In search of the therapeutic relationship online: A qualitative research study with clients shifting from in-person to online therapy
Published:
Dec 28, 2025
Keywords:
qualitative research, online therapy, face-to-face therapy, videoconferencing, therapeutic alliance
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the subjective experiences of clients who have shifted from face-to-face treatment to online psychotherapy due to pandemic restrictions or personal reasons. The researchers applied qualitative research methods. Fifteen people between 19 and 55 years old participated in the research, of which 13 were women. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using IPA. Online psychotherapy compared to face-to-face treatment shows a lot of resemblance for the majority of the sample, but it cannot replace it. The experienced deficits that emerge from the comparison between online and in-person therapy and are attributed to aspects inherent to the online setting: the lack of physical proximity, limited embodied interaction, the interference of the camera, the partial dissolution of the professional context, issues of privacy and confidentiality, the lack of commuting as a ritualized embodied dimension of psychotherapy, that helps process and integrate the therapeutic experience. The value of the already established therapeutic alliance acting as reference point and an embodied memory during face-to-face therapy is emphasized. Online psychotherapy remains a useful way to provide mental health services. Due to its challenges and distinct features, it might need to be applied in a more targeted manner, adjusted to the client’s needs, the therapeutic approach, and external circumstances, while carefully weighing the pros and cons. The therapeutic relationship remains the core factor for a subjective feeling of client satisfaction. It remains to be answered whether a therapeutic relationship established online without previous in-person experience differs qualitatively from one already established face-to-face.
Article Details
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Nioti, K., Koulouktsi, E., & Papachristou, C. (2025). In search of the therapeutic relationship online: A qualitative research study with clients shifting from in-person to online therapy. Psychology: The Journal of the Hellenic Psychological Society, 30(2), 313–331. https://doi.org/10.12681/psy_hps.43971
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