Heiss E., Vatyan E., Becher-Urbaniak S., Winter L., Schiller B. (2026). Blind spot and physicality: conscious and unconscious experiences in online group therapy from a psychoanalytic perspective

Psychotherapie Forum
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00729-026-00313-w

Abstract

In psychotherapeutic work in a digital setting, the tension between body and psyche shifts, as bodily resonance are mediated and experienced in new ways. A psychoanalytic single-case analysis in a group context examines how body-related and unconscious processes operate within the digital group space. The findings show that online group therapy does not primarily lead to a loss of corporeality but transforms it: fragmented visibility, controllable participation, and altered resonance create a space of graduated intimacy.

At the same time, a “blind spot” emerges, as areas of experience remain invisible in virtual settings or are displaced by technical mediation. Aspects that are atmospherically perceptible in physical presence appear differently or not at all online. The study clarifies that online groups represent an independent therapeutic setting, offering opportunities for safety, accessibility, and symbolization, but requires conscious reflection on corporeality, distance, and safety.

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