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Clinical perfectionism has been associated with a number of cognitive and behavioural difficulties including work strain, procrastination, burnout, sleep disturbance, and problems with rumination, intimacy, emotional expressiveness, and assertiveness. In addition, it has been recognised as a vulnerability factor for the development and maintenance of several psychological disorders, such as eating disorders, obsessive– compulsive disorder, social anxiety, and depression. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is a well-established treatment modality that has been demonstrated to be an effective intervention for clinical perfectionism. Recently, advances have been made in terms of the online delivery of effective CBT-based interventions. This study explored whether an eight-week online, guided self-help treatment for elevated clinical perfectionism produced clinically significant reductions in perfectionism, self-criticism, stress, low mood and anxiety, and increases in self-esteem within an adult New Zealand sample. The study included mixed methods, using a case series methodology with an AB plus follow-up design. It included both a reliable and clinically significant change (RCSC) analysis of repeated measures and a thematic analysis of module reflections and interviews completed at follow-up. Twelve participants completed weekly measures of perfectionism, mood, self-criticism and self-esteem over a four-week baseline phase and eight-week intervention, and then completed follow-up measures and an interview two months post-treatment. The intervention included eight weekly online self-help modules of CBT for clinical perfectionism (CBT-P) guided by the lead researcher. Interviews were completed individually with each participant to better understand how they experienced the treatment under investigation and changes to their clinical perfectionism and related difficulties. This study explored the hypotheses that: 1) the treatment would produce clinically significant reduct

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for depression; however lack of available practitioners and lack of resources in secondary mental health settings, mean patients often don’t receive this treatment. Self-help approaches including computer-based self-help are one option to meet this unmet need. However there is little research examining the effectiveness of computer-based self-help in primary care, and no current research conducted in a New Zealand sample. ‘Overcoming Depression’, a six session computer-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) programme for depression has demonstrated effectiveness in significantly reducing symptoms of depression in a pilot study in a clinical psychology clinic (Whitfield, Hinshelwood, Pashely, Campsie & Williams, 2006). The current study investigated the acceptability and effectiveness of ‘Overcoming Depression’ in General Practice in New Zealand. The current study is divided into two parts. The first part of this research was a survey of patients in general practice which showed that computer-based self-help is acceptable and most patients would be willing to try this as a treatment for depression. The second part of the research involved a randomized controlled trial of ‘Overcoming Depression’ in general practice. In this study ‘Overcoming Depression’ was found to significantly reduce depression as measured by the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) and the Primary Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). However due to low statistical power no significant differences were found between the ‘Overcoming Depression’ and a waiting list control group. While all completers evaluated the programme positively, low up-take and high drop out rates suggest that there needs to be careful consideration of how best to integrate this type of treatment in to primary care settings.

The field of counselling has started to incorporate advanced communication technology as a way to increase therapy access to clients. There is a mounting body of research regarding the use of these technologies to deliver viable online treatment for many mental health disorders. This project aims to clarify the current status of treating anxiety and depressive disorders online. The project is an extensive review of the literature related to the online treatment of anxiety and depression, including theoretical approaches to treatment, a review of the research on the effectiveness of existing online therapeutic programs, and a discussion of key ethical considerations. The goal of the project is to provide research-based recommendations for therapists interested in incorporating advanced communication technology into their current practice.

The field of counselling has started to incorporate advanced communication technology as a way to increase therapy access to clients. There is a mounting body of research regarding the use of these technologies to deliver viable online treatment for many mental health disorders. This project aims to clarify the current status of treating anxiety and depressive disorders online. The project is an extensive review of the literature related to the online treatment of anxiety and depression, including theoretical approaches to treatment, a review of the research on the effectiveness of existing online therapeutic programs, and a discussion of key ethical considerations. The goal of the project is to provide research-based recommendations for therapists interested in incorporating advanced communication technology into their current practice.

The field of counselling has started to incorporate advanced communication technology as a way to increase therapy access to clients. There is a mounting body of research regarding the use of these technologies to deliver viable online treatment for many mental health disorders. This project aims to clarify the current status of treating anxiety and depressive disorders online. The project is an extensive review of the literature related to the online treatment of anxiety and depression, including theoretical approaches to treatment, a review of the research on the effectiveness of existing online therapeutic programs, and a discussion of key ethical considerations. The goal of the project is to provide research-based recommendations for therapists interested in incorporating advanced communication technology into their current practice.

