10 Best Online Couples Therapy Service in 2024 - Healthline
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The best online couples therapy for you may vary based on price, cultural competence, and more. See our top picks and read our expert insights from relationship professionals.
A quick look at online couples therapy programs
- Best overall: Growing Self Counseling & Coaching | Skip to review
- Best for busy couples: Regain Online Therapy | Skip to review
- Best for messaging: Talkspace | Skip to review
- Best for retreats: Couples Therapy Inc. | Skip to review
- Best for military and veteran couples: Our Relationship Online Therapy | Skip to review
- Best for insurance: Thriveworks | Skip to review
- Best for parenting: Little Otter Online Therapy | Skip to review
- Best for sex and intimacy: Modern Intimacy Online Therapy | Skip to review
- Best for LGBTQ+ folks: LGBTQ Therapy Space | Skip to review
Many couples therapists and counselors have moved their services online to continue offering safe and affordable treatment via the internet.
Whether it's your first time exploring online therapy for couples or you regularly visit a therapist, online relationship therapy can be a useful tool — and there are several options to choose from.
Of course, counseling is different for every couple. It's important to remember that therapy is not just a tool for dealing with constant fighting — many couples use it to plan ahead or to proactively strengthen their communication.
Here's what you need to know about online relationship therapy, from how it works to its many benefits.
Healthline's picks for the best online couples therapy platforms
Comparison chart of online couples therapy options
| Price | Therapy method | Insurance accepted? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regain | $65 to $95 per week | • messaging • phone • live video chat | no |
| Talkspace | starts at $69 per week | • messaging • phone • live video chat | yes (limited) |
| Relationship Hero | $29 to $289 | • messaging • phone • video messaging | no |
| Couples Therapy Inc. | • sessions starting at $150 • retreats starting at $3,500 | • telehealth • in person | no |
| Growing Self | $65 to $160 per session | • phone • live video chat | yes |
| Our Relationship | prices starting at $79 | • phone • live video chat | no |
| Thriveworks | • varies based on insurance • starts at $65 without | • in person • live video chat • phone | yes |
| Little Otter | • $195 to $390+ for an assessment • $195+ for sessions | live video chat | yes |
| Modern Intimacy | not specified on website, but varies by therapist (reviews note about $150 to $300 per session) | • telehealth • in person | no |
| LGBTQ Therapy Space | • $155 per 50-minute session for individual therapy • $185 per 50-minute session couples therapy | telehealth | reimbursement claim needs to be submitted |
A note on price
The services mentioned in this article have prices that will vary depending on your location, your insurance, and the subscription plan or therapist you choose. Some services offer weekly or monthly subscriptions, while others charge per session.
How we chose the best online couples therapy
As we searched for the best online couples therapy and marriage counseling programs, we kept a few key factors in mind:
- Specialization: No two couples are alike, and that means your therapy sessions won't be alike, either. We included programs and platforms focusing on topics such as LGBTQIA+ couples, sex counseling, parenting styles and issues, and affair recovery.
- Credentials and expertise: We looked for websites that employ professional licensed therapists, counselors, or psychiatrists with relevant specialties.
- Price: Therapy isn't always expensive. We included multiple websites that accept insurance and others with affordable self-pay options.
Why you should trust us
We only recommend companies we stand behind as being credible and ethical. Healthline's Brand and Content Integrity team ensures that every product, app, and service included in our content meets our medical and business standards. You can learn more about our vetting process.
What to expect from online couples therapy
During the first few sessions of couples therapy, you can expect to talk with your therapist about overarching issues and goals you have personally and as a couple. You'll likely talk about what's working in your relationship and what you're working to manage.
You'll also share your relationship history so your therapist gets a sense of your dynamic.
After this initial period, you can expect to go deeper into the issues for you or your relationship. Your therapist may suggest exercises or "homework" you can do either individually or together between sessions. If needed, your online therapist may even suggest one-on-one sessions for one or both of you.
Your couples therapist won't take sides in your disputes or disagreements and will ideally challenge any limited beliefs you have about yourself or your relationship. They can also help you see different perspectives and encourage new ways you can effectively communicate with one another.
How to choose an online couples therapy platform
We recommend keeping these considerations in mind as you look for an online couples therapy platform:
Therapy method
Some websites offer a messaging feature, live video calls, and phone calls. Others offer only one or two of these methods. When choosing a platform, consider which method fits your lifestyle and preferences.
Specialization
Before selecting a couples therapist, speak with your partner about what the two of you want to talk about to make sure you're on the same page.
