Sufficient Presence: A Philosophical Investigation into the Efficacy of Online Psychotherapy and What It Reveals About the Nature of the Therapeutic Bond
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) April 24, 2026 M. V. D. Souza
Online psychotherapy works as well as in-person therapy for many mental disorders, but this does not disprove that genuine human connection requires embodiment and co-presence. Instead, the therapeutic bond is a layered experience with different requirements for each layer; some can be mediated by technology while others cannot. Human therapists, even when present only through a screen, can meet the necessary conditions for effective therapy, but generative AI systems have not yet done so. The essay proposes a third path beyond simply taking sides in the debate between clinical evidence and philosophical principles.