Use Online Couples Counseling To Get Your Relationship Back On Track
Updated June 16, 2020
Reviewer Karen Devlin, LPC
Relationships take a lot of hard work, and healthy relationships are built on trust. When you doubt the words of someone you love, your relationship isn't strong, and when you're standing on shaky relationship ground, you don't feel a sense of security. If you don't trust your partner, it's not the end of the world. You can work to rebuild that trusting dynamic, but it's hard to do it alone. When you can't work your issues out between the two of you, talking to an objective person is advantageous. The great news is that there is help available through online relationship counseling. An online counselor has both partner's best interests at heart. A licensed mental health professional can help you and your partner learn how to communicate and resolve relationship issues more effectively.
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Infidelity
One problem that couples face is infidelity. Infidelity is one of the major relationship issues that can take a toll on how you and your partner feel about each other. When one partner cheats on the other, it breaks the trust in the love connection. It becomes difficult to repair that bond. The person who was cheated on may continue to be suspicious of their partner's actions, where they're going, who they're talking to or texting on their phone. A lack of trust with your partner affects everything from sleep to lacking self-confidence around others. People with chronic mental health issues may not handle infidelity well.
Some people may take their partner's phone and snoop around for lewd text messages. These behaviors are unhealthy, and they're a sign that the relationship needs help. Talking to a relationship expert like a marriage and family counselor can help you learn how to improve your relationship with yourself -- and your partner. Trust issues are a common cause of the demise of a romantic relationship. Surviving the pain of infidelity is one of the primary relationship issues that result in thousands of people turning to counseling services online for relationship advice.
Resentment
Resentment is another one of the common relationship issues that can take a toll on intimate relationships over time. Sometimes partners become resentful toward each other when their needs aren't being met. Maybe one partner is introverted and needs time to themselves. The other person in the relationship is clingy. They want to cuddle and be close to their lover. Neither person in the relationship is wrong. They have different needs. A marriage, family, and relationship expert can teach you and your partner how to cope with these challenges. It's okay to ask for what you want in a relationship and understand that your partner has needs too. You need to be close, and they have the desire for some alone time. If one person sacrifices their needs for the sake of their partner, that could end up in them feeling resentful. It could also be a sign that the relationship is codependent.
Have you and your partner thought about going to couples counseling together? Well, if you have, then you've probably looked at the counselors that are available in your area. Maybe you've even visited a few of them, and you didn't feel comfortable enough to continue. Take advantage of a free consultation with an expert who specializes in resolving relationship issues like the professional counselors and therapists at RegainUS.
But have you ever tried online couples counseling as a way to help you and your partner improve and repair your relationship? Getting started with online relationship counseling services is easy. Couples can do a quick search to find a compatible therapist online and schedule relationship counseling therapy sessions from the convenience of your own home—all on your schedule.
Why Online Couples Counseling?
Participating in relationship counseling therapy sessions is extremely helpful for partners who want to create healthier relationships. Research studies show that people who engage in couples or online relationship counseling with a licensed therapist see an improvement in their relationships. All couples go through rough patches, but when the tough times don't improve, some things can help the partners get back on the same page. Online couples counseling is becoming quite popular. You and your partner can talk about your relationship with a skilled online mental health professional.
The good news is that online counseling sites have a strict privacy policy. This means that the information you share with your therapist is confidential. Even with a strict privacy policy in place, you may still be skeptical about talking to relationship counselors online. You might be private about your relationship and feel strange about that concept. Why would you want to go online for your couple's counseling? Well, one of the biggest reasons is that you're going to be able to sit in your own house during the sessions. No more making an appointment and rushing around to get to the office. No more uncomfortable waiting rooms and nosy receptionists. No more sitting in a strange office trying to bare your soul. Instead, you can sit right in your living room, where you and your partner are most comfortable, and you can talk to your therapist from there.
