Couples Therapy Online: Improve Your Relationship With Counseling
A fulfilling and healthy relationship with your spouse or partner can be an enormous source of strength. However, neglecting your connection can cause it to wither imperceptibly until communication problems start to arise. If you’re experiencing relationship issues, you’re not alone. Most couples have problems at some point in their relationship, and many decide to try couples counseling or marriage therapy with licensed marriage and family therapists. Online relationship counseling and in-person therapy are options that may help to improve communication skills and foster healthy romantic relationships.
Reasons to seek couples therapy
While each couple is unique, there are some common reasons that couples decide to pursue relationship counseling. These include communication problems, mismatched relationship goals, mental health challenges, intimacy concerns, financial problems, fear of infidelity, and parenting disagreements, among others.
If you see cracks appearing in your marriage and you cannot effectively handle the problems between the two of you, seeking professional counselors, such as a marriage counselor or family therapist, may save years of unhappiness and heartbreak. Doing nothing, on the other hand, will rarely cause problems to go away and can even cause relatively minor irritations to grow into something much more serious, like mental health concerns. Online counseling and in-person couples therapy are available options to address these issues.
Even if you don't notice serious problems, family therapy or couples counseling services may help improve communication and make your relationship even stronger. Better communication between you and your partner can help to effectively address problems long before they become serious burdens. The basis of family therapy or online relationship therapy is usually not two people talking to a therapist but two people learning how to talk with each other with the help of a relationship coach.
Why choose online marriage counseling
If you are concerned about going into a therapist's office, or if you think your partner wouldn't be willing to go, you might try online relationship counseling services, which research shows to be just as effective as in-person couples counseling. The best online couples therapy comes with many benefits, including flexibility of scheduling and the convenience of a virtual therapy session. Many licensed family therapists' practices only run during certain hours on weekdays, sometimes making it difficult for not one but two people to regularly find time in their schedule for traditional therapy appointments.
Online couples counseling, by contrast, can be done at any time from home via text chat, phone conversations, or video sessions. This may be especially helpful for long-distance couples who spend time apart due to work or other obligations. You don't need to be at the same location to receive online couples therapy services.
Even if you and your partner are in different states, you can both connect with your licensed marriage counselor at the same time at a time that works for both of you. With online counseling platforms like Regain, you can both use in-app messaging with your therapist anytime throughout your week, and they’ll get back to you as soon as they are able. This means that you can both express any thoughts, questions, or concerns as they arise instead of waiting until your next therapy session to address them. Regain therapists are dedicated to helping you and your partner start living a healthier and more fulfilling life using a variety of therapies and techniques, including Imago relationship therapy, narrative therapy, and solutions-focused therapy.
How online relationship therapy helps
Even before you're married, engaging in online couples therapy can help bring you and your partner closer together as a lifelong process founded on open and appropriate communication. While there might not be a single way to best achieve this, premarital counseling often identifies things you can both do better, as well as behaviors or relationship patterns to start avoiding. Don't hesitate to seek counseling, and with options like online premarital counseling, it's easier to connect with a professional counselor.
Online therapists can support clients from anywhere in the world. When you connect with your therapist using an online therapy platform, you can choose between phone, chat, or live video sessions. In addition, online therapy services and online couples therapy platforms are often more affordable than in-person therapy with licensed therapists. With an online therapy service like BetterHelp or Regain, you typically pay a monthly subscription fee instead of paying per session, which may be more cost-effective.
Emotionally focused therapy
An online therapist may guide you through emotionally focused therapy (EFT), which tends to focus on attachment and emotions. EFT may help people understand not only their own emotions but also those of their partner. Some couples participate in EFT through couples group therapy, which may help them learn from other couples.
If you’re interested in exploring EFT individually, you can discuss it with your own therapist. If you decide to pursue individual therapy, you might search for a therapist who accepts insurance. This may only be covered if you experience a mental health disorder, but it may be worth asking about coverage. If you don’t have insurance coverage, you might ask about financial assistance or consider virtual couples therapy platforms, which tend to be more affordable than in-person therapy without insurance. If you need more than counseling, such as medication management, you can speak with a psychiatrist.
