Online Couples Therapy: How It Works, Benefits, And What To Expect

Yes, you can work with a licensed therapist for couples therapy entirely online. For many couples, virtual sessions can be as effective as in-person ones, with the added convenience of logging on from wherever you have an internet connection. Understanding how online couples therapy works and the benefits it can have may prepare you to take the next step.

How online couples therapy works

Getting started with online couples therapy is often more straightforward than many people expect. Most platforms guide you through a simple sign-up process, connect you with a licensed therapist, and let you begin attending sessions in a way that fits your schedule.

Here are the typical steps to get started:

1. Sign up and share some information about your relationship and what you hope to work on.

2. Get matched with a licensed therapist whose experience aligns with your needs.

3. Schedule your first session at a time that works for both partners.

4. Attend sessions together through video, phone, or in-app messaging.

5. Adjust as needed, including switching therapists if the fit isn't right.

Session formats can vary depending on the platform and your preferences. Many couples choose live video sessions, while others may use phone calls or in-app messaging to stay connected between appointments. Both partners can often join from the same device or from different locations, which offers added flexibility. If you'd like to explore your options, you can get started whenever you feel ready.

What to expect in your first session

Feeling a little nervous before an initial appointment is common, but knowing what to expect may help you feel more prepared. A first session often focuses on introductions, a discussion of your relationship goals and challenges, and beginning to build rapport with your therapist. This early conversation can help your therapist understand your dynamic and set the stage for the work ahead, so there's no pressure to have everything figured out right away.

Types of online couples therapy

Online platforms can offer a range of couples work depending on where you and your partner are in your relationship. Whether you're married, dating, or preparing to take the next step in your connection, there may be an approach that fits your situation.

Some common types of couples work available online can include:

• Marriage counseling for married partners working on their relationship
• Relationship counseling for dating or cohabiting couples
• Premarital counseling for engaged couples preparing for marriage

Marriage counseling online

For married partners, this type of counseling can address a wide range of concerns, from communication and conflict to intimacy and trust. Working with a therapist may help couples develop healthier ways to connect and navigate challenges together.

Relationship counseling for unmarried couples

You don't need to be married to benefit from professional support. Dating or cohabiting couples may use relationship counseling to strengthen communication, work through disagreements, and build a stronger foundation for the future, regardless of how long they've been together so far.

Premarital counseling

Engaged couples may find value in premarital counseling as they prepare for marriage. This type of work can involve discussing expectations, values, and goals, which may help partners enter marriage with a clearer sense of connection and shared understanding.

How effective is online couples therapy?

Some people may feel skeptical about the idea of working on their relationship over a video call, and that can be understandable. Couples therapy is a deeply personal process, and it's natural to wonder whether meeting online would feel suitable for something so vulnerable.

Researchers have been studying the effectiveness of online therapy for years, and many studies indicate that it can often be an effective format for both individual and couples work.

The development of a strong therapeutic alliance can be an important factor in achieving positive outcomes from mental health treatment. If it feels easier for you to develop a rapport with your therapist through online sessions, they may be better able to support you and your partner in building a healthier relationship. With that in mind, it can help to look at the specific benefits that draw many couples to the online format.

Benefits of online couples therapy

Even though online couples therapy can be equally effective, you might wonder why someone would choose this route over in-person counseling. Different people have different preferences, but below are some potential advantages worth considering.

Convenience and flexibility

Many people choose virtual therapy because they're busy enough already, and traveling to a therapist's office each week can be too much of an added time commitment. With no commute required, online counseling allows you to attend sessions wherever you have internet, including from home, even if you and your partner are in different locations. Plus, attending therapy in familiar surroundings may feel more comfortable for some people.

Access to more therapists

Finding a licensed couples counselor can be a lot of work, even for couples who live in urban areas with many practicing professionals. For those in more remote areas with fewer local services, it can feel especially challenging. Many online couples therapy platforms remove that barrier, matching you with a trained and certified counselor from a large network of qualified providers, without the limitations of geography. This also means more choices, and some platforms, such as BetterHelp, make it easier to switch therapists at no extra cost if the first match isn't the best fit, without going back to the drawing board on your own.