The field of counselling has started to incorporate advanced communication technology as a way to increase therapy access to clients. There is a mounting body of research regarding the use of these technologies to deliver viable online treatment for many mental health disorders. This project aims to clarify the current status of treating anxiety and depressive disorders online. The project is an extensive review of the literature related to the online treatment of anxiety and depression, including theoretical approaches to treatment, a review of the research on the effectiveness of existing online therapeutic programs, and a discussion of key ethical considerations. The goal of the project is to provide research-based recommendations for therapists interested in incorporating advanced communication technology into their current practice.

On-line therapeutic writing Web sites introduce new technology for providing information about various types of writing therapy methods and for delivering related therapy. This project has two dimensions - a literature review and an applied component. The first part of the literature review presents a general overview of on-line counselling. The second part focuses on practice-based and evidence-based research on various writing therapy techniques. The final part of the literature review addresses Web site evaluation. The second part of this project responds to the virtually non-existent standards for assessing writing therapy Web sites and the need for criteria to assist counsellors interested in finding reliable on-line writing therapy Web sites. Based on the literature review a set of criteria for assessing writing therapy Web sites were established. Five of the most reliable Web sites that met the standards are discussed. Limitations of the project and recommendations for the future of writing therapy Web sites are offered. Appendix A of this project provides a manual that may be used as a reference for counsellors wishing to find reliable on-line writing therapy Web sites. The information in this manual contains the pertinent details discussed in this project.

On-line therapeutic writing Web sites introduce new technology for providing information about various types of writing therapy methods and for delivering related therapy. This project has two dimensions - a literature review and an applied component. The first part of the literature review presents a general overview of on-line counselling. The second part focuses on practice-based and evidence-based research on various writing therapy techniques. The final part of the literature review addresses Web site evaluation. The second part of this project responds to the virtually non-existent standards for assessing writing therapy Web sites and the need for criteria to assist counsellors interested in finding reliable on-line writing therapy Web sites. Based on the literature review a set of criteria for assessing writing therapy Web sites were established. Five of the most reliable Web sites that met the standards are discussed. Limitations of the project and recommendations for the future of writing therapy Web sites are offered. Appendix A of this project provides a manual that may be used as a reference for counsellors wishing to find reliable on-line writing therapy Web sites. The information in this manual contains the pertinent details discussed in this project.

On-line therapeutic writing Web sites introduce new technology for providing information about various types of writing therapy methods and for delivering related therapy. This project has two dimensions - a literature review and an applied component. The first part of the literature review presents a general overview of on-line counselling. The second part focuses on practice-based and evidence-based research on various writing therapy techniques. The final part of the literature review addresses Web site evaluation. The second part of this project responds to the virtually non-existent standards for assessing writing therapy Web sites and the need for criteria to assist counsellors interested in finding reliable on-line writing therapy Web sites. Based on the literature review a set of criteria for assessing writing therapy Web sites were established. Five of the most reliable Web sites that met the standards are discussed. Limitations of the project and recommendations for the future of writing therapy Web sites are offered. Appendix A of this project provides a manual that may be used as a reference for counsellors wishing to find reliable on-line writing therapy Web sites. The information in this manual contains the pertinent details discussed in this project.

On-line therapeutic writing Web sites introduce new technology for providing information about various types of writing therapy methods and for delivering related therapy. This project has two dimensions - a literature review and an applied component. The first part of the literature review presents a general overview of on-line counselling. The second part focuses on practice-based and evidence-based research on various writing therapy techniques. The final part of the literature review addresses Web site evaluation. The second part of this project responds to the virtually non-existent standards for assessing writing therapy Web sites and the need for criteria to assist counsellors interested in finding reliable on-line writing therapy Web sites. Based on the literature review a set of criteria for assessing writing therapy Web sites were established. Five of the most reliable Web sites that met the standards are discussed. Limitations of the project and recommendations for the future of writing therapy Web sites are offered. Appendix A of this project provides a manual that may be used as a reference for counsellors wishing to find reliable on-line writing therapy Web sites. The information in this manual contains the pertinent details discussed in this project.