Takeaway
If you are experiencing relationship challenges, you and your partner don’t have to face them on your own. With Regain, you can be matched with a licensed therapist with training and experience in couple’s therapy. If you prefer, you can also try individual therapy through either Regain or BetterHelp. On both platforms, all therapists are licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, or licensed clinical social workers. If you don’t find a good match, you can always switch therapists if needed. Take the first step toward a healthier relationship and reach out today.
Other frequently asked questions:
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about couples therapy and how it compares to in-person therapy sessions and services.
How do I do online couples therapy?
You can engage in couples therapy from the comfort of your own home or anywhere with an internet connection. Even if one of you is traveling, you can both connect via an online platform to speak with your therapist together. You can talk to an online couples therapist via phone, videoconferencing, or in-app messaging. With in-app messaging at Regain, you can message your therapist at any time, and they’ll get back to you as soon as they can.
Does couples therapy online or face-to-face work?
Research shows that couples counseling can lead to significant improvement in relationships and in individual well-being. The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy states, “After receiving treatment, almost 90% of clients report an improvement in their emotional health, and nearly two-thirds report an improvement in their overall physical health.”
What is the best type of relationship issues therapy?
Couples therapists can choose from a variety of therapy types to address each couple’s unique challenges. A few types of therapy for couples include imago relationship therapy, the Gottman Method, emotionally focused therapy, and narrative therapy. Also, discernment counseling may help couples who believe they are at risk of divorce. A couples therapist may be able to help them find solutions and move forward together.
Should my boyfriend and I go to online couples therapy?
Couples counselors can see couples at all stages of relationships. Regardless of the time you have been together, a couples counselor may help you with the challenges you’re experiencing at this stage. If you or your partner doesn’t like the idea of going to a therapist’s office, you might try online couples counseling, which offers availability and various methods of communicating with your therapist.
What is the Gottman method?
The Gottman Method is named after John Gottman, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Washington. This evidence-based method aims to improve intimacy and affection, address conflicting communication, and develop greater empathy within a relationship. If you find someone who practices online marriage counseling, you might ask them about the Gottman Method. If you can’t find a therapist based in your area, you might consider an online therapy. Many professionals provide therapist services online. If you can’t find a therapist in non-public practice with availability, you might consider trying an online therapy platform.
What is the difference between marriage counseling and couples therapy?
The terms marriage counseling and couples therapy are often used interchangeably. A licensed therapist with training and experience in relationship therapy methods can often treat couples regardless of whether they are married.
There is, however, a specific form of counseling called pre-marriage counseling. Pre-marriage counseling can lead to marriages that are both more fulfilling and longer lasting. Even if a couple is certain that they know each other well, exploring their relationship under professional guidance can often reveal many unexpected facets of their desires, expectations, and personal values.
Do online couples therapists tell you to break up?
Couples counselors will likely not tell you whether to end a relationship. They often serve as facilitators of communication between two people and allow them to make their own decision about their relationship.
How Can I Save My Relationship On The Verge Of Breaking Up?
While there is no guaranteed way to prevent a break-up, couples counseling may lead to significant improvements in your relationship. Research shows that couples therapy has a positive impact on 70% of couples. Online therapy sessions may help you and your partner learn more about each other’s needs and communicate more effectively.
How does online couples therapy work?
Relationship counseling can be conducted via several methods, both in person and online. Online couples counseling can allow couples to communicate with a therapist at the same time, even if they’re not in the same physical location. A relationship therapist may not tell couples what to do but instead will likely facilitate communication in a way that may lead to conflict resolution and meaningful breakthroughs.
How long is online couples therapy?
The length of in-person or virtual couples counseling can vary depending on the needs of the couple. An article by Forbes states, “Some couples may have positive results in as few as four sessions, while others may need many more.” Live therapy sessions may help you gain insight and connect with your partner in a deeper way.
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