Can the Internet Help Combat Loneliness?

An Integrative Psychotherapeutic Perspective

by Maria Jewell

In my practice, I often meet people struggling with loneliness. This loneliness can show up at home in strained relationships, sometimes in workplaces where people feel unseen or undervalued, and sometimes even in the midst of busy social lives. Loneliness can take many forms, but what unites them is the profound effect it has on both emotional and physical wellbeing. Research consistently shows that chronic loneliness can exacerbate depression, anxiety, low self-worth, cognitive decline, and even physical health problems.

As our societies become increasingly digitalised, I find myself reflecting with on whether the internet offers meaningful ways to combat loneliness, or whether digitalisation has deepened the problem. From an integrative psychotherapeutic perspective, the answer is nuanced.

From a psychodynamic perspective, loneliness can sometimes act as a defence—a way of protecting against the risks and vulnerabilities of authentic relational contact. Choosing isolation or leaning heavily on digital interactions may feel safer than facing the uncertainty, dependency, or possible rejection that come with deeper human connection. In this sense, online spaces can function as a manageable first step: a place where people experiment with being seen and heard, with less exposure to emotional risk. Therapy can help explore these defences with compassion, recognising their protective value while gently opening new possibilities for connection.

From an existential viewpoint, it is also important to distinguish between being alone, being lonely and existential loneliness. Being alone can be restorative, offering space for reflection and creativity. Being lonely, however, reflects the painful absence of meaningful connection, often linked to bereavement, relationship breakdown or social isolation. Existential loneliness is deeper still—an awareness of our fundamental separateness as human beings. While the internet may provide temporary contact or distraction, it cannot resolve this reality. Human touch and presence remain irreplaceable, anchoring us in shared existence and reminding us we do not have to face life entirely alone.

From a humanistic standpoint, online spaces can provide opportunities for connection, belonging, and self-expression. Individuals who feel lonely due to bereavement, career pressures, or life changes such as children leaving home can use digital platforms to sustain family ties, join interest-based communities, or even form new friendships. A weekly video call with a loved one may reaffirm a sense of purpose and relational value, countering the invisibility many clients describe. Still, the experience of being truly seen and felt in physical presence remains, in my opinion, qualitative different.

The cognitive-behavioural perspective highlights how beliefs and practical skills shape the experience of online connection. Someone who believes they are “too old,” “not interesting enough,” or “incapable of technology” may avoid opportunities that could reduce loneliness. In my work, helping clients challenge these unhelpful thoughts and building digital confidence can sometimes create new pathways to connection, while also supporting more conscious choices about the kind of relationships they want to invest in—both online and offline.

In conclusion, I see digital connection as a bridge rather than a substitute—a step on the journey toward healing and re-engagement with life. Therapy itself provides a relational experience of being seen, understood and accompanied, which can help clients use online tools more consciously while reconnecting to the irreplaceable value of human presence, touch, and shared existence. The path out of loneliness is not about replacing one form of connection with another, but about weaving them together in service of recovery, resilience and renewed belonging.

I am passionate about supporting our clients in this journey—helping them to navigate loneliness, rebuild meaningful relationships, and rediscover the strength that comes from being deeply connected to others.