Overcoming Zoom Fatigue in Virtual Therapy Sessions

Due to COVID-19 lockdowns and limited social interaction, billions worldwide shifted from in-person meetings to digital communication, especially videoconferencing. In 2020, platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Cisco Webex saw a massive uptake as they offered an alternative close to face-to-face interaction.

Table of contents

1. What is Zoom fatigue?
2. What causes Zoom fatigue?
3. Zoom fatigue in online psychotherapy
4. How to combat Zoom fatigue
5. Digital Samba for virtual therapy

What is Zoom fatigue?

Videoconferencing provided many benefits, such as reduced travel expenses and environmental impact, as people adapted to remote work and social connections. However, while these tools facilitated continued communication, they also presented new challenges. A term emerged to describe the stress linked to extensive video calls—virtual fatigue, or more commonly, Zoom fatigue—capturing the unique exhaustion associated with this new digital dependency.

The concept of Zoom fatigue stems from excessive videoconferencing, which places a heavy cognitive and emotional strain on users. Based on theories from behavioural science and neuroscience, researchers have proposed a framework to explain why video calls can be draining, drawing on media naturalness theory to outline these stress-inducing factors. Individuals working for companies that allow remote work via video conferencing tools embody these effects, describing the experience as a significant drain on mental resources after daily, hours-long calls. Although video calls are essential for maintaining business and social continuity, they also bring unforeseen stressors that need addressing. This growing awareness highlights the need for managing fatigue from prolonged video conferencing, or more precisely, strategies that minimise the adverse effects of videoconferencing on well-being.

What causes Zoom fatigue?

This fatigue, which has many different symptoms, encompasses physical, cognitive, and emotional dimensions and has been the subject of various scientific studies aiming to understand its causes and impacts.

Key causes of Zoom fatigue

Intense eye contact

Research has shown that prolonged, close-up eye contact on video calls is unnatural and can be exhausting. Bailenson (2021) highlighted that video calls often require us to sustain eye contact at a level that is highly intense compared to in-person interactions, which can induce stress. Unlike face-to-face settings, where gazes are more dynamic, video calls simulate an unnatural level of prolonged eye contact, potentially leading to psychological discomfort.

Cognitive load

In video meetings, individuals must process non-verbal cues (such as body language and facial expressions) in a constrained field, which requires more mental effort. A study by Fauville et al. (2021) found that interpreting non-verbal cues in video calls demands greater cognitive resources compared to in-person interactions. This heightened cognitive load results from trying to process body language within limited screen frames, which can strain the brain over time.

Self-perception and “mirror anxiety”

Seeing one's own image on screen for extended periods has been shown to lead to self-consciousness and distraction. Researchers found that this self-focus can increase stress and negatively impact one’s emotional state (Döring et al., 2022). Constantly viewing oneself while trying to engage in conversation may lead to higher levels of self-criticism and contribute to fatigue.

Physical constraints and lack of mobility

Video calls often require individuals to remain in a fixed position to stay within camera frames, limiting natural movements and posture adjustments. According to Bailenson (2021), this restriction can lead to physical strain and contribute to a sense of fatigue. In face-to-face interactions, people move more freely and naturally, but video conferencing often restricts this, leading to physical discomfort over time.

Increased pressure to perform

Video calls can create a sense of being "on stage," where participants feel pressured to remain attentive and actively engaged. A study by Shockley et al. (2021) suggested that this pressure might lead to “performance anxiety” and mental exhaustion, as individuals are constantly aware of being observed by others in a highly focused manner.

Research also indicates that virtual meeting fatigue can result in decreased productivity, higher stress levels, and a sense of burnout. For example, a study by Wiederhold (2020) pointed to the potential long-term psychological impacts of sustained video conferencing, such as reduced well-being and increased anxiety. Understanding the root causes of Zoom fatigue is essential, as it allows individuals and organisations to implement strategies to mitigate its effects, such as taking regular breaks, turning off self-view, and encouraging flexible meeting formats. 

Zoom fatigue in online psychotherapy

These aspects of Zoom burnout, as explored by scientific research, underscore the need for awareness and adaptation in video conferencing practices to support mental and physical well-being in digital environments. But this problem does not only occur in relation to work; online psychotherapy sessions are also not spared this widespread phenomenon, affecting both therapists and clients. So this all calls for a new type of counselling targeting Zoom fatigue and its symptoms.

