The Internet has changed referral patterns for psychotherapy. Whereas in the past many therapists tried to keep information about themselves hidden, now days with the Internet it would be very difficult to do this. Rather than rely on referrals by other doctors, patients locate doctors as well as information about them via the Internet. The relationship to transference issues is also discussed.
There is a website titled Postsecrets to which people send artistic postcards with a secret on it. Recently someone from San Francisco wrote a postcard indicating an intention to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge.
There was an outpouring of responses which resulted in special page on Facebook linked to this postcard on which over 60,000 people have responded with words of support. This phenomena as a form of social empathy is discussed.
