answers Sent Them Spiraling”. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025
Kazimierska-Zajac, Magdalena & Ślósarz, Luba. (2022). E-therapy during a pandemic in Poland and worldwide – a temporary trend or a new reality? E-methodology. 8(8). 9–15. DOI: 10.15503/emet.2021.9.15 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15503/emet.2021.9.15
Keinonen, K., Lappalainen, P., Puolakanaho, A., Kaipainen, K., Lappalainen, R., & Kiuru, N. (2024). Brief online ACT intervention to improve adolescents’ well-being: Effectiveness among adolescents with depressive symptoms during COVID-19, Children and Youth Services Review, 161, 1–6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107671
Klikovac, T. (2015). The First Telephone Line for the Psychological Support to Oncological Patients and Their Family Members in Serbia, Srpski Arhiv Za Celokupno Lekarstvo, 143, 726–730. https://doi.org/10.2298/SARH1512726K DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/SARH1512726K
Kokotailo, R. A., Kent, A. C., & Choy, A. (2018). The Use of Text Messaging for Peer Support Among Counselling Psychology Graduate Students. 2(1), 1–17. https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/ep/article/view/43031
Koulouri, T., Macredie, R. D., & Olakitan, D. (2022). Chatbots to Support Young Adults’ Mental Health: An Exploratory Study of Acceptability. ACM Transactions on Interactive Intelligent Systems, Vol 12(2). https://doi.org/10.1145/3485874 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3485874
Kyndait, P., Komu, L.T., Jamir, S.I., Baishya, D., Kalita, J.K., Das, P.J.,(2024). The Role of Technology in Mental Health: Evaluating Digital Interventions for Psychological Well-being, International Journal of Scientific Research in Science and Technology, Volume 11, Issue 6, 366–386. https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRST24116186 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRST24116186
Lagetto, G., Teti, A., Fortunato, L., Urone, C., Gullo, S., Ciccarese, G., Lardo, P. P.. Gelo, O. C. G. (2024). The therapeutic relationship in videoconferencing psychotherapy: a qualitative study of therapists’ experiences, Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 21(5), 418–435 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.169106268.86734033/v1
Lopes, R.M., Silva. A.F., Rodrigues, A.C.A., Melo, V. (2024). Chatbots for Well-Being: Exploring the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Mood Enhancement and Mental Health, Eur Psychiatry. 2024 Aug 27;67(Suppl 1):S550–1. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2024.1143 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2024.1143
Machado D., M., Castañeda M., R., Gómez F., I., Alonso M., C. M., & León de la Torre, A. (2021). Experiencia del servicio de consejería telefónica a personas con afectaciones psicológicas asociadas al aislamiento social, MediSur, vol. 19(3), 448–454. http://scielo.sld.cu/pdf/ms/v19n3/1727-897X-ms-19-03-448454.pdf
Manole, A., Cârciumaru, R., Brînzaș, R., Manole, F., (2024). An Exploratory Investigation of Chatbot Applications in Anxiety Management: A Focus on Personalized Interventions, Information, 16(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/info16010011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/info16010011
Marciano, L., Saboor, S. (2023). Reinventing mental health care in youth through mobile approaches: Current status and future steps, Frontiers in Psychology, Vol 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1126015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1126015
Moore, J., Grabb, D., Agnew, W., Klyman, K., Chancellor, S., Ong, D. C., Haber, N. (23 June 2025). Expressing stigma and inappropriate responses prevents LLMS from safely replacing mental health providers. Proceedings of the 2025 ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (s. 599–627). doi:10.1145/3715275.3732039 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3715275.3732039
Østergaard, S. D. (29 November 2023). Will Generative Artificial Intelligence Chatbots Generate Delusions in Individuals Prone to Psychosis? Schizophrenia Bulletin. 49 (6): 1418–1419. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbad128 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbad128
Pan, X., et al. (2019). The effectiveness of online support groups for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 26(11), 1334–1343
