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

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.