Relationships are vital for the emotional growth of the individual, but when they go sour, communication breaks up and distrust creeps in.That said, each relationship is different and comes with its own unique set of concerns that require a clear resolution.
A relationship therapist can help manage conflict with your partner and help navigate any differences you may have regarding parenting, intimacy ,financial management and more.
Although this type of therapy is also referred to as marriage counseling,you need not be married to receive it as it can help any couple who are in a relationship, regardless of gender and age. Recently, many couples have turned to online services to deal with these types of issues, and this article aims to examine the validity of that approach.
What is Online Couples Counseling?
Online couples therapy is a kind of talking therapy that can address and resolve challenges that couples face and are unable to handle on their own. Over the past few years, online therapy has grown in popularity.
The aim of this mode of treatment is to help both partners gain a better insight into the negative thoughts and patterns that are affecting their relationship.
In essence, it is conducted in the same way as traditional face to face therapy, with the only real difference being the virtual environment.
How Does it Work
Online relationship counseling offers a convenient and straightforward way to receive therapy at a mutually agreed upon time from a safe place of your choice.
Typically, both partners attend an online session with a chosen therapist, although individual sessions can also be undertaken, if deemed necessary.
These remote sessions can be scheduled in advance on online platforms, through phone calls, chat or video sessions. In online couples therapy you will get to learn conflict resolving strategies, explore relationship patterns to restore trust in order to build a healthier and stronger relationship.
Is Virtual Couples Therapy Effective?
Today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape has made its way into the realm of mental health. Online relationship counseling, once considered a novelty, has become a popular mode of support for couples seeking guidance.
Additionally, this mode of therapy has demonstrated that it can facilitate open communication by transcending geographical barriers and still foster a meaningful relationship between the client and the therapist.
A study involving 332 couples showed that emotionally focused couples therapy enjoyed a 70% success rate and yielded positive benefits,both in short and long-term tests.
Is it Safe to Do Therapy Online?
Therapy is often considered to be a ‘safe’ place to vent feelings,but before accessing online couples counseling, it is important to assess the risks of any kind of therapeutic treatment as a lot of couples have found participating in a session challenging.
Confessing to a relationship weakness often makes both partners feel vulnerable. Some couples even opt to break the relationship,which can be quite painful.
Also, online relationship counseling can in no way fix the unequal power structure arising out of an abusive relationship as the abuser may use what is said in an online session later on against the partner.
In essence, online couples therapy shares the exact same risks of traditional therapy. It all depends on the willingness of all participants, and the proficiency of the therapist chosen.
Best Platforms to Access Online Couples Therapy
Today, it is common for couples to seek professional online help to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. Just as in traditional in-person therapy, online relationship counseling too comes in a number of forms like marriage therapy and premarital therapy.
To lead couples to the best approach, here is a list of the top 5 platforms that provide counseling, especially to rebuild couple relationships:
- ReGain – Best Overall
- Talkspace – Best with insurance
- BetterHelp – Most therapists to choose from
- Relationship Hero – Best Mobile phone based therapy
- Pride Counseling – Best for the LGBTQ+ community
Virtual vs Face to Face Relationship Counseling
As the name suggests, virtual relationship therapy takes place over a virtual platform as opposed to sitting in front of a counselor in a traditional clinic.
With online therapy, one can conduct a session with a therapist from any place having internet access and its effectiveness is solely based on one-on-one communication sessions with a therapist.
Online therapy can offer other options when certain obstacles limit access to healthcare, especially if one is living in a remote area or can’t find help locally.
On the other hand, even if you start in-person therapy, online therapy can increase convenience in the long run. After establishing a connection with a real life therapist,virtual sessions are a wonderful way to continue treatment.
While virtual sessions may work best for cognitive behavioral therapy, it does lose some effectiveness where marriage online counseling is concerned.
Ultimately,the best therapy option will depend entirely on your needs. You can decide yourself where the value lies and how to get the most out of the resources at hand.
Drawbacks of Online Relationship Counseling
Fitting two persons on a single screen could create a physical proximity that can make conducting sessions together uncomfortable for both the parties.
Again,using two devices for a three-way confrence can become awkward and finding the balance which is inherent to a face-to-face counselor.
In a virtual session,the therapist usually sees only what the screen is displaying and that’s mostly the face.This limits the range of non-verbal cues that can otherwise be picked up in a live session.
Online Couples Therapy Cost
Most of the online therapy platforms for couples offer therapy at an affordable price and on flexible terms. So how much does couples relationship counseling actually cost?
The answer is these costs may vary taking into consideration various factors, like number of sessions, duration of each session ,the chosen therapist and more. Couples counseling costs can also change depending on whether your provider accepts insurance or you are paying entirely out of pocket.
Before scheduling a session with an online couples therapist,you would want to know the charges, what your insurance will cover, and any copays that may be.
The average cost per session of a couples counseling therapist in the United States can be anything between $100-$200 per hour. Still,some marriage therapists may charge as less as $50 an hour while some may charge $250 or even more.
Therapists usually don’t give discounts but some may offer sliding scales for those couples who are facing financial difficulties. Likewise, some online marriage counseling platforms also offer discounted rates for signing up.
Is Online Therapy Right for My Partner and Me?
Taking part in an online counseling therapy session with a certified therapist can be highly beneficial for both partners to foster a healthy relationship.
Almost all couples go through tough periods in their relationship and when they are unable to resolve these issues themselves, seeking professional help is the best way to get things back on track.
Finally,the convenience and accessibility it offers far outweigh any concerns one may have.It eliminates the need of having to rush to a clinician’s office for an appointment and provides a hassle-free alternative for couples to seek support.
