Couples therapy, also known as relationship counselling, aims to address conflicts in your romantic relationship and enhance its quality. By opting for online relationship counselling, you can reap the benefits of traditional counselling while enjoying the flexibility and convenience of not having to physically visit a counsellor’s office.
Online therapy can be delivered through the use of the internet and specific software, offering a high degree of flexibility to meet your individual needs.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in online interactions for a variety of purposes, including catching up with friends, work meetings, and professional growth. This trend extends to therapy as well, with many couples therapists, family therapists, and even sex therapists conducting sessions online through platforms such as Zoom, Skype, or other videoconferencing technologies.
The benefits of online therapy far outweigh the drawbacks, and it’s worth exploring if it may be the right choice for you. Keep reading to learn more about the advantages of online counselling.
Benefits of online relationship counselling
1. Advantages of not having to commute to the therapist’s office
By choosing online couples counselling, you can have your therapy sessions from the comfort of wherever you are, without the need to travel to a therapist’s office.
Not only do you save time and money on commuting, but you can also participate in the session from the privacy of your own space.
Whether you have a long daily commute, prefer scheduling a session during your office hours, or simply want to relax on your couch, online relationship counselling offers you the flexibility to choose the location of your appointments.
2. The Comfort of a Familiar Setting: A Boost for Therapy
The comfort of your environment can play a significant role in the success of the therapeutic process. By being in a room that brings you peace and joy, surrounded by familiar objects that evoke positive memories, and wearing comfortable clothing, you increase your chances of having a positive therapy experience.
Couples therapy is meant to provide support to couples in their relationship goals. By allowing you the freedom to participate in therapy while sitting in your pyjamas with a cup of tea by your side, online couples therapy offers that support in a comfortable setting.
A suggestion: While your living room sofa may be cozy, when conducting couples therapy online, I recommend that each person sit in separate chairs close to each other. This facilitates better communication by allowing you to see each other’s facial expressions and better understand the message being conveyed.
3. Childcare No Longer a Barrier to Attending Marriage Counselling
Managing the demands of parenting while also attending to your own needs can be a challenge, especially when it’s difficult to find someone to take care of your children.
However, with online therapy sessions, you can participate from the comfort of your home, even if your children are around or taking a nap.
This is a significant advantage over in-person treatment, as it’s not practical or appropriate to have your children roaming around a therapist’s office.
4. The Effectiveness of Online Relationship Counselling: Proving It Works Just as Well as In-Person Therapy
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the growth of online therapy, but initially, many couples were hesitant and sceptical about this new medium. However, according to Frontiers in Psychology, couples have reported that the perceived distance in online therapy sessions has actually created a sense of comfort and control in dealing with relationship issues.
Couples counselling aims to provide partners with the tools and skills needed to resolve conflicts and improve their relationship.
By practicing the communication skills learned in therapy sessions in the comfort of your own home, you can work on your relationship issues in a familiar setting, which may help you to apply what you learn in real-life situations. This can also help to break down the barrier of only using these skills in therapy sessions and increase their effectiveness.
5. Online couples therapy is confidential
Privacy and confidentiality regulations for clients are just as stringent for online counselling as for in-person counselling. If you have any concerns about privacy in your therapy sessions, don’t hesitate to ask your therapist about how they’re ensuring your privacy and confidentiality.
To maintain confidentiality in online therapy, counsellors typically use headphones during sessions to ensure that only they can hear what you’re saying. Additionally, online therapy eliminates the risk of running into someone you know in a waiting room, which can further enhance privacy.
6. Get help anytime, anywhere
Accessing specialized counselling services has traditionally been a challenge for those living in smaller or remote communities. These communities often have a limited pool of resources, including therapists with extensive experience.
In the past, if you were unable to make a long drive to a larger city, you were left with limited options and may have ended up working with a therapist who was not a good fit, or even someone whom you knew personally outside of their professional role.
7. You can access a relationship expert whenever its needed
With the advent of online couples therapy, you can access a vast network of therapists from across the nation, providing a flexible solution for addressing a variety of relationship challenges. The geographical barriers to therapy are eliminated, allowing you to connect with a specialist relationship counsellor or healthcare professional, regardless of your location.
8. Have your pets close by for comfort
Studies have indicated that having a bond with animals can help alleviate anxiety. The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) confirms that pet ownership can help manage stress, saying “Interaction between humans and animals has been proven through research to reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness.”
Online couples therapy provides the added benefit of allowing you to have your furry friends by your side during the session. The comfort of being in the presence of your pets, such as receiving a hug or cuddle, has been demonstrated to provide comfort and decrease worries.
9. Works well if you’re in a long-distance relationship or you can’t be together in the same place for therapy
Online couples counselling offers greater flexibility for those in long-distance relationships, where one partner travels frequently, or for other reasons that prevent both partners from being in the same room.
You can both participate in video sessions from the same location or from different places, and still attend the session at the same time.
Online relationship therapy allows you to work around your life, no matter where you are, be it Sydney and Perth or at home and at the office.
10. Schedule appointments online
You can book an appointment or consultation online with just a few clicks.
Drawbacks
There aren’t many drawbacks to online therapy, but here are a few to consider:
Challenges of Interpreting Non-Verbal Cues in Online Counselling
In online interactions, gestures and body language can be easily missed due to the limited visual display on a computer screen. Technical glitches like video freezing or skipping may also cause disruptions in the audio and visual experience, resulting in the loss of subtle inflections in tone of voice and facial expressions.
1. Interruptions can occur
With so much constantly happening around us, it can be difficult to find a quiet moment. Children bickering, dogs barking, neighbours knocking – there are countless distractions in our daily lives.
When scheduling a therapy session in the midst of all this activity, it’s likely that interruptions will occur and potentially impact the effectiveness of the session. To mitigate this, it’s best to plan ahead and take steps to minimize disruptions as much as possible.
2. Can feel less intimate
For some, the physical distance in online couples therapy can provide a sense of ease and control. However, it can also result in a lack of emotional intimacy, making it harder to be open and honest during the session. On the other hand, many clients and therapists have reported that online therapy can feel more intimate than in-person sessions.
3. Technology glitches
If you’re considering online couples therapy, it’s important to be aware of the potential for technical issues to disrupt your sessions. Technical problems with internet connections, smartphones, or computers can sometimes interrupt or end your appointment abruptly.
Fortunately, most online relationship counsellors are aware of these potential issues and are happy to reschedule if a significant interruption occurs due to technical difficulties.
Additionally, unfamiliarity with video conferencing software, such as Zoom or Skype, can also pose a barrier to online therapy sessions. However, these platforms are now more user-friendly than ever and can be easily accessed with just a few clicks. This makes it possible for partners to communicate effectively and discuss their relationship concerns with a therapist.
When is online therapy not suitable?
Online therapy may not be the right option for all couples. Certain conditions such as domestic violence, severe mood swings, suicidal or harmful impulses, drug or alcohol addiction, or unmanaged psychiatric illness may prevent a person from seeking online therapy. In these cases, it is recommended to seek assistance from a primary care physician before pursuing couples therapy.
Conclusion
Online couples and family therapy offer numerous advantages, with the same effectiveness as in-person sessions and added flexibility. However, it’s important to determine if the distance and technology-mediated approach is suitable for you. Consider scheduling a preliminary phone call with a therapist to assess whether online therapy would be a good fit for your needs before booking an appointment.
Finding Couples Counselling help in Perth
If you’re considering online relationship counselling services, At the Energetic Institute we have vast amounts of experience helping couples create better relationships. Reach out to the Couple Counselling Perth Experts today!
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