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Getting therapy online is an excellent option for busy people and those who live in rural areas far from a therapist's office. You may not have the time to set foot in a traditional therapy setting because your job pushes you to work 50 hours a week. With online counseling, it's easy for you to set up and make appointments with your therapist. Another advantage of working with a mental health professional online is that you probably will feel comfortable enough to open up to them. Online counseling provides an intimate setting, which is perfect for couples' therapy. Whether you're engaged in premarital counseling or relationship counseling, you and your partner are likely to feel safe talking about delicate issues with a counselor. When you and your partner are in an environment where you feel comfortable (like your home), you're more likely to talk about the things that are bothering you. A cold, sterile place like an office or even just a strange place can make it a lot harder for you to share. Couples therapy is an intimate process, and seeing an online counselor can further that feeling of intimacy.
In addition, couples who are struggling with their relationship may have mental health issues as a result of their relationship problems. When your relationship isn't working, you might feel depressed. Of course, a struggling relationship would affect a person's mental health. But that's where online counseling can help. The best online relationship counseling therapists are licensed to provide you with the highest quality of care and a total solution.
In summary, participating in relationship counseling services online makes it easier for you to set up therapy sessions and feel comfortable and open about the things you want to talk about. When you and your partner are in an environment where you feel comfortable (like your home), you're more likely to talk about the things that are bothering you that you may not mention during an in-office therapy session.
Online relationship counseling sessions with licensed therapists can provide the same benefits as an in-office therapy session. Online therapists are licensed to provide relationship counseling sessions and therapy via text, video, and audio. Licensed therapists in the United States are ready to provide counseling services and new techniques that help couples communicate, understand each other and fulfill each other's needs in healthy ways.
Couples can also make arrangements for individual counseling sessions (outside of their relationship counseling sessions) for additional counseling services that address individual issues like depression, anger, anxiety during a private therapy session.
A cold, sterile place like an office or even just a strange place can make it a lot harder for you to share. Couples therapy is an intimate process, and seeing an online counselor can further that feeling of intimacy.
What if My Partner Doesn't Want to Try Online Counseling?
You know that expression, "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink?" This concept also applies to online therapy and relationship counseling. You can ask your partner to participate in counseling sessions with you, but you can't make the other person do it. When it comes to relationship counseling, the best thing you can do if you want to see a counselor is to talk to your partner about why you want to seek help for your relationship. Explain to them that online therapists are licensed to provide relationship counseling services online that can improve the quality of your relationship.
There are many different reasons people seek relationship counseling. Maybe it's to improve your communication, rebuild trust, talk about issues surrounding intimacy, or separate peacefully. Relationship counseling with licensed therapists that specialize in online counseling techniques improves most relationships. When couples commit to working on their relationship with counseling, their relationships become healthier.
Couples use online relationship counseling sessions to talk through issues with online relationship counselors to improve their self-esteem and help you and your partner grow together and start enjoying the life you've built together. When you participate in online therapy, you'll notice that the emotional intimacy improves between you two, and your bond grows stronger.
So how do you get your partner to start relationship counseling? Tell them why online relationship counseling is so important to you. Explain how couples' therapy is one of the best online relationship counseling options that can help your relationship fix the problems you're seeing. If your partner is as dedicated to the relationship as you are, they'll likely give online relationship counseling a try. And that's all you're asking them to do is try it.
After all, there is no risk of trying therapy. It can only be positive because it is easy to discontinue. Once you get started, you can cancel your subscription at any time if you feel that online therapy isn't the best fit for you.
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I Don't Understand Online Relationship Counseling
Many people are confused and don't quite understand what online relationship counseling is. It's a form of treatment where you work on preserving your long-term relationship. Therapy is an excellent setting to work on your relationship issues with your partner. These kinds of therapists are relationship experts, and they can guide you toward productive solutions for your relationship. You'll notice after some time in an online relationship and counseling some personal growth. You'll come out of the counseling process differently than when you went into it. A relationship counselor will help you and your partner communicate more effectively, as well as learn each other's languages. They'll offer helpful relationship advice, but they won't push you to take their guidance if it doesn't work for you and your partner. If you're curious about what you'll gain from it, you can set up a free consultation and find out more. You don't have to invest in something before getting all the facts. A free consultation is an excellent way to gauge whether you're interested in further pursuing relationship counseling online with your partner. You can talk to the relationship counselor about issues surrounding your love life and maintaining a healthy relationship. The therapy session you receive in the consultation should give you a good representation of what to expect in sessions to come.
