Social online networks in psychotherapy with adolescents

Social network sites (SNS) are a natural part of the living environment of adolescents. The high importance in the life of young people suggests that SNS should be considered as an important development environment that also has to be taken into account in psychotherapy with adolescents. Psychotherapists should be able to competently deal with problems that might occur (e.g. cyberbullying), as well as to take advantage of the opportunities that arise from the SNS activities for psychotherapy. Therefore, this provides new and promising possibilities for support in identity building, in the shaping of social interaction and in crisis intervention in adolescents.