If you want to work on their relationship in general, you may be able to choose any therapist. But if you're looking for help with something specific, such as infidelity or premarital counseling, you may need a specialized professional.
Scheduling
When are you available for video or phone sessions? Make sure the platform offers options that fit into your schedule. Busy couples may prefer a self-paced learning resource or a chat feature with a therapist.
What you want
Many therapists and counselors have specific areas of experience and expertise and use different therapy techniques. This is why it's important to have an idea of what you want and what you don't as you do your research and narrow down your options.
Opportunity to ask questions
Many professionals and companies offer a free introductory call, which is a great time to assess whether they offer what you want and whether you "click" or feel a strong connection or rapport with them.
They can be seasoned experts in their fields with lots of experience, but if you're not comfortable sharing intimate details with them, you won't get what you need out of their service.
When to see a couples therapist
Simply put, online therapy or counseling takes place over the internet with a licensed therapist or counselor, allowing you to explore the many facets of your relationship, usually via video chat.
"Like individual therapy, you and your partner(s) will talk to your therapist about the challenges that you are facing both as individuals (such as anxiety, substance use, or depression) and together (topics like differences in desire, communication challenges, and infidelity)," said Stefani Goerlich, LMSW, of Bound Together Counseling in Royal Oak, Michigan, and a member of The World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
While the pandemic popularized online therapy, it does have many benefits.
"Online couples therapy can help romantic interpersonal relationships," said Sam Nabil, CEO and lead therapist for Naya Clinics. "It is typically relatively inexpensive, accessible, and flexible compared to in-person sessions."
You or your partner may want to see a couples therapist for help with trauma or infidelity, premarital counseling, parenting counseling, LGBTQIA+ counseling, or other concerns.
Frequently asked questions about online couples therapy
As with any form of therapy, if you're prepared to put in the work, each session of couples therapy can make a difference in your relationship and any issues you want to work on.
Some people might doubt the effectiveness of online therapy over in-person sessions.
However, according to Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin, a marriage and family therapist in Maryland, "Even if the therapist is on the screen, it does not take away from the vital work that can be done. While some do prefer to be in person, we have seen just as beneficial results working online."
Above all, though, commitment to the process is key, and partners need to be all in.
Each person will likely have a set of topics they want to discuss or issues they want to work through during their therapy sessions.
"I've noticed that some folks find it easier to say something difficult or bring up a challenging topic if they're talking to a therapist, rather than directly to their partner," Goerlich said. "Having a neutral third person to help facilitate hard conversations can be a wonderful resource for any couple struggling to get on the same page."
"Online couples therapy is convenient, you can do it from the comfort of your home, you can join from separate devices in separate locations, and both partners are engaging to learn and grow together," said Dr. Donna T. Novak, a licensed psychologist in Simi Valley, California.
"Don't assume that your relationship has to be bad in order to benefit from therapy," Goerlich said. "I work with lots of couples who want to focus on a goal like improving communication, co-parenting effectively, and improving their sex lives. If you feel as if your relationship could be stronger, you're a candidate for therapy."
Anyone can benefit from online couples therapy or counseling, as sessions allow people to explore their relationships in more depth and focus on sustaining their partnerships.
As already noted, partners need to be committed to undertaking online couples therapy for the process to have any chance of success.
"Counseling" and "therapy" are terms often used interchangeably, but there are differences that can affect your experience.
Typically, relationship counseling focuses more on present-day problems affecting your relationship. Counseling usually does not go as deeply into previous relationships, past arguments, and trauma as therapy does.
Therapists tend to help clients work through more complex, long-term issues than counselors do.
If you and your partner do not want to participate in live or telehealth counseling, some of these online services offer self-help or self-guided resources.
You can also take steps on your own to improve your relationship, such as:
- prioritizing your relationship before other obligations
- scheduling date nights
- making time to catch up and talk
- reading a relationships book together
- planning a vacation
- discussing the positives — not just the negatives — of your relationship
A licensed marriage and family therapist or a licensed couples therapist with specialized training in couples therapy is typically the best choice for couples seeking therapy.
The cost of couples therapy in the United States varies widely, with in-person sessions ranging from $100 to $250 per session on average.
Online therapy platforms such as Talkspace and BetterHelp may offer more affordable options, typically with weekly fees ranging from $60 to $100 or more. Some therapists may offer sliding-scale fees based on income.
Takeaway
If you're invested in making your relationship work, online therapy might be the right choice for you. With remote options growing in popularity, it's possible to undertake therapy or counseling from your own home, which is particularly beneficial if privacy is key.
With a sliding price scale and a variety of websites offering relationship therapy and counseling, it's never been easier to find the support you and your relationship need.
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