What does it feel like to be truly seen — through a screen?
In online therapy, we meet through a camera.
We see each other — and often, we also see ourselves.
But what happens to the feeling of being seen?
Does it change when the connection is mediated by a screen?
I am a doctoral student at the University of Edinburgh, exploring how clients and counsellors experience moments of connection, recognition, and “being seen” in online video-based therapy.
I am currently inviting participants to share their experiences
👉Sign up here to take part: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/iAA64zkrhB?origin=lprLink
About Me
I, Xiangyi Wang, is a doctoral student in Psychotherapy and Counselling at the University of Edinburgh, and a counsellor working with clients in both face-to-face and online settings.
My interest in this research comes from my clinical experience of working online, where moments of connection can feel both powerful and uncertain. I am particularly interested in how the presence of the screen, and the experience of seeing oneself while being seen by another — shapes the therapeutic relationship.
About the Study
This study explores how mirroring is experienced in online video-based therapy, from both clients’ and counsellors’ perspectives.
Mirroring refers to moments in therapy when there is a sense of emotional connection or recognition — when someone feels seen, understood, or emotionally met by the other person. At times, this sense of connection can feel clear and strong; at other times, it may feel uncertain, fragile, or even absent.
In online therapy, this experience is further shaped by the presence of the screen. Both clients and counsellors can also see themselves during the session, which may subtly influence how connection, attention, and emotional attunement are experienced.
This research is interested in how these moments of connection and disconnection are experienced on both sides of the therapeutic relationship, and how they may shape the development of the therapeutic alliance in online work.
This study has been organised by Xiangyi Wang, supervised by Edgar Rodriguez-Dorans, and sponsored by the University of Edinburgh. The study proposal has been reviewed by School Ethics Committee.
Who Can Take Part?
This study is inviting both clients and counsellors who have experience of online video-based psychotherapy in the UK.
You may be able to take part if you are either:
🗣️💬Clients
- Aged 18 or over
- Have received online video-based therapy within the past two years (Therapy was live/synchronous, e.g. Zoom, Microsoft Teams. Not text-based or email-only therapy)
- Based in the UK and communicate in English
- Able to give informed consent
- Have access to stable internet and a private space for an online interview
🧑💻💭Counsellors / Psychotherapists
- Qualified counsellor or psychotherapist (at least 6 months post-qualification experience)
- Current or recent (within past two years) experience of online video-based therapy
- Experience from any modality (e.g. person-centred, psychodynamic, CBT, integrative, etc.)
- Aged 18 or over
- Based in the UK and communicate in English
- Able to give informed consent
- Have access to stable internet and a private space for an online interview
What Will Taking Part Involve?
If you decide to take part, you will be invited to a one-to-one online interview via Microsoft Teams with the researcher (Xiangyi Wang).
The interview will last approximately 45–90 minutes and will be arranged at a time that suits you, in a private and comfortable setting.
Before the interview:
You will be asked to complete a short consent form by email, or give verbal consent at the start of the interview if needed
During the interview:
You will be invited to reflect on your experiences of online video-based psychotherapy.
Depending on whether you are taking part as a client or a counsellor, you may be asked to reflect on:
Clients
- Your experiences of receiving online therapy
- Moments when you felt seen, understood, or emotionally connected with your counsellor
- Moments when this sense of connection was less present or unclear
- How these experiences shaped your sense of the therapeutic relationship
Counsellors / Psychotherapists
- Your experiences of working with clients online via video
- Moments when you noticed a sense of connection, recognition, or emotional attunement
- How you engage with or think about mirroring in online sessions
- How these experiences may influence your sense of the therapeutic relationship
*With your permission, the interview will be video recorded to ensure an accurate transcript can be produced. All data will later be fully anonymised and used for research purposes only.
Confidentiality & Wellbeing
Your privacy is taken seriously.
- All information will be anonymised
- All contact details will be kept completely separate from the interview data
- All electronic data will be stored in password-protected, encrypted folders on the University of Edinburgh’s OneDrive system.
- No identifying details will appear in any publication
- You can pause, skip questions, or withdraw at any time
There are no significant risks associated with taking part in this study. You are always in control of what you choose to share if you feel some questions are personal.
For further information about data privacy for research participants please refer to: https://data-protection.ed.ac.uk/privacy-notice-research
The Results of This Study
The results of this study may be summarised in published articles, conference presentations, and the researcher’s doctoral dissertation. You will not be identifiable in any of these outputs.
If you would like to receive a summary of the study’s findings, you can indicate this on the consent form. The summary will be sent to you by email once the research is complete.
Get Involved 📣
If you are interested in taking part, please sign up here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/iAA64zkrhB?origin=lprLink
or
directly contact:
Xiangyi Wang
📧 x.wang-214@sms.ed.ac.uk
If you have any further questions about the study, please contact the lead researcher, Xiangyi Wang
Disscuss This Study with Others
If you would like to discuss this study with someone independent of the study, please contact:
- the head of Research at the School of Health in Social Science
Professor Amy Chandler
If you wish to make a complaint about the study, please contact:
- the Head of School of health in Social Science
Prof Matthias Schwannauer
