Benefits Of Online Marriage Counseling | Best Therapy

By Stephanie Kirby|Updated May 11, 2022

Medically Reviewed By Laura Angers, NCC, LPC

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Online therapy with a qualified and professional counselor on BetterHelp can help improve your relationship and make you fall in love all over again.

Online Relationship Counseling Can Make All The Difference

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Are you and your partner searching for ways to fix serious issues in your relationship in online therapy? You're not alone. Many couples today are seeking out help online via marriage therapy and licensed therapists online to help them resolve major issues in their relationships. The most important thing for individuals seeking relationship and family counseling online to understand is that no relationship (or family) is immune to conflict. Everyone runs into issues, you are not alone! If you're looking to work through relationship problems, marriage counseling online or relationship counseling online may be the help you need.

Online Marriage Counseling - What You Should Know

When you think of marriage help, you may envision in-person sessions in a traditional clinic. When in-office sessions are the only available option, some individuals choose not to seek help. Today, there are other options, such as online counseling, for individuals looking to gain the benefits without the pressure of traditional in-office sessions.

Online therapy is making it possible for everyone in a relationship to take part in sessions from wherever they happen to be in the world. Through websites like BetterHelp, spouses can take part in online sessions. When people opt for online help - they can securely and privately search for a therapist to connect with, from the comfort of their own home. Searching for a therapist virtually to provide help through an online platform often feels less stressful because there isn't as much direct contact, providing even the most private individuals a way to find the help they need through private online sessions.

Taking part in virtual sessions regularly can lead to the following long-term benefits for couples. (Keep in mind that the benefits for in-person, online, and virtual counseling are proven to be equally effective.)

Improved communication and new techniques for constructively handling conflict.
Experience a re-engagement in the relationship and a reminder of what attracted you to each other in the first place.
Help you and your partner develop a new foundation for your relationship to stand on.
Speaking openly and honestly about issues in your marriage leads to real solutions.

No couple is perfect, but that doesn't mean you need to settle for one fraught with conflict. Seeking the help of licensed therapists virtually can provide you with the help you need to work through issues with your spouse constructively.

Relationships can run into hurdles, and sometimes you need the help of a licensed online couples professional to learn how to overcome and build a strong foundation equip with the tools for moving forward.

Best Relationship Therapy Tips To Help You and Your Relationship Thrive

Agree On An Online Marriage Counseling Therapist

When couples decide to go into virtual couples help, they can end up with a therapist that favors one over the other. Even if the therapist is fair, their personality might mesh better with one partner. The wonderful thing about virtual marriage counseling is that you and your significant other can easily switch to a new therapist if needed.

Learn To Communicate Healthily

Healthy communication is a cornerstone of a good relationship. A virtual therapist can explain healthy communications for couples, guide you in understanding how you communicate at the start of counseling and encourage you to continue using these tools afterwards.

Combine Online Marriage Counseling With Individual

Many marriage therapists require that each of you have an individual therapist. The two of you will likely bring up issues that one of you needs to deal with privately. While the couples therapist must remain impartial, an individual therapist is there to understand and guide only you.

Therapy is a personal experience, and not everyone will go into it seeking the same things. Keeping this in mind can help you get the most out of it.

Online Relationship Counseling Can Make All The Difference

Ready To Get Started? - Get Matched With A Licensed Therapist

Online Marriage Counseling Privacy

Deciding to go into marital counseling is a big step. You might feel vulnerable if others know you're having problems in your relationship. With virtual couples help, no one ever needs to know the two of you are seeking help. You can do it in the privacy of your own home or even on vacation.

Work With A Licensed Therapist

Before you invest in online counseling, check out the therapists on the platform you're using to ensure they have the right qualifications to help you. With trusted, reputable sites, you can ensure your counselor has credentials in the field of psychology and are licensed.

What You Can Expect With BetterHelp

Email Registration

You and your partner will start the process by registering for a free account online. Your email address is used to communicate with therapists regarding your online sessions for couples. When you register, it's up to you if you want to use your real names - or register anonymously.

