We are living in a time of immense technological advancement. In just the past few years, we have seen huge leaps forward in how we interact with technology, from virtual reality to artificial intelligence. And these advancements are having a huge impact on our lives, not just psychologically but socially as well. One of the most fascinating impacts has been on self-advocacy and empowerment – how technology is allowing individuals to gain greater control over their own lives. In this blog post, I will explore the elements that have contributed to this breakthrough, particularly focusing on Telepresence Mental Health (TMH) and Human Computer Interaction (HCI).
TMH is a relatively new field that combines telemedicine with mental health care. It has enabled remote access to mental health services through digital platforms like video conferencing, which allows clinicians and clients to connect without having to be physically present in the same room. This has allowed providers to reach more people than ever before, especially those in rural or underserved areas who may have had difficulty accessing traditional care. Additionally, it has made mental health services more accessible for those who may feel more comfortable engaging with their therapist from home or other familiar environments.
HCI is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on understanding human behavior and designing user interfaces so that they respond effectively to users’ needs. HCI plays an important role in creating digital solutions for different industries. In the case of TMH, HCI helps create user interfaces that are intuitive and easy to understand for both clinicians and clients so they can get the most out of their sessions. For example, by better understanding how users interact with technology, designers can create solutions that make it easier for clients to keep track of their appointments or fill out any necessary paperwork online instead of having to go into an office or clinic setting.
One of the key aspects of TMH and HCI is its ability to promote feelings of embodiment within its environment – meaning that clients feel comfortable enough within the digital space that they can truly express themselves without feeling intimidated by physical presence or judgments from others outside the session. This feeling of embodiment also encourages self-advocacy as individuals begin to recognize their own rights within this space while also being able to communicate them clearly without fear or hesitation.
The question I hoped to address with this investigation was: What were the beneficial aspects, considerations, and/or techniques that led to a client’s and clinician’s perception of their own feeling of embodiment perceived inside the TMH environment? Facets such as telepresence and empathy, therapeutic alliance (TA), therapeutic relationship (TR), utilization of the embodied relational field (ERF), client extroversion and introversion, embodied self-awareness (ESA), other expanded modes of self-awareness through a body scan and consideration of the transliminal earth and cosmic body were considered in terms of how they influenced the embodiment dynamics that occur within the virtual environment of HCI. Continuation to the research paper investigating these facets.
Image and text copyright Eileen Dey Wurst 2022.
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