The Forensic Dimensions of Cybertherapy: Investigating Digital Mental Health Interventions, Profiling, and Evidentiary Implications

One fascinating development in forensic science is cybertherapy, or the delivery of psychological treatment through digital platforms (italique dans l’original), which is capturing more attention as it relates to psychological profiling and offender rehabilitation, as well as the preservation of digital evidence. Key Points – This review examines cybertherapy through a forensic lens, focusing on its applications in criminal justice, its potential role in forensic mental health assessments as alternative penalties, and the challenges associated with admitting digital interactions as evidence. This article extends beyond assessing the therapeutic efficacy of modalities such as artificial intelligence-based mental health apps, virtual counseling, and virtual reality therapies to also examine the immunities of these modalities to any future forensic exploration using behavioral data. In addition, the risks of privacy invasion, data manipulation, and informed consent in cybertherapy are discussed, highlighting the importance of forensic protocols concerning information gained from therapy. This work bridges cyberpsychology with forensic science, demonstrating the implications and intersection of mental health and forensic science in the emerging digital age, particularly in the context of both mental health intervention and forensic science investigation.