Individual Questionnaire

After you complete your registration, the next step is to complete an intake questionnaire. This questionnaire is one of the tools that online professionals have used in helping couples to make the most out of their services.

Couples Questionnaire

Your therapist can create a couple's assessment that is unique to your relationship based on the answers in this couple's questionnaire. The couples assessment can act as a baseline for when couples start virtual sessions.

Couples Assessment

Your therapist will make an individual and joint assessment of your situation based on the results of the intake couples questionnaire. From here, your therapist will create a treatment plan that will guide your virtual sessions.

Online Marriage Counseling Treatment Plan

When you start services virtually with your spouse - your sessions will begin based on your initial assessments and treatment plans created by you, your spouse, and your virtual therapist. Your therapist will provide focused relationship help based on the needs identified in your treatment plan.

Online Relationship Counseling Can Make All The Difference

Ready To Get Started? - Get Matched With A Licensed Therapist

Virtual Vs. In-Person

Traditionally, sessions with an in-office therapist for in-person lasted an hour. Today's virtual session options for professional services are more flexible. Therapists who specialize in virtual help are available via platforms like BetterHelp 24/7. This means that you and your spouse have access to a licensed couples therapist for individual or relationship counseling - any time of the day or night.

After the initial session, your therapist will schedule subsequent sessions to continue marital treatment based on the severity of your marital concerns. You and your spouse will get to share your perspective on how you feel about how the services are working. For example, if you find that some couple's exercises given to you by your therapist are more effective than others, you can make these adjustments. The best online counseling services provide a full spectrum of options that can meet the couple's needs from dating through marriage.

It may surprise you to learn that leading services like BetterHelp specialize in online counseling treatment for individuals, those in relationships, and families - also offer premarital counseling or relationship counseling. Premarital counseling is a component of relationship help dedicated to helping couples build stronger marriages. Premarital counseling addresses the same couple's issues that virtual and relationship counseling address for married individuals. Your premarital counselor will walk you and your partner through developing good couples communication skills, financial skills, and couples conflict-resolution strategies.

When couples work to take part in counseling online, couples have the opportunity to arrange the setting for the sessions with their marital counselor however fit. Couples might feel more comfortable in a space that's set up differently for more focused couples and marriage counseling. When couples take part in virtual couples and marriage counseling services that specialize in online distance counseling - you can find a counselor to meet you in the comfort of your own home on your terms. Marriage counseling online gives couples the freedom to express themselves in the most comfortable environment for them. Being able to take part in online counseling for couples eliminates the stress of long commutes for marriage counseling appointments. Couples who take part in marriage counseling online reported improved quality of life and a higher relationship satisfaction rate than people who don't get counselor help virtually.

BetterHelp has licensed therapists waiting to help guide you and your partner through counseling to improve your relationship. You have the benefits of traditional therapy with all the benefits listed above. You can read reviews of some BetterHelp therapists below.

Therapist Reviews

"Stephanie is a gem! She's very thoughtful, thorough, honest, insightful but most of all helpful. This is coming from a person that never wanted to do counseling and just "knew" I didn't need it. She's been key in helping my wife and me find our better place. She made us grow as a couple and individually. Thanks, Steph!"

"The longer I work with Dr. Simon, the more grateful I am to have found a counselor who strikes such a kind balance between supporting and empathizing as well as challenging and coaching. She's been invaluable to the progress I've made individually and in my relationship."

Final Thoughts On Online Couples Help

Couples counseling doesn't have to be difficult and uncomfortable. If you're struggling in your relationship, the tools are there to help rebuild your connection. Take the first step to a fulfilling relationship today.

FAQs

Can therapy really help marriage?

Depending on the specific issues you're trying to work through, a marriage counselor can help you reignite the spark and help you with relationship repair. The benefit from counseling can include increased conflict resolution skills, improving understanding for one or both partners, and boosting your sex life. If you're looking to improve your marriage, a marriage and family therapist can almost certainly help.

What is best for marriage counseling?

