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Couples counseling typically provides people with support from a licensed therapist. Sessions can include helping with building communication skills and highlighting relationship goals.
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Couples experiencing relationship difficulties can speak with a licensed therapist who can use a range of techniques to explore any miscommunication, feelings of disconnection, or external stressors.
If a person in a couple feels they may benefit from talking therapy, multiple options are available. These include:
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT)
A study on CBT for couples found it effective for dealing with relationship quality and marital social skills. Studies on both Gottman and EFT have shown positive effects and improved marital status.
Online therapy is increasing in popularity, particularly in recent years. A 2019 study concludes it to be easier for people to access and less expensive than traditional therapy. However, there are still challenges when moving from traditional services.
Below, we look at some couples counseling services to consider.
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
• $90 for the Welcome Session • $540 for the Assessment bundle • $2,040 for 12-session bundle • $200 for a standard therapy session • $500 for a Psychiatry evaluation • $250 for a Psychiatry follow-up
A couple may consider some of the following factors when looking for online therapy:
Therapy style
A couple can research different therapeutic styles to best suit their needs. They can then specify this when searching for therapists. Some common couple therapy techniques include:
emotionally focused therapy
discernment counseling
Gottman Method couples therapy
relational psychotherapy
Considering needs
Individuals may find it helpful to consider their specific needs. For example, if a couple requires specific help with gender identity, sexual orientation, or monogamy, seeking a therapist with experience in those areas would provide benefit.
Additional considerations may include:
whether or not the therapist holds a valid license
whether the therapist works with clear action plans
whether the therapist provides work to do outside of sessions
Cost and convenience
A couple looking for online therapy should consider their budget and whether or not the sessions are flexible and suit their schedule.
Below are some common questions relating to online couples therapy.
Is online therapy as effective as in person?
A 2021 study found that some forms of Internet-based therapy provided results similar to in-person treatment. However, due to the ongoing growth of this field, further studies are necessary.
Should a person go to couples therapy alone or with a partner?
Couples should attend therapy together. However, there are options to speak to therapists separately on some platforms.
Does insurance cover couples therapy?
This is dependent on the insurance provider and the therapy service. A person should speak with their plan provider to confirm benefits.
Can LGBT couples attend couples therapy?
Yes. Some online therapy services specialize in LGBTQIA+ therapy, including:
ReGain is an online therapy platform that specializes in couples therapy. The company matches an individual or a couple with one of its thousands of licensed therapists and assigns them a private, online therapy “room” that is always open.
Persons use this room to message their therapist, schedule live therapy sessions, “meet” with their therapists, message their therapists, and complete worksheets to further their treatment goals.
ReGain therapists offer live, scheduled therapy sessions through video, phone, and live chat options. A person can obtain treatment as an individual or as part of a couple. Participants can join from different locations and choose to remain anonymous.
What is the most effective form of couple’s therapy?
Reviews of the scientific literature show that couple’s therapy can help people deal with relationship problems. Research shows the average person feels better after treatment than 70 -80 percent of people who do not receive treatment.
Data shows that cognitive-behavioral couple therapy, integrative behavioral couple therapy, and emotionally focused couple therapy can all be effective. Behavioral and non-behavioral approaches seem to be equally effective. Couples should consider their personal preferences when selecting a form of treatment.
Online couples therapy can be an affordable alternative to traditional, in-person therapy, and many companies offer convenient and reliable services.
Evidence suggests that online therapy options are equally effective as in-person therapy, providing flexible sessions and ease of use.
Some providers offer manageable subscription services and other payment plans. Some private medical insurers may also cover online couples therapy, and a person should speak with their insurer directly about this.
Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
Beasley CC, et al. (2019). Emotionally focused couples therapy: A systematic review of its effectiveness over the past 19 years [Abstract]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30605013/
Davoodvandi M, et al. (2018). Examining the effectiveness of Gottman Couple Therapy on improving marital adjustment and couples' intimacy [Abstract]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29997659/
