ABSTRACT
As patients enter my office, they commonly turn off their smartphones and electronic tablets, placing them on the table next to them. This actually and symbolically creates a space for reflection and intimate connection between us, uninterrupted by the intrusions of the internet, social media, and communications technology (calls, emails, texting). Some patients comment that this is the only place in their lives where they allow themselves to be free of technology, speaking to its nearly constant presence in their lives. It is a presence that can alter subjective and intersubjective space in a variety of ways and can be a third object in relationships between two people.
