Connecting Group Members through Telephone and Computer Groups

Telephone conference calls and computer-assisted groups are innovative means of offering health and mental health services. This article reviews the practice literature on the use of technology-based groups and presents the results of a survey of group practitioners that focused on their experiences with telephone and computer groups, their knowledge and comfort levels with these groups, and their perspectives on the benefits and problems of using technology in group practice. Benefits of using this technology included increased accessibility, convenience, and anonymity; problems were decreased cues, technological issues, and group process difficulties. Implications of using telephone and computer technology for group practice, particularly in health settings, are discussed.