"In addition to research on CMC and relational communication, in general, other studies have examined therapeutic relational communication online. There is a good deal of evidence suggesting that online support and therapeutic discussion groups are an important positive aspect of the Internet (e.g., see Caplan & Turner, in press; Walther & Perks, 2002; Wright, 1999, 2000, 2002; Wright & Bell, 2003). To date, researchers have not firmly established whether participation in online emotional support has therapeutic value that is less than, equivalent to, or beyond that obtained via FtF support (Finfgeld, 2000; Owen, Yarbough, Varga, & Tucker, 003; Walther & Boyd, 2002). The few studies that have compared computer-mediated and FtF psychotherapy sessions have reported that participants in both groups exhibited relatively equivalent outcomes (e.g., Cohen & Kerr, 1998; Day & Schneider, 2002; for a review, see Rochlen, Zack, & Speyer, 2004). To advance understanding of online emotional support, Walther and Parks (2002) recommend that researchers begin to develop explanations for why CMC might be particularly effective as a support medium."