Rayland A, Andrews J (2023). From Social Network to Peer Support Network: Opportunities to Explore Mechanisms of Online Peer Support for Mental Health, JMIR Ment Health, Vol 10:e41855. doi: 10.2196/41855
Rainey, L. C. (1985). Cancer Counseling by Telephone Help-Line: The UCLA Psychosocial Cancer Counseling Line, Public Health Reports (1974-), 100(3), 308–315. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20056478
Rayland A, Andrews J. (2023). From Social Network to Peer Support Network: Opportunities to Explore Mechanisms of Online Peer Support for Mental Health, JMIR Ment Health 2023;10:e41855; doi: 10.2196/41855 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/41855
Reynolds, L. R., Springer, P. R., Taylor, N. C., Bischoff, R. J., & Cobb, R. A. (2024). Building Therapeutic Relationships Via Teletherapy. W: Cobb, R.A. (red). The Therapist’s Notebook for Systemic Teletherapy (s.21–24). New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003289920-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003289920-5
Rudwan, S. (2023). Online Psychological Care and Psychotherapy: Reality, Evidence, and Indicators, International Journal of Scientific Research, 2(11), 4. https://doi.org/10.59992/ijsr.2023.v2n11p4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.59992/IJSR.2023.v2n11p4
Rządeczka, M., Sterna,A., Stolińska,J., Kaczyńska, P., Moskalewicz, M., (2024), The Efficacy of Conversational Artificial Intelligence in Rectifying the. Theory of Mind and Autonomy Biases: Comparative Analysis, JMIR Mental Health, June 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2406.13813 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/64396
Shegekar, G. R., Gajbhiye, S. R., Bhosale, G. S., & Adikane, S. S. (2024). Review Paper on AI Chatbot for Mental Health Support, International Journal For Science Technology And Engineering, 12(10), 252–254. https://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2024.64499 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2024.64499
Smith, K., Ostinelli, E., Macdonald, O., & Cipriani, A. (2020). COVID-19 and Telepsychiatry: Development of Evidence – Based Guidance for Clinicians, JMIR Mental Health, 7(8), e21108. https://doi.org/10.2196/21108 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/21108
Song J, Litvin B, Allred R, Chen S, Hull TD, Areán PA (2023), Comparing Message-Based Psychotherapy to Once-Weekly, Video-Based Psychotherapy for Moderate Depression: Randomized Controlled Trial, J Med Internet Res, Vol 25, e46052; https://doi.org/10.2196/preprints.46052 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/46052
Stargell, N. A. (2017). Therapeutic Relationship and Outcome Effectiveness: Implications for Counselor Educators, Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision 9(2), 7. https://doi.org/10.7729/92.1164 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7729/92.1164
Stern Emilie, Breton Zélia, Alexaline Maïa, Geoffroy Pierre A., Bungener Catherine, (2025). Redefining the relationship in digital care: A qualitative study of the Digital Therapeutic Alliance, Encephale. 2025 Jun;51(3):227–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.encep.2024.02.011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.encep.2024.02.011
Simpson, D. D., & Reid, R. C. (2012). The Therapeutic Relationship in E-Therapy for Mental Health: A Systematic Review, Journal of Medical Internet Research, 14(4). doi:10.2196/jmir.2084 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.2084
Thomason, K., K. (14 June 2025). “How Emotional Manipulation Causes ChatGPT Psychosis”, Psychology Today, Retrieved 29 June 2025
White, M., Dorman, S.M. (2001). The limitations of online communication in mental health support, Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 4(6), 723–727
White, M., Dorman, S. (2002). Receiving social support online: Implications for health education, Health Education Research. 16, 693–707. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/16.6.693 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/her/16.6.693
Xu, B., & Zhuang, Z. (2020). Survey on psychotherapy chatbots, Concurrency and Computation: Practice and Experience: Volume 34, Issue 7. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpe.6170 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cpe.6170
https://www.hipaajournal.com/healthcare-data-breach-statistics/
https://cybersecuritycrc.org.au/mental-health-apps-privacy-risks
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