Often times, the best type of help for your relationship will depend on the goals that you and your partner want to set. The most common type of individual and family therapy is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Other types of evidence based couples therapy include imago relationship therapy (pioneered by partners and psychologists Helen LaKelly Hunt and Harville Hendrix), focused therapy, or actively utilizing the Gottman method.

What is marriage help called?

There are many different subsets that go by different names and focus on different techniques for improving a marriage. For example, Sue Johnson created emotional focused therapy, in which an etf therapist works with a couple to identify dysfunctional emotion regulation and proposes new ways for the couple to work with each other to solve problems.

What do couples talk about in therapy?

Couples who seek help often discuss their life together with a family therapist. Counseling may help two people address unresolved conflict, affairs or infidelity, or just feel like they have a stronger foundation for their relationship. John Gottman pioneered many relationship counseling methods through his research at the Gottman Institute. Even today, many of his techniques are used to identify strengths and weaknesses in a relationship. Oftentimes, miscommunication is the number one reason couples fail to align with one another, and professional help can help provide a safe space to discuss these dips in communication.

FAQs Cont. About Online Marriage Counseling

Does BetterHelp offer virtual marital or virtual relationship counseling?

Yes. BetterHelp offers individual and couples therapy services, and relationship help virtually.

What do virtual relationship and marital counseling help with?

Virtual couples therapy helps couples work together to build stronger foundations and more solid relationships. Taking part in relationship counseling teaches critical coping and communication skills.

Can you do marital or virtual relationship counseling via the internet?

Yes. Virtual marital help is affordable and available. There are both free and low-cost options available via the internet. Free therapy options are available in the form of peer-to-peer networks, group, and free self-help resources on the internet.

Do relationship therapists ever suggest divorce in online counseling?

One study found that the reason for the vast majority of divorces comes down to a lack of commitment. Your therapist is licensed and understands that not all situations will result in the most desirable outcome.

What do you do in virtual relationship counseling?

Couples therapy consists of a series of question-and-answer sessions, advice from therapists, verbal and written exercises. The majority of relationship counseling is spent in conversation with your relationship therapist, where you work together to identify issues in your relationships and the best strategies to implement to resolve them. Virtual relationship help focuses on helping people to identify and resolve challenges in their intimate relationships. People take part in counseling, in-person relationship therapy, and virtual relationship help.

Is virtual relationship help effective?

Virtual counseling has been found in research to not only be effective but is just as effective as face-to-face. However, it’s important to remember that the effectiveness of virtual help in addressing relationship issues will depend on your willingness, to be honest, and implement the things that you’re learning.

How much does virtual relationship help cost?

The cost of virtual relationship counseling varies the same way that face-to-face does. However, many virtual options are more affordable than face-to-face sessions In-person.

If you’re looking to save money, you may be interested in finding free virtual help. You may find yourself looking for free trial periods or joining virtual support groups and while you may be able to get some help from these options, they are not a replacement for working with board-certified mental health professionals.

For more information about BetterHelp as a company, please find us on:

If you need a crisis hotline or want to learn more, please see below:

RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) - 1-800-656-4673
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255
National Domestic Violence Hotline - 1-800-799-7233
NAMI Helpline (National Alliance on Mental Illness) - 1-800-950-6264
Lifeline Crisis Chat (live messaging): https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/
Self-Harm Hotline: 1-800-DONT CUT (366-8288)
Family Violence Helpline: 1-800-996-6228
Planned Parenthood Hotline: 1-800-230-PLAN (7526)
National Crisis Line - Anorexia and Bulimia: 1-800-233-4357
SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) SAMHSA Facebook, SAMHSA Twitter, SAMHSA LinkedIn
Mental Health America, MHA Twitter, MHA Facebook, MHA Instagram, MHA Pinterest, MHA LinkedIn
WebMD, WebMD Facebook, WebMD Twitter, WebMD Pinterest, WebMD LinkedIn
NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health), NIMH Facebook, NIMH Twitter, NIMH YouTube, NIMH LinkedIn
APA (American Psychiatric Association), APA Twitter, APA Facebook, APA LinkedIn, APA Instagram

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