Remote Couples Therapy: Strengthening Relationships And Mental Health

Couples therapy is widely practiced, with around 70% of psychotherapists worldwide stating that they treat couples. As divorce rates remain at around 50%, many couples seek therapy to address difficulties maintaining physical or emotional connections in their romantic relationships.

Remote couples therapy can be a helpful option for couples who may need relationship support. Couples can connect with a mental health professional via live video calls, phone calls, or messaging platforms for assistance when they need it. Remote couples therapy may be especially beneficial for modern-day couples who have busy schedules or live in remote areas. 

As with traditional, in-person therapy sessions, remote couple therapy can allow couples to openly discuss their feelings, thoughts, and relationship concerns with the help of a licensed couples or marriage therapist. Read on to learn more about remote couples therapy and its potential benefits for people experiencing relationship distress. 

What is remote couples therapy?

Therapeutic Approaches in Remote Couples Therapy and Online Couples Counseling

Oftentimes, remote couples therapy sessions are held via videoconference or phone calls. These types of sessions allow partners to get therapy from the comfort of their own homes.

There are various therapeutic approaches that might be used in online couples counseling, including:

• The Gottman Method
• Solution-focused therapy
• Emotionally focused therapy
• Imago relationship therapy

These methods may help with various challenges couples might be facing, such as trouble communicating, breadcrumbing, problems with trust, or difficulties settling disagreements.

How Remote Couples Therapy and Couples Counseling Help Relationships

Couples seek therapy for a variety of relationship concerns. There are also different types of counseling that can help with specific situations. For example, some therapists can help couples who are about to get married prepare for their new life together. Others might offer help for people in long-distance relationships who are trying to make things work while being far apart. 

Remote couples therapy isn't just for people facing challenges in romantic relationships. It may also be helpful for couples experiencing big changes in their lives, such as merging two families together or trying to balance busy work schedules with their personal lives. Sometimes, significant life transitions test emotional connections. Therapy can help couples resolve relationship problems that arise and help couples come to a deeper understanding of one another. 

What Remote Therapy for Couples Can Address 

Relationship distress can occur for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, couples lack conflict resolution skills, for instance, or there may be underlying mental health conditions causing relationship instability. Remote therapy can address these and other relationship concerns, including: 

• Damaged emotional connections
• Insecure attachments in childhood, according to attachment theory
• Communication issues
• A lack of shared goals in the relationship

In many cases, therapy simply helps couples come to a deeper understanding of one another, which can go a long way towards healing. 

Strengthening Emotional Connections and Communication 

In therapy, many couples realize that making time for emotional connections and learning effective communication skills is the key to a satisfying relationship. Therapists who specialize in romantic relationships can help you develop shared goals and come to a deeper understanding of your partner. By the time you’re finished with your therapy sessions, you may realize that you’ve experienced personal growth, not just growth in the relationship.

Benefits of remote couples therapy

Remote couples therapy may have several benefits that couples may find appealing. Online therapists take a comprehensive approach to the therapeutic process and can develop a personalized plan for treatment. Depending on the couple’s lifestyle and preferences, online therapy may offer the following benefits:

Availability for couples counseling

Remote couples therapy can be valuable for those who may not be able to avail of traditional in-person therapy sessions. It can be particularly helpful for people who live in distant or rural areas or have physical conditions that make it difficult to travel from home to appointments. 

Because of the widespread availability of the internet and digital devices, couples can attend virtual therapy sessions from anywhere, making counseling available to more people.

Affordable and flexible pricing for couples or individual therapy

Many online couples therapy platforms often have more flexible pricing options compared to in-person sessions,  especially without major insurance plans. The cost of remote online sessions can be less expensive, making therapy a more affordable choice for couples who desire a stronger foundation. 

Some online platforms even offer discounts, adjustable fees based on income, and plans. These options can make it possible for couples to work towards stronger emotional connections and a more satisfying relationship without worrying as much about the cost or whether the therapist is in network according to their insurance plan.

Convenience and flexible therapist scheduling

One of the benefits of online relationship counseling is the convenience it offers. Couples can set up appointments when it works best for them, removing the need to travel or take time off from their jobs to start therapy. 

This flexibility can allow therapy sessions to fit into a couple's schedule more easily, helping them maintain a balance between work and personal life.

With BetterHelp’s sister site Regain, you and your partner can answer a few questions to get matched with a licensed couples counselor or marriage therapist. All providers on the platform are vetted and hold a minimum of a master’s degree in psychology or counseling. Once you begin treatment via live video or phone, your therapist can create a personalized plan of treatment to address your specific relationship concerns. This treatment plan can guide your therapy sessions going forward.

