The spread of the COVID-19 virus worldwide has driven everybody’s life online. Since the pandemic started, the online world has undergone immense growth and is now running most of our lives. From education to shopping to doctor’s appointments, every transaction isn’t possible without an internet connection, thanks to quarantines, lockdowns, and other safety measures. But would marriage counseling work if done online?
The short answer is yes, if you have the right mindset and find the right company with the most knowledgeable therapists. Here at Kentucky Counseling Center (KCC), we provide online counseling services that can be done in the comfort and within the safe confines of your home. We have licensed marriage and family therapists who are trained to cater to your relationship issues.
A relationship’s “holy grail” is trust. But can it be improved via online interventions? Read along and understand how online marriage counseling works and how it can benefit your relationship with your spouse or life partner.
How Online Therapy Works
Some couples are hesitant to try online marriage counseling because the setup is different from their traditional face-to-face appointments. It can be daunting to try something new, but couples therapy online is much more convenient, especially for those who have busy schedules.
First, let’s look at the convenience of attending your therapy sessions online. You won’t have to deal with traffic jams, and you can even show up in your sessions wearing your pajamas or without brushing your teeth.
All you have to do is wake up and connect to the internet. How it works will depend on what online marriage counseling programs you avail and how competent the therapist is.
You can browse and choose from a long list of marriage counseling sites and apps, read online reviews from other couples, and determine which site or therapist will suit your needs or fit your budget. From here, you can book an appointment and be available online for your virtual sessions.
Most online counseling therapists meet with their clients through ZOOM or other similar online platforms. Though this setup can be a challenge for some therapists, the right ones won’t miss the clients’ gestures, postures, and body language, which are important cues in nonverbal communication. Here at Kentucky Counseling Center (KCC), we understand that our clients who seek couples therapy may be bruised psychologically. We are ready to give them the best professional advice and assistance they need to move forward. We create realistic goals tailored to our client’s needs.
The Benefits of Online Couples Therapy Sessions
Virtual marriage counseling makes it possible for every troubled couple to seek therapy wherever they are in the world. Receiving virtual therapy services can improve communication between their partners and can effectively re-engage relationships. Here are some of the benefits you can experience when you choose online counseling:
1. Virtual Couples Therapy Can Be Convenient to Both Parties
Looking for an in-office marriage counselor can be a challenge. Traveling from one office to another in search of a qualified mental health professional who can help you with your marital issues can be time-consuming and inconvenient. Highly recommended licensed therapists usually have waitlists and only a few in-person spots they can attend.
Online marriage counseling can be much more convenient, as it is easier to search for the best therapists online. It also takes just a minute to book an appointment, and you won’t have to wait several hours or days to receive the confirmation of your booking.
With just a click or two, the web could give you a list of the most highly rated marriage counseling sites that have been successful in helping other couples with their marriage.
2. Online Therapy Is Affordable
Most of the time, online couples counseling cost is the same as in-person therapy, but it could cut the price of transportation expenses or taking a day off just to attend a spot from your therapist’s tight schedule.
Virtual couples counseling is not free but there are relationship apps and websites that offer free consultation and e-books, articles, and journals that can also help couples at no cost. Here at KCC, we offer affordable online marriage therapy, and we also accept major insurance providers in Kentucky and Ohio.
3. Sessions Can Be More Private
Trying pre-marital counseling and marriage therapy for the first time can be intimidating. Sharing details about your personal life and being vulnerable to a total stranger could sometimes feel awkward and uncomfortable. This is why relationship issues should be done privately with your trusted therapist.
Online therapy sessions can be more private compared to in-person sessions. With online relationship counseling, no one has to know that you’re having marriage problems with your spouse or your relationship is going through a rough patch. Since you receive virtual counseling at home, every conversation is guaranteed to be private. You also have the full freedom to let your emotions out, as there won’t be couple in line who’d know if you cried during a session the minute you walk out the door.
Online counseling could also be more effective. By making sure there’s no other person outside the room eavesdropping, you and your partner can freely talk to the marriage counselor and express yourselves fully.
4. Therapy Sessions Can Be More Consistent
Aside from the couple being committed to their therapy appointments, a consistent therapy session is also important for the counseling to be effective.
If you want positive results from your therapy sessions, frequency and consistency are the two main keys. With virtual counseling, you could easily reschedule your appointments without being worried about missing a day at work or being late because of the traffic.
The nearest couples counseling office can be hours-drive away in rural areas. Also, people who are ill or disabled may not be able to easily leave their homes. With online marriage counseling, help is always within reach, even for people who are far or have physical conditions that limit their mobility.
5. You Can Choose the Best Therapist for You
Through virtual therapy, you have the freedom to select a relationship therapist whom you feel comfortable with as well as the counseling program that would best fit your needs.
Since your location is no longer a problem, you now have a longer list of more experienced licensed marriage and family therapists to choose from. You can easily book an appointment with the best relationship coach and do live video sessions even if they are out of town or traveling abroad.
Does Insurance Cover Online Marriage Counseling?
Many couples are hesitant to undergo online marriage therapy because of the cost. Some major insurance plans can now cover online couples counseling. Some of the major insurance providers in Kentucky and Ohio we accept are:
- Medicaid
- Anthem
- Passport
- Wellcare
- Aetna
- Caresource
- Humana
- United
- Cigna
- Optum
- Molina
- Tricare
- Medicare
We’re in the process of adding more insurance providers to our list. If you can’t find your insurance provider on the list, you can reach out to us to confirm. Also, it’s okay if you opt not to use your insurance or don’t have one. We offer affordable counseling services that meet your budget.