What You'll Do in Online Relationship Counseling
With online couples counseling, you're going to do the same things that you would do in any other type of couples counseling. You're going to talk to your therapist about the problems in your love life that you're experiencing, and you're going to talk to your partner about what you want in the relationship. Couples who choose to do relationship counseling online receive the same level of care that they would be sitting in a therapist's office. As a couple, you're going to go through discussions and exercises that are proven to help the two of you to feel more comfortable together and start improving your relationship one step at a time. You'll work through all the little things that have built up over the time you've been together, and you'll start to improve communication. When you and your partner seek counseling online, you're committing to a therapeutic relationship, just like the one you'd have with an in-office therapist. In relationship counseling, you and your partner are showing each other how much you love one another by simply being there.
The therapy sessions in online counseling aren't a different experience entirely from seeing a therapist in an office. With an online therapist, you're going to have a very similar experience to the one you would have with a therapist you're meeting in the office. The people you're talking to are all certified, and just as qualified as any therapist you would find in your hometown. With the options available via online therapy, you have more choices because you can talk to someone half a world away through the power of the internet. That means you get a therapy provider that you feel comfortable with, and you'll never be limited because of proximity. Below are some reviews of ReGain counselors, from couples experiencing different relationship issues.
Counselor Reviews
"Cris Roman saved my marriage. His approach to therapy taught my husband and me the skills we needed to change the way we communicated and the way we understood each other. He is very non-judgemental and helps each person make sense of others' feelings and actions without taking sides or placing blame. His ability to make you feel heard while helping you to see and understand why your significant other is acting a certain way is phenomenal."
"My girlfriend and I have been working with Alison for about four months now, and with her help and guidance, we have strengthened our relationship tenfold. Her communication style is amazing, and she really strives to make the best of our time with one another. If you're looking for a counselor, you can put your faith in with the whole experience, she's the one to go to."
Conclusion
Online therapy can be a great way to find a therapist that you and your partner can enjoy spending time within a therapy session, open up your feelings, and improve your relationship. Couples can work with trained counselors who have extensive experience with marital problems and find healing.
When you begin your initial counseling session, you and your partner may be nervous. That's natural. Just remember therapists and relationship experts are committed to helping your relationship, and you are making a major step towards progress. No matter what you're experiencing, with the right tools, you can move forward to a truly fulfilling relationship. Visit our advice page for related articles on the topic of online couples counseling. If you're ready to give online couple therapy a try -- Take the first step and connect with a RegainUS relationship professional online now.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the success rate of couples counseling?
If you are seeking therapy, especially couples therapy, then you’re already on the track to success. Of course, this is because if you never start seeking couples therapy, your success rate will be zero. But, the statistics are actually strongly in favor of those who seek couples therapy. Couples and families who participate in family therapy have been shown to have a success rate as high as 75%. This shows that on the whole, family therapy, whether it’s in the form of sex therapy for couples, marital therapy, or even individual therapy, can be an effective way to make relationships work. This is true for all kinds of relationships in your family.
What is the cost of couples counseling?
If you are seeking therapy or counseling couples therapy, it’s important to have an idea of the price range. Even if you and your partner are ready for couples therapy, the cost could be an inhibitor to therapy or relationship counseling.
You have a couple of options that will help determine the price of your couples therapist. The first factor is whether you’ll meet your couples therapist in person or online. As a general rule, couples therapists usually charge between $75 and $200 per session, with one session per week. However, before you decide that marriage counseling is too expensive, remember that there are online alternatives that are usually cheaper than the in-person sessions.
You can check out ReGain and the therapy we offer for both individuals and couples. You’ll be able to find the right couples counseling therapist for you and your partner, and you’ll find reasonable, competitive rates.
How long should we go to couples counseling?