Comfort in familiar surroundings

Before starting therapy, some couples assume online sessions will feel awkward or unnatural, but many end up finding the opposite to be true. According to some research, many clients report a greater sense ofcontrol and comfort when seeing a counselor online. The added distance can make it seem less intimidating to discuss personal topics and may help you focus more on the therapy process itself, with couples in that study believing that the video format enhanced the therapeutic alliance.

Options for long-distance couples

Online therapy can be an especially useful tool for long-distance couples or situations in which one or both partners travel frequently for work. Many online therapy services enable participants to connect from different locations. That means you may not have to put your relationship efforts on hold just because one of you is out of town.

Who may benefit from online couples therapy

Online couples therapy can be a good fit for a wide range of couples, though it may be especially helpful in certain circumstances. The following situations are examples of when the online format may work well:

• Couples with busy schedules who find it hard to add a weekly commute to and from in-person sessions
• Partners living in rural areas with limited local mental health services
• Those with disabilities or illnesses that make travel more difficult
• Long-distance relationships where partners are in different locations
• Those who feel comfortable using technology and video tools

While online therapy can be a helpful option for many, it's also worth understanding a few considerations that may shape whether it's the right choice for you.

Potential limitations to consider

Although there can be significant advantages to online couples therapy, there are also a few considerations to keep in mind. Understanding these ahead of time can help you and your partner decide what feels most supportive for your situation.

Technology considerations

Online sessions depend on a stable internet connection and a suitable device, such as a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Even as videoconferencing continues to improve, a therapist might occasionally miss some nuances of expression or body language, and there's always a chance a session could be interrupted by connection issues, audio delays, or service outages. Even though many platforms are designed to be straightforward to navigate, some people may also feel less comfortable using digital tools.

Safety concerns

In situations involving safety concerns, such as domestic violence, in-person or specialized resources may be more appropriate. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

When another type of care may be helpful

Certain concerns may need additional support alongside couples therapy. For example, if mental health symptoms that could benefit from psychiatric consultation are playing a role in your relationship challenges, it may help to explore additional care options.

BetterHelp now offers psychiatry services through Uplift, which provides virtual mental health care for individuals ages 18 and older experiencing mild to severe behavioral health symptoms. Psychiatry is an additional care option available alongside therapy and, when clinically appropriate, may include medication management as determined by a licensed psychiatric provider. Not everyone needs or benefits from medication, and treatment decisions are personalized based on a full clinical evaluation.

Medication availability and coverage may vary by member location, clinical appropriateness, and individual pharmacy/insurance benefits. Prescribing decisions are made by the treating clinicians. We do not guarantee that any specific medication will be prescribed or covered by a member's insurance plan.

*Based on finalized paid psychiatry visits with a copay. Insurance availability, coverage, and costs vary by state, plan, provider network, and provider availability.

Getting started with online couples therapy

Many couples delay therapy for years, which can allow relationship challenges to grow more difficult in the meantime. Starting therapy can feel intimidating, but the online format can sometimes make it easier to take that first step together. With online therapy, you can match with and meet a licensed therapist wherever you have an internet connection, which may feel more accessible for busy or long-distance couples.

When you're ready, support is available. Through BetterHelp, you can get individual support for challenges that may be affecting your relationship. Or, through its partner site Regain, you can get support for relationship challenges with or without your partner in attendance.

Cost and pricing for online couples therapy

The cost of online couples therapy can vary by platform and therapist, but virtual sessions may be comparable to or less than in-person session fees. The cost of online therapy via BetterHelp or Regain ranges from $70 to $100 per week, billed weekly or monthly, with costs based on your location, referral source, preferences, any applicable discounts, and therapist availability.

Some providers on BetterHelp specifically may be in-network with certain health plans, and co-pays average about $23/session for eligible members. Coverage varies by plan, provider, and therapist availability, so it can help to check your in-network status on the BetterHelp site. During signup, you can enter your information to view available options and estimated costs.