Online Couples Counseling & Premarital Counseling

Healthy relationships require a lot of work, and many decide to start with online couples counseling before committing more.

It’s completely normal for couples to look for expert assistance to get over difficulties that develop in a relationship as it helps the couple to connect even more and build a stronger, healthier relationship.

Online relationship counseling is available in a variety of formats, just like in-person relationship counseling, including couples therapy, premarital counseling, and relationship coaching.

Depending on what the couple needs, they can choose an adequate form of online therapy and begin working on improving their relationship.

Reasons to Seek Online Couples Counseling

Clinicians agree that the ideal moment to seek online couples counseling is before you feel you need it, just like with any sort of therapy. This proactive approach to overcoming problems can help you avoid a lot of pain and conflict in the long run.

If your relationship is struggling with any of the issues listed below, now might be a good time to consider online couples counseling:

Issues communicating and/or having the same argument over and over again,
Deciding about the future of your relationship and/or navigating major life changes that impact your relationship,
Having differing expectations of the relationship,
Infidelity, whether it is emotional or physical,
Parenting and/or family-related difficulties,
Issues with intimacy and sex,
Money stress or any type of financial concerns.

Couples should always consider continuing to work on and enhance their relationship despite their inability to attend in-person sessions. Delaying the start of therapy can harm the relationship and may eventually result in anger, resentment, despair, or anxiety.

What is Being Discussed in Online Couples Therapy

You can discuss any subject in online sessions that you would like to have in-person sessions. If a topic seems significant to you and your relationship, it’s crucial to address it in couples counseling and give it time and space to understand the root of the issue.

In addition to all of the relationship pressures that existed before the pandemic and still affect couples, clinicians are observing a number of new issues, such as:

Increased anxiety about the future,
Changes in partner compatibility during the pandemic
Heightened sense of conflict,
Financial stress,
Differences in parenting style,
Lack of intimacy,
Issues healing from the past unresolved events,
Experiencing a mental health challenge that is affecting the relationship.

Many couples are also discovering that problems in their relationship that could have existed before the pandemic feel heightened or suddenly revealed. This phenomenon is connected to rising family stress, tight budgets, and existential anxieties – all of which are accompanied by fewer distractions as a result of the continued social distance needs. If you can relate to this, know that an online couples therapist can assist you in processing and navigating these increased pressures.

Preparing for Online Couples Therapy

Online couples counseling has a distinct advantage over in-person treatment in that couples have complete control over their personal space. Because of this, it is even more crucial to set up your session such that you feel comfortable and your therapist can see everything that is going on in the room. Consider the following to ensure that you are both physically and psychologically prepared for sessions:

1. Check Your Internet Speed

It is best to use the internet with a bandwidth of at least 10 MBps for the best experience and to avoid connection problems. You can use a variety of free internet speed tests to examine the speed of your connection. If you noticed that your internet connection is lower than suggested above, consider resetting your router or utilizing the mobile hotspot.

2. Camera Should Capture as Much of You as Possible

Couples should meet on computers rather than on phones because it’s simpler to see both people on the screen. Place the computer a few feet away so that the therapist can see as much of your body as possible, place the computer a few feet away.

3. Minimize Distractions

You should both have a strategy for reducing distractions, both within and outside the room. The best thing to do is to use a room with a closed door to establish clear expectations for privacy if you have children who are old enough to spend time alone. If you have children, set up an activity for them in a separate room and set a timer for them so they can anticipate when their parents will finish.

Make sure you get rid of any outside electronic distractions as well. You should consider keeping your phone away and disabling notifications on your computer during sessions as both can be distracting.

4. Joining Together vs from Separate Rooms

Even though you’re working on your relationship together, keep in mind that couples can receive online couples counseling even if they don’t live together. Joining separately could be the typical choice for long-distance or currently separated couples, and it is also an option for people who live together.

Depending on the subjects being addressed, some couples prefer to attend from separate areas in the house. For example, if a difficult situation is being discussed, partners may prefer to have some physical space during this particular session.

The First Online Couples Counseling Session

Every therapist has their own distinct intake procedure, yet many use a three-step method in which they first meet with the couple as a whole and then separately with each partner once.

The initial joint appointment gives the therapist a chance to learn more about your relationship’s past and the reasons you’re currently seeking counseling. The therapist’s goal is to get a strong initial image of what is happening in the relationship, from both partners’ viewpoints. In the first session, your therapist will try to gain a clear sense of who they are, how they see their relationship, and what they want to work on.

At the initial session, therapists could ask the following questions to better understand your dynamic and relationship:

What is the reason for starting with online counseling therapy?
What worked well and not so well in your relationship?
How did you two meet and what made you fall in love with each other?
What relevant events have you faced in your relationship?
What small conflicts arise in your daily life?

In Conclusion

Couples counseling takes a lot of courage and patience, so it’s completely reasonable to be anxious before the first appointment. Concentrate on the fact that both you and your partner are willing to work on the relationship, and have faith in your therapist to support the creation of a secure, nonjudgmental space where you can both freely express yourselves.

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About Life Coaching and Therapy

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Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists help all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

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