Also, keep in mind that some health insurance policies only cover marriage counseling if it’s deemed “medically necessary.” This means that for your health insurance to pay for online marriage counseling, your partner has to be diagnosed with a mental illness.
How to Get the Most out of Online Marriage Counseling
Meeting a licensed marriage counselor virtually eliminates a lot of obstacles that can keep you from attending your regular sessions. Additionally, virtual therapy services can provide a wide spectrum of options that can meet the couple’s needs.
Here at Kentucky Counseling Center (KCC), our marriage counselors address our client’s concerns with quality care to help them acquire more information about their relationship issues. We guide clients in making healthy decisions regarding themselves and their future. Here are some practices that could help you prepare and get the best results out of your online therapy.
1. Try to Be On a Single Screen with Your Partner
Zoom and Facebook messenger allow you to be in a three-way video call in separate locations. But if your goal is an effective therapy, you have to do sessions on a single screen with your partner. You will need the attunement and physiological connection for the therapy to work.
It could also be helping your therapist from looking at both sides of the screen missing body language that could be crucial in identifying relationship issues.
2. Expect Awkwardness at First
Online couples therapy can be different from in-person marriage counseling experience. So don’t worry if you feel awkward during the initial session. You will need time to adapt with your marriage and family therapist, so keeping open communication is very important.
3. Try to Reduce Technology Issues
Losing control settings, lost signal or slow internet connections, mic and audio is not working, and app compatibility may only be some of the technical issues that you can encounter during online therapy sessions. To avoid this, you have to set up your computer or gadgets at least an hour before your scheduled session.
4. Try to Adjust and Adapt to the Therapy Setup and Format
Marriage counseling online has a different format from in-person therapy. Your licensed therapist may use a different style of communication skills in virtual counseling or different tools for the counseling to be effective. You and your partner have to be flexible since it is not like your traditional therapy.
Your virtual counselor may use different platform combinations such as messaging, video chat, or call. You have to be open to exploring different types of coaching techniques to receive all the benefits of teletherapy.
5. Prepare a Safe and Quiet Place That’s Conducive to Therapy
One of the best things about virtual marriage therapy is that you can do it anytime. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can do it anywhere. Select a space private and quiet enough where both of you and your partner can concentrate and can freely communicate with your therapist.
Prepare a room with fewer distractions and try putting the kids to sleep or in another room with a babysitter to keep them from running around during therapy. Having therapy sessions in the comforts of your own home in a more contained environment can result in greater emotional intimacy during therapy sessions.
Here at Kentucky Counseling Center (KCC), we provide marriage counseling online to promote healing and treatment using evidence-based forms of therapy that have a higher success rate. Our licensed mental health professionals have undergone specialized training and are qualified to handle these types of cases.
FAQs
1. Is Online Marriage Counseling Effective?
Yes, online marriage counseling is effective. The internet, smartphones, and computers have a significant role in healthcare innovation, especially during the COVID-19 outbreak. It has expanded the availability of health care services, making them accessible to everyone, especially in rural areas.
According to the American Psychological Association, virtual therapy has been a growing trend and has helped a lot of people seeking psychiatric assistance. Technology is not a replacement for face-to-face therapy, but it can offer flexibility and motivation to some couples who want to take the first step in seeking help.
There are hidden traps in romance. No matter how compatible you and your partner are, couples will always go through challenging times. This is inevitable since every individual has their priorities, belief, values, and opinions that may clash with those of their partner.
It would be unrealistic if you expect your partner to conform to your every point of view. Counseling can be helpful in re-establishing healthy relationships and fomenting personal growth by helping both parties achieve balance and manage their expectations.
2. Is Online Couple’s Therapy Suitable for Everyone?
No, it is not for everyone. Some couples would prefer an in-office therapist to marriage counseling online. Also, some people are not confident in using technological gadgets or navigating through digital programs.
3. How Do I Choose An Online Couples Counseling Program?
There are a lot of online therapy apps on the internet you can choose from. But you have to consider a lot of factors when choosing. For example, what kind of platform do you want to use during therapy sessions?
The therapy can be through text messages, video calls, e-mails, or chats. Also, you want to know what kind of services the app offers, how much they cost, and if the therapists are legit or not. Make sure you also take time to read online reviews of a company’s licensed therapists and how their program works.
If you want convenience, accessibility, and pure professionalism, our marriage counselors here at KCC are ready to help you. We offer marital therapy, pre-marital therapy, relationship coaching, couples therapy program, group therapy, and many more.
All you have to do is schedule an appointment through our KCC Direct Services and receive the online therapy you deserve. Expect to be a step closer to achieving your goal of making the marriage work after every counseling session. What you can do in in-person therapy could be done with the help of our online counselor.
Contact Us Now
If you and your partner or spouse are going through relationship issues that are affecting other areas in your life, virtual therapy is as effective as in-person therapies if you work with the right mental health professionals. Here at Kentucky Counseling Center (KCC), we have a licensed and trained professional team to provide services designed for every client’s case.
We also provide affordable virtual therapies at your convenience. Our team of professionals’ therapeutic counseling sessions are secure, protected, and bound with confidentiality. Let us help you make meaningful advances to improve your mental condition and relationships. Contact us now! Our team is always ready to assist you with your emotional concerns.