While the time frame for different kinds of relationships will vary, you should take clues from your couple's counseling therapist as to how long you should continue individuals and couples therapy. A good couples therapist considers both individuals and couples when they determine how long the individual couples should stay in marital therapy.
A good couples therapist will view couples first as two individuals. For this reason, they may suggest trying out separate individuals and couples therapy. This way, the patients can focus on working on themselves in terms of both individuals and couples.
How do I get couples counseling?
Before you dive in with a couples therapist, you need to make sure that your partner is on board for marital therapy. You might want to look at the different individuals and couples therapy options before deciding to start couples therapy. Once your spouse agrees to work with a marriage counselor, you can begin the search for the right couples therapist for you both. If your partner doesn’t want to start with a couples counseling therapist right away, you should consider individual counseling in the meantime.
Once you and your partner have decided to get couples counseling, you have to work together to define what aspects of the relationship you want to work on. For example, are you looking for sex therapy, or do you want to talk with an unbiased third party about ways to communicate more effectively? Once you’ve defined your goals for couples counseling, you’ll have a better idea as to what kind of therapist and what kind of approaches you want to pursue.
Can couples therapy make things worse?
In cases of strained marriages, some patients express that they feel the strain on relationships in couples therapy. However, this is often the result of bringing up difficult or repressed topics with the couples therapist. So, even though things may be stressful or seem to be getting worse than the beginning of couples therapy, it’s important to remember that it’s only the beginning of the process.
Yes, it may be strenuous on the relationship to air all of the grievances that you have with your partner, and at the outset, it may seem that things are getting worse. However, this is just the first step in the process of improving your relationship. You have to be patient and work through the process with the couples therapist. As time goes on, you’ll start to see that your problems are solved one by one and that you’re equipped with the tools and skills to deal with problems that come up in the relationship.
So, while it may seem to be making things worse at first, in the long run, couples therapy is ultimately a great way to improve your relationship.
Will marriage counselors ever suggest divorce?
In most cases, marriage counselors are very reluctant to suggest divorce. Of course, there are extreme cases of abuse and physical harm. While the therapist might not suggest divorce outright in those extreme cases, they will certainly suggest separation and do everything in their power to get the abused party away and safe from the abuser.
On the whole, though, marriage counselors are very unlikely to suggest divorce.
Can counseling really save a marriage?
In a word, yes: many relationships in couples therapy have been saved. Marriage counseling and marital therapy are great ways to address issues in a marriage. This is because the couples therapist acts as an objective third party who can listen to both sides of the story and offer professional and unbiased advice.
If your partner isn’t quite ready to delve into couples counseling, you can always try individual counseling in the meantime so that you can work on your part of the issues in the marriage. Hopefully, as your spouse sees you making progress, they’ll want to join the therapy or relationship counseling.
What to expect couples counseling?
While every different couple's therapist will provide therapy with their own touch, there are a few common elements of counseling couples that you can expect when you’re starting couples therapy. Depending on the relationships in couples therapy, there are different approaches that a couples therapist might use. These methods change according to the practice of the therapist and their observations of the individual couples.
For example, if you’re seeking sex therapy, the therapist will have a whole different plan than if you were looking for help with other aspects of your marriage. In sex therapy, a lot of the conversation will focus on anatomy and anxiety. The therapist will work together with you and your partner to help you both understand the anatomy involved with the function of sex and the pleasure of it. Plus, they’ll help you communicate effectively during sex in order to address any sex-related anxiety that you or your partner may feel.
Another approach that a couples therapist might employ is exposure therapy. With this method, the therapist will trigger anxiety on purpose so that the patient can confront it head-on in a safe space. This approach can be used for individuals and couples, and it often lends a lot of insight for both the patient and their partner. The goal is to equip both the patient and the partner with tools to deal with anxiety in the relationship.
Play therapy is another method for addressing problems in a relationship. In-play therapy, the therapist takes the role of the observer while the couple “plays out” a typical interaction. Then, the therapist is able to review and give advice based on their observations.
No matter what methods the therapist employs, you should expect marriage counseling to be a safe space to work through problems in your relationship with the help of a professional and unbiased third party.