Techniques and Approaches Used in Remote Couples Therapy

Your treatment plan may detail the specific techniques that will be used across your therapeutic journey. In remote couples therapy, a licensed couples counselor or marriage therapist may employ many of the same techniques used in traditional therapy. These may include: 

• Teaching effective communication skills like active listening and “I” statements
• Practicing conflict resolution skills like compromise and problem-solving
• Emotionally Focused Therapy, an approach based on attachment theory
• Creating shared goals for the future
• The Gottman Method for building a stronger foundation

These therapeutic techniques may be used alone or in combination with one another. 

What you can learn with remote couples therapy

With the help of a licensed therapist, couples therapy sessions can help people improve their relationships in a number of ways. Couples may find that they’re able to learn and implement different strategies to create a stronger bond in their relationships. 

Remote couples therapy can improve communication skills and mental health

Remote couples therapy or online marriage counseling may help clients improve their communication skills through different types of therapeutic exercises.

For example, during an online therapy session, a couple might be guided through an exercise called active listening. In this exercise, one partner tells their feelings or thoughts while the other listens without interrupting. 

After the first partner finishes speaking, the listening partner then summarizes what they heard to ensure they understood correctly. This process may help both individuals feel heard and understood. 

Conflict resolution

Conflict is often a part of any relationship, but unresolved problems can lead to arguments, resentment, and emotional strain. Online couples therapy can help partners create better conflict-resolution strategies. 

For instance, a therapist might teach a couple the "time-out" method, where if a conversation becomes too heated, they take a break to calm down before continuing. This guidance can assist couples in managing disagreements in a healthy and constructive way.

Improving intimacy and better mental health

Marriage counseling can also help couples strengthen their bond. 

For example, a couple might find that work stress is affecting their emotional intimacy. The therapist can guide them through strategies to manage stress and maintain a strong connection despite external pressures. 

Through therapy sessions, couples can overcome obstacles to emotional or physical intimacy and create strategies to improve not just their connection, but also their mental health.

Relationship satisfaction

Remote couples therapy may offer a valuable opportunity for couples to assess their relationship satisfaction and address any concerns. 

As an example, a couple might sense that they're stuck in a routine that's causing boredom and dissatisfaction. The therapist can help them understand their relationship dynamics better and suggest strategies to improve their overall satisfaction.

When to Start Therapy: Taking the First Step

For couples dealing with constant fighting or a lack of intimacy in their relationships, sooner may be better when it comes to when they begin treatment. The sooner you start therapy, the sooner you can begin working towards better relationship dynamics. A licensed therapist with a master’s degree or higher can help you devise a treatment plan to work on issues that often derail romantic relationships. 

Finding couples counseling or therapy online

When choosing an online couples therapy platform, you may want to make sure that the therapists are licensed and have the appropriate credentials. You can also confirm if the platform offers therapy sessions at an affordable rate or in a format with which you’re comfortable.

Keep in mind that the effectiveness of therapy may vary from person to person, and it can be important to select a platform that suits your needs and preferences.

Effectiveness of online therapy

Research indicates that online couples therapy can be as effective as traditional face-to-face counseling in helping couples with relationship problems. One study found that participants experienced improvements in communication, intimacy, and psychological symptoms, demonstrating the potential effectiveness of remote couples therapy.

Online Therapy and Licensed Therapists for Mental Health and Relationship Support

One online platform, BetterHelp, connects individuals and couples with licensed therapists who may specialize in helping people improve their romantic relationships. The platform uses a thorough matching process that pairs clients with a couples counselor or marriage therapist best suited to manage their specific needs and shared goals for therapy. All therapists on BetterHelp hold at least a master’s degree and three years of clinical experience. With the right fit, couples may be able to effectively work through relationship challenges and arrive at a deeper understanding of one another with an online therapy platform.

How Insurance and Costs Work for Remote Therapy

Most major insurance plans provide coverage for mental healthcare. However, the insurance plan may or may not cover online therapy services, despite their comprehensive approach and proven effectiveness. It could be important to contact your insurance company directly to inquire about the specifics of your personalized plan. Even if your plan does cover remote services, you may be required to see a therapist in network to receive benefits. 

Many providers on the individual therapy platform, BetterHelp, now accept major insurance carriers in select states. For eligible members, co-pays average around $19/week when covered. Coverage is based on plan, provider, and therapist availability. Check in-network status directly on the BetterHelp site. While it’s not a replacement for couples therapy, one-on-one therapy can provide space to effectively address issues both in your relationship and your individual life.