Salud Mental Conectada: Terapias Emergentes En el Mundo Digital

We live in an era where the digital permeates almost every aspect of our existence. From the way we communicate to how we access essential services, technology has become an inseparable tool in daily life. Clinical psychology, both as a science and as a practice, has not remained untouched by this phenomenon. In recent years, it has found in digital tools not only an alternative resource but a new dimension for intervention, support, and personal transformation. In this context, the book Connected Mental Health: Emerging Therapies in the Digital World arises from the need to reflect on and systematize how new technologies—such as virtual reality, online therapy, mobile applications, and interactive platforms—are profoundly transforming the way mental health is conceived, practiced, and experienced. Throughout its chapters, various authors—students and researchers from the Clinical Psychology program at Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Cuenca campus—approach, from a critical and updated perspective, both the potential and the limitations of these innovative digital tools. The book explores different clinical interventions that use virtual reality to treat specific phobias, such as arachnophobia or social anxiety, and analyzes the effectiveness of online cognitive-behavioral therapy for depressive disorders. It also examines the application of telepsychology in palliative care for adolescents and young adults, as well as the impact of cyberpsychology in humanitarian crises. Together, these contributions offer a comprehensive view of how technology is reshaping mental health care in the 21st century.