摘要： Internet and new communication technologies have achieved a rapid development in the last years producing a
significative impact on clinical psychology and psychotherapy. Psychotherapists seem to rely with more and more interest
on the new technological tools such as telemedicine, audio and video chats, e-mail, SMS, MMS and the Instant Messaging
Tools (IMs). All these technologies outline a stimulating as well as complex scenario: in order to effectively exploit their
potential, it is important to study which is the possible role played by the Internet-based tools inside a psychotherapeutic
or psychological treatment. The main goal of this article is to provide a framework for the integration of new technological
tools and settings in mental health care. Different theoretical positions about the possible role played by Internet based
therapy (e-therapy) are reported showing the possible changes that psychotherapy will necessarily cope with.
