Virtual Counseling for Couples

Since the pandemic, virtual counseling has increased access to and availability of counseling. Many couples have enjoyed the benefits of accessing a counselor right from the comfort of their own home. If you’ve considered virtual counseling for you and your partner, you may have questions or concerns. While this blog is not comprehensive, I hope to give you more information about the virtual counseling platform and how it can help you get the support you need for your relationship.

Benefits of Virtual Counseling

As virtual counseling becomes more popular, the benefits of virtual counseling are becoming evident. One advantage of virtual counseling is the accessibility and availability of therapy. Virtual counseling eliminated some of the most common hurdles for couples therapy:

• Transportation: Virtual counseling eliminates getting to therapy as a barrier to attending sessions consistently. Counseling can be completed on a phone, tablet, or laptop.
• Scheduling: Individuals with demanding jobs or numerous responsibilities can find virtual counseling a great alternative to in-person sessions.
• Access: If you find a therapist that meets your unique criteria but lives miles away, they can still be accessible to you through the virtual space.

Virtual counseling eliminates the biggest hurdles in getting care for your relationship. You can access quality therapy from the comfort of your own home. Virtual counseling provides therapy on your terms, working around your schedule rather than moving your life around for counseling. Virtual therapy also offers a gentle way to introduce therapy to those hesitant to begin. By eliminating some of these obstacles, therapy can become a huge asset in supporting you and your family.

Concerns about Virtual Counseling

While virtual counseling can be an excellent resource for busy individuals and families, many individuals who have never done virtual counseling have a few concerns. We’re all aware that technology is not always our friend. What happens if you’re in the middle of a session and the technology doesn’t work? Most therapists will discuss a plan of action in the event technology goes out during a session. Many counseling offices will also offer an emergency plan in case something happens during the virtual session that needs to be addressed immediately.

Others may be concerned about the connection between the therapist and the client. How strong of a bond can you build with someone online? While we acknowledge the power of face-to-face interactions, the therapeutic bond can be built over time, even in the virtual space. This can be achieved through consistency in meeting with clients, the therapist going at a pace of vulnerability the client is comfortable with, and checking in with the client on how the client feels about the pace and progress of therapy. Therapy can be a fulfilling experience, even in the virtual space.

How can virtual counseling benefit couples?

Virtual counseling can provide numerous benefits for individuals, but what about couples? One of the biggest pushbacks I hear to couples scheduling therapy is opposing schedules. Virtual counseling can accommodate flexibility in scheduling, allowing two people with opposing schedules to commit to working on their relationship together. Virtual counseling can also open the door to other therapists who may connect with your unique concerns and who may not live specifically in your city or within your walls of influence.

If you’ve been considering virtual counseling, take this as your sign to at least take one step in starting the process. And while you may have a lot more questions than what was covered in this blog, you can be assured that our team at SEVN Therapy Co. is ready and available to make this a seamless process. With next-day availability and a diverse staff of licensed professionals, virtual counseling can be a great next step to support you in what you need to gain more support for you and your partner. Give us a call today at 817-778-0522 to schedule an intake with me! Looking to schedule online? Use this link.

Alicia Williams, LPC-Associate

Supervised by Erin James, LPC-S

Alicia specializes in couples therapy (including pre-marital and marriage counseling), and individual therapy, serving those who may struggle with anxiety, low self-esteem, job burnout, family conflict, and more. Alicia tailors each session to fit the client’s therapeutic needs and offers practical tools to be utilized outside of sessions. She utilizes a Cognitive Behavioral and Solution Focused Therapeutic approach to help others achieve freedom through the therapeutic process. Alicia hopes to help others learn more about themselves and use that knowledge to become the best version of themselves possible.