Why I Prefer In-Person Therapy— for Myself and My Clients

Online therapy has opened up new possibilities for many people. It can be convenient, flexible, and more accessible for those in remote areas or with mobility challenges. And it absolutely has its place.

But for me—and for many of the sensitive, emotionally complex adults I work with—there’s something different about being in the room together.

In-person therapy offers a kind of presence that’s hard to replicate over a screen. It’s not just about seeing each other—it’s about sensing one another. Our nervous systems are constantly communicating in subtle ways: posture shifts, sighs, eye contact, fidgeting. These moments matter. They’re often the doorway into deeper insight and emotional truth.

When we’re in the same room, I can see the way your foot starts tapping when we get close to something hard. I notice the shift in your breathing. The tears that well up—but don’t fall. And you see me too—not just as a floating head on your laptop, but as a steady, grounded presence across from you. That kind of non-verbal connection fosters emotional safety and co-regulation in ways that I have found illusive in exclusively online therapy.

There’s also the matter of privacy. In-person therapy happens in a space that belongs to you during your session. You don’t have to worry about being overheard by your partner. You don’t have to tune out background noise or wonder if the Wi-Fi will cut out. And you can’t pretend to be calm while fidgeting just off screen.

In my office, you don’t have to hide. You can show up exactly as you are.

There’s a rhythm to weekly, in-person therapy that can be deeply regulating. Even the travel time to and from your appointment serves a purpose. It’s a natural buffer—a chance to transition in and out of the emotional work. Many clients use that time to reflect, decompress, or just let things metabolize.

In-person therapy isn’t always the most convenient option. But for those who are ready for a deeper, more embodied experience, it offers something else: real connection, with no chance of a video cutting out or freezing while you’re discussing something emotional.

If that kind of steady, present support sounds like what you’ve been needing, I invite you to head to the contact page and send me a message about getting started.