The role of embodied presence and empathy in the age of online psychotherapy

Simonič, Barbara (author)

This article addresses the question of whether digital forms of psychotherapy canfully replace face-to-face meetings with particular attention to empathy as a corecomponent of the therapeutic relationship. Drawing on a phenomenological,developmental and neuroscientific approach, we argue that physical presence isan indispensable component of the therapeutic process. While emphasising thephysical basis of empathy, we define and consider the three components of thetherapeutic alliance, discussing how online formats may affect the goals, tasksand bond differently. Physical presence enables the establishment of intersub-jective closeness, sensory attunement and physiological co-regulation, creatingthe conditions for deeper, embodied empathy. We also analyse the challenges ofonline therapy, where physical stimuli are limited, leading to a more cognitiveand less resonant empathy. Whilst online therapy has been shown to provideeffective support and improve accessibility, live therapy remains essential toachieve the deepest human connection based on an embodied experience ofthe other.

• Language: English
• Keywords: empathy, embodiment, psychotherapy, video therapy, therapeutic relationship, intersubjectivity
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: TEOF - Theological Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 06.08.2026
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: Str. 1-23
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-186484
• UDC: 159.942:615.851:004.774
• ISSN on article: 1469-5901
• DOI: 10.1080/13642537.2026.2711208
• COBISS.SI-ID: 289721859
• Publication date in RUL: 02.09.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: European journal of psychotherapy, counselling, and health
• Shortened title: Eur. j. psychother. couns. health
• Publisher: Routledge
• ISSN: 1469-5901
• COBISS.SI-ID: 521669145

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Multilingual
• Keywords: empatija, psihoterapija, videoterapija, terapevtski odnos, intersubjektivnost

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: J6-60105-2025
• Name: Teologija in digitalizacija: antropološki in etični izzivi