Certainly, there are pros and cons to doing psychotherapy online or in person.

I would recommend you explore both options, or maybe even a hybrid version, as you determine what style of session suits you best.

But, according to science, and to my personal experience, the in-person approach is the most successful.

Mirror Neurons and the Benefits of Seeing your Therapist In Person

Although your therapist has been trained to observe your body language, your affect and your demeanor, they are also influenced by their own mirror neurons firing within them, in response to your presentation, evoking a deeper understanding of your motivations, intent, pain and suffering and trauma.

Indeed an online therapist can listen carefully to your words, while observing your facial expressions, but for the deeper, more energetic mirroring effect, which yields next-level compassion and connection, you need to be in the room together.

I recommend learning more about mirror neuron effects, particularly the work of Dr. Dan Seigel (neuroscience guru).

The best way to learn about mirror neurons however is to experience them yourself.

Try both in-person and online therapy if they are available to you, and notice what works for you.

As always, I encourage you to determine your own specific mental health plan, including some kind of psychotherapy, as you heal and grow through life.