Over the past ten years, virtual health services have become more widespread. We have access to private consultations with medical professionals like dermatologists and therapists, even from the comfort of our homes. Online couples’ therapy is also available, whether it be through a therapist or counsellor who has an online practise or through one of the many subscription-based services that offer access to counselling through text, email, or chat. This article highlights the advantages of couple’s therapy as well as any potential negative aspects. It also compares couples’ therapy to face-to-face psychotherapy. It also offers suggestions on how to choose the ideal therapist for you.
Overview
Online therapy is often referred to as teletherapy, e-therapy, e-counselling, and even cyber counselling. The only difference is that instead of meeting in person, you communicate with your therapist via text, email, or video chat. Similar to individual therapy, couples therapy online has as its main objective enhancing the dynamic of your relationship as a pair.
The way meetings are often structured allows for everyone to have a chance to voice their opinions while the other person actively listens. During these sessions, the therapist guides the discourse by posing questions and aids the couple in coming to an understanding.
The number of sessions you choose to attend is up to you and your partner, guided by your therapist’s recommendation, as is the case with all forms of therapy. Others benefit from continued sessions over the course of years, while some might be resolved in a matter of months.
Benefits
- It’s convenient: Scheduling is frequently made simpler when there is no need to travel to the therapist’s office, especially if you have children or your job and personal calendars can conflict. It’s simpler to stick with something when it works nicely with your schedule.
- You might feel more at ease if: It’s difficult to enter a strange environment with a stranger and disclose personal information. Even though it’s still a challenging procedure at home, being in your own safe haven could help.
- According to Battisti, learning new skills can be easily applied to everyday life. “Practicing communication skills at home can help transfer skills into real life and help increase accessibility to skills you use on a daily basis.”
- It opens the door to long-distance relationship counselling: Online couples’ therapy is an option if you can’t consistently attend traditional treatment because of your long-distance relationship.
Drawbacks of online counselling
Online couple therapy has numerous advantages, but it’s vital to be aware of some of the potential disadvantages as well. These could consist of the following:
- According to Hafeez, the ability to read body language is more difficult in virtual sessions. “Our know-how of frame language and interplay in digital classes is limited, particularly for face-to-face conduct in on line classes.” While unique frame language may be understood via screens, therapists should be aware of some important You may have missed a clue.
- Children, door knocks, pets, internet connectivity troubles, and other interruptions are more common when receiving therapy online. Hafeez also sees that people who live with others or who have children may speak more subtly or cautiously out of concern about being overheard. All of these elements may affect how smoothly your session goes.
- Sessions may feel less personal because you’re speaking to your therapist over a screen, which may make it more difficult to be open and vulnerable.
- Sessions are harder to manage: Though it’s not always the case, according to Battisti, it can be challenging to handle more tense couples without the therapist’s physical presence.
Is Couples Therapy Online Effective?
Couples therapy has generally been demonstrated to be a successful evidence-based treatment that can assist couples with relationship issues such as communication, intimacy, and psychological suffering. According to research, online therapy can be just as successful as conventional in-person counselling. According to a 2019 study that was published in Frontiers in Psychology, most couples who attempted internet counselling said it was both helpful and positive.
The difficulties in establishing a therapeutic alliance are one issue with providing couples counselling online. The therapeutic alliance, or the bond between a client and their therapist that makes them feel comfortable and understood, has been linked to better therapy outcomes in earlier studies. Intriguingly, survey participants felt that internet video delivery improved this therapeutic rapport.
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