The prolonged and intense focus required in virtual therapy sessions often contributes to mental and emotional exhaustion, as therapists need to carefully monitor non-verbal cues and emotional subtleties through a screen, which is more challenging than in-person interactions.

Studies on teletherapy have noted several contributing factors similar to those found in general Zoom fatigue research.

Main reasons for Zoom fatigue in teletherapy

How to combat Zoom fatigue

While online therapy has expanded access to mental health support, awareness of virtual meeting fatigue can guide therapists to introduce counselling for Zoom fatigue, i.e., to incorporate practices like regular breaks and occasional off-screen sessions to mitigate these effects.

Here are some practical solutions and actionable tips to mitigate Zoom fatigue in virtual therapy sessions, enhancing their effectiveness for both therapists and clients:

Encourage screen breaks and alternate formats 

Research suggests that taking regular screen breaks can reduce mental fatigue associated with prolonged video sessions. By using Synergetic Play Therapy, you can incorporate short pauses within sessions or, when appropriate, consider switching to audio-only modes briefly to give clients and therapists a visual break. Alternatively, schedule “off-screen” activities or discussions that allow clients to look away from the screen temporarily, fostering a more relaxed atmosphere.

Adjust camera placement and encourage movement

Setting up the camera at eye level and maintaining a comfortable distance from the screen can reduce strain from intense eye contact. Therefore, therapists and clients should feel comfortable moving slightly during sessions rather than remaining in fixed postures. Encouraging gentle stretching or periodic adjustments can help reduce physical discomfort from remaining stationary.

Minimise self-view to reduce self-consciousness  

The self-view feature can make individuals more self-conscious, distracting from meaningful therapeutic interactions. Research highlights that removing self-view helps reduce mirror anxiety and improves session focus. Digital Samba and most other platforms allow users to hide their video from themselves while remaining visible to others, which is helpful in creating a more natural conversational flow.

Establish boundaries between personal and therapy spaces

Setting a specific space in the home solely for therapy sessions can help reinforce mental boundaries, making it easier to “switch off” after work. Encourage clients to do the same, using a consistent location for virtual sessions to create a mental separation between therapy and their everyday environment. 

Enhance emotional presence with mindful techniques 

Practising mindfulness exercises before sessions can help therapists enhance emotional presence and reduce the cognitive load of tracking clients’ emotions online. Simple techniques such as deep breathing or grounding exercises can help both therapists and clients start sessions feeling-centred, which may help reduce fatigue over time. Consider beginning each session with a brief grounding exercise, especially when engaging with intense emotional topics.

Digital Samba for virtual therapy

These tips, grounded in recent findings on Zoom fatigue, offer both therapists and clients practical ways to lessen fatigue and improve the quality of virtual therapy sessions. Digital Samba’s high-quality video conferencing solution offers unique features that support strategies to overcome video conferencing fatigue, enhancing the effectiveness of virtual therapy sessions:

Digital Samba’s user-centric video conferencing features empower therapists to deliver effective, comfortable virtual sessions, making it easier to combat Zoom fatigue and maintain high-quality therapeutic engagement online. To find out how you can integrate and use Digital Samba for your online therapy sessions, contact our team who will be happy to give advice and provide an individualised plan. 

SOURCES:

1. Bailenson, J. N. (2021). Nonverbal Overload: A Theoretical Argument for the Causes of Zoom Fatigue. Technology, Mind, and Behavior, 2(1). Accessed on 4 November 2024:
2. Nesher Shoshan, H., & Wehrt, W. (2022). Understanding “Zoom fatigue”: A mixed-method approach. Applied Psychology, 71(3), 827–852. Accessed on 4 November 2024
3. Dion, L. (n.a.). Overcoming Fatigue in Teletherapy [Blog]. Synergetic Play Therapy Training Institute. Accessed on 4 November 2024
4. Geller, S. (2020). Cultivating online therapeutic presence: strengthening therapeutic relationships in teletherapy sessions. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 34(3–4), 687–703. Accessed on 4 November 2024
5. Enns, V. (19 April 2021). Building Counselors' Resilience to Zoom Fatigue
6. Practical steps to reduce the strain of online counseling.[Blog]. Psychology Today. Accessed on 4 November 2024