7 Reasons Why Online Couples Therapy Works
There’s a range of reasons why a couple may attend therapy for their relationship, such as difficulties with communication, trust, connection, parenting, setting boundaries, managing new life stages, the list goes on. Whatever the reason, couples go through many difficult times during their relationship, and its ok if you need some support with navigating your way through it.
If you haven’t attended couples therapy before, or therapy on your own, you might be curious as to what you will get out of sessions, and how therapy can help your relationship.
12 things you can expect to get out of Couples Counselling
Acknowledging what each person is experiencing in the relationship, without judgement.
Building connection and understanding of your loved one’s emotions.
Understanding how to effectively communicate with your partner, minimising blaming/finger pointing, and increasing listening/understanding skills.
Helping to understand your partner’s perspective.
Helping you to put your feelings into words.
How to manage conflict, and have positive discussions to move forward.
Identify unhealthy dynamics, and address differences in expectations.
Understand each others belief’s and values, and using those to increase connection and cohesion.
Exploring ways to build connection and time together that suit your lifestyle and other commitments.
All things parenting, including whether you want to start a family, different views on having children & different parenting styles.
Working out conflicts arising from family members.
Managing external stressors impacting on your relationship such as work.
If you are thinking this all sounds great, though feel time poor and unsure how both of you can commit to sessions in your busy life, that is where the beauty of online sessions would be beneficial for you. For some couples, there is a delay in seeking support for their relationship due to the ongoing demands of life and struggling to find a mutually agreed time that suits work, kids, sports, leisure, or other commitments. To help with this barrier, our couples therapy is provided online, giving the flexibility to join the session whilst at home or work, and removing time for travel. The benefit here is that couples are more able to accommodate the session during their busy schedules, with less overall interruption.
There may be a question pending as to whether you get the same benefits with online therapy, compared to in person sessions. What we have found is that there are a range of benefits for therapy online, and whilst for some individuals, in person is preferred, in our experience, there are a lot of bonuses for online therapy
Top 7 reasons why online Couples Therapy works
Convenience
Not having to commute to a therapy office allows for easier scheduling of appointments without all the extra travel time. Additionally, if your partner travels often, it provides the flexibility to continue with sessions and stay on track with progress.
Less pressure
Sometimes it can be quite intimidating stepping into a therapy office, unsure of how you will feel in the room, and being in an unknown space. Having sessions in the comfort of your own home can ease some of that anxiety by taking off the pressure, and may help you with engagement in session, and perhaps reduce the barrier of starting therapy.
Got a difficult topic to discuss?
If there is a topic you find difficult to talk about or don’t feel comfortable bringing up, being in the comfort of your own space may make it easier for you to talk about and discuss this topic.
Accessibility
If you are unable to find a suitable therapist in your local area, or live regionally / rurally, you have the ability to seek support in a very accessible way and do not have to wait until you both can find time in your schedule to commute a fair distance to access support. You also have options on who you might like to see.
Privacy
Sometimes individuals are worried who they might bump into on the way to the therapists office, and would prefer to keep a low profile. As such, online can be a preferred option to ensure privacy.
Separation
It can be difficult to have conversations about separating, and particularly challenging if you struggle with being in the same room as each other or already live apart. Having sessions online can accommodate individuals being in separate rooms/houses if needed, and may provide for better communication and problem solving.
Deeper insight
When sessions are performed online in the couple’s own space, there can be more transparency from the couple, allowing the therapist to gain deeper insight into how the couple really interacts with each other.
Conclusion
As you can see we think there are many benefits to couples therapy in general, and that having it be online can be an added bonus. So, if you are still on the fence about online couples therapy, we encourage you to give us a call or send us an email, as we’re happy to help answer any questions you may have.
