IsFree Online TherapyRight For Your Relationship?
Free Or Affordable Therapy Options
While finding couples counseling or therapy options that work within your budget may take time and research, receiving professional guidance may be instrumental in saving your relationship. According to a survey conducted by MidAmerica Nazarene University, an average of 49% of married couples seek counseling at some point during marriage.
Additional research shows that couples therapy positively impacts around 70% of those who participate. When seeking free or affordable couples therapy, there are a number of options you may want to explore.
Online Therapy Services
The recent expansion of digital mental health care options has made the process of seeking therapy or counseling easier than ever before. Online therapy services such as BetterHelp offer specialized options with plans ranging from $60 to $90 per week. Additionally, financial aid is available for those who qualify. Research has shown that both individual and couples therapy received online is equally as effective as receiving in-person therapy.
Contact Your Insurance
If you and your partner are currently insured, you may want to explore what your coverage has to offer. Though health insurance tends to differ, many companies offer mental healthcare coverage which may include online couples counseling.
See If You Qualify For Assistance
If you reside in the U.S. and are not currently insured, you may find a number of options available through the healthcare marketplace. Depending on factors such as income and household, you may qualify for healthcare programs such as Medicare or Medicaid.
A number of these programs may include individual and couples counseling options. You can explore your state specific options by visiting Healthcare.gov.
Online Support Groups
While online support groups may not offer the option to connect directly with a licensed therapist, apps such as Lasting offer workshops and courses aimed toward deepening communication and relationship repair. Online forums on websites like Reddit or Facebook may be helpful for receiving support from those in similar situations at no cost.
Types Of Marriage Counseling
When seeking couples therapy, it can be helpful to remember that every situation is unique, and different types of therapy may work for different couples. Some types of couples therapy include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), often referred to as talk therapy, is an effective, evidence-based method used to treat a number of psychological disorders. CBT aims to identify and reframe unhelpful behavioral patterns in order to develop new and more effective responses. CBT has been shown to be a highly effective treatment for couples looking to improve their relationship.
The Gottman Method
Developed by Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, the Gottman Method is a specialized form of couples therapy that aims to “disarm conflicting verbal communication; increase intimacy, respect, and affection; remove barriers that create a feeling of stagnancy, and create a heightened sense of empathy and understanding within the context of the relationship."
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is an effective, short-term form of couples therapy that aims to strengthen the physical and emotional bonds between partners experiencing disappointment or distress in their relationship. Typically, EFT is presented in three stages: de-escalation, restructuring interactions, and consolidation.
Positive Psychology Therapy (PPT)
Positive Psychology Therapy (PPT) is a relatively new therapeutic approach. PPT differs from typical therapy-based interventions by placing an emphasis on positivity and positive outcomes. PPT aims to shift the participants' thoughts away from what is “wrong” and toward what is good and positive.
Solution Focused Therapy (SFT)
As the name may suggest, Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) is centered around setting goals and finding solutions. According to the Institute Of Solution Focused Therapy, SFT is “a hope friendly, positive emotion eliciting, future-oriented vehicle for formulating, motivating, achieving, and sustaining desired behavioral change”.
In an article published by Forbes, psychotherapist and author of For Better, For Worse, Forever, Beatty Cohan, states, “It may take several sessions for a couple to assess whether the counseling is helpful and, if you find that you are not seeing improvement or don’t have a good connection with your therapist, remember there are many other therapists who can help you.”
Takeaway
If you and your partner are experiencing challenges in your relationship, you are not alone. It can be helpful to remember that many couples experience difficulty at some point in a relationship, and both free and affordable options are available that may help you to deepen your communication and repair damage.
Reviews
"She always takes time to dig through all issues. Modifies our sessions based on needs at that time while maintaining long term and short term goals. She saved my relationship!!"
"Cris Roman saved my marriage. His approach to therapy taught my husband and I 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 the 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."
Meet Some More Of Our Therapists
Darcy Dobb - LCSW, MHPP
Cheryl Williams - MA
Dr. Patrick Casthely - LMHC, MCAP, PHD
Dennis Doke - M.S., LMFT-S, LPC-S
Debra Jenkins - MSW, LCSW-C
Heather Connors - LCSW, PPSC
Stephen Robinson - MA, LCMHCS, LCAS