Schrödinger's Cat Goes Online: Exploring the Paradoxes of Psychotherapy in the Digital Age

The COVID-19 pandemic forced therapists to embrace online sessions, creating a sudden shift in the therapeutic environment. However, the integration of technology into therapy was already underway, prompting the need to explore how the online environment impacts clients and the therapeutic process. This article asks what online therapy can teach about therapy. It highlights the author's experience with online therapy and the unsettling incident that occurred during a session. The article reflects on the philosophical and psychological implications of technology and online communication, suggesting that the glitches and breakdowns in online communication may reveal underlying states of the psyche. Drawing upon Heidegger's philosophy of technology and Whitehead’s process philosophy, it argues that our environment and technologies shape our consciousness and subjectivity, and that both the therapist and the client are partly a product of the media in the digital age. The article also references Freud's theory on the psychopathology of everyday life to suggest that unintentional glitches in online communication may be manifestations of unconscious thoughts and impulses.

Overall, the article raises some questions about the use of technology in therapy and the implications for understanding the human psyche. It highlights the need to approach online therapy with caution and awareness of the potential limitations and disturbances that may arise.