Online Marriage Counseling - Effective and Convenient Marriage Help
When it comes to marriage, couples often face a wide range of potential challenges. These challenges can include financial troubles, communication difficulties, recurring conflict, reduced sexual intimacy, unspoken marital expectations, physical health challenges, and the list goes on and on. Each one of these problems can put a strain on a relationship. When our marriages experience ongoing stress it can be easy for us to lean into isolation, discouragement, or retreating from our spouse.
While these feelings may be common across different seasons, it is important they do not remain. Trust, openness, honesty, effective communication, and intimacy are all key characteristics of a healthy marriage. The important thing is not to feel guilty or think there is something wrong with our relationship, but to recognize when we can use some wisdom and encouragement to strengthen our marriage.
Thankfully, regardless of where you may be located there is help available in the form of
online marriage counseling.
Hope Relentless: Best Online Marriage Counselors- Evening and Weekend sessions available.
Online counseling offers couples the chance to work through their challenges with the guidance of a professional, without having to leave the comfort of their home. Online marriage counseling can be just as effective as in-person therapy, and in many cases is more convenient and consistent. Online couples counseling is incredibly effective in creating breakthroughs for recurring relationship challenges.
A key benefit of doing online relationship counseling is the added convenience that leads to consistently meeting with your relationship counselor. Consistent meetings over a short period of time can lead to major breakthroughs. By meeting with your relationship counselor online you do not have to worry about the added time needed to commute to the counselors office.
Online Couples Counselor: Affordable Top Rated Relationship Counseling
Online marriage counseling works in much the same way as in-person counseling, but with the added convenience of being done via video conferencing. This type of meeting can be done from anywhere with a good internet connection, which for many couples, makes it far easier to attend regular sessions. Some counselors have used Skype for their online counseling sessions, but Hope Relentless currently uses a secure Zoom room. When a counseling session is scheduled the counselor will provide a private secure Zoom link to be used. When it is time for the couples counseling session, both the counselor and the couple will use the zoom link to access the online video session.
While the meeting will not be face to face in person, both skype and zoom allow the counselor and the couple to see each other's faces via the video feature. This provides better engagement than relying on a basic phone conference call. By using the camera to allow for video conferencing body language and facial expressions can still be a part of the overall session.
During traditional marriage counseling, couples will meet with their counselor for 50-60 minute sessions, typically once a week. During these sessions, the counselor will help couples identify and understand the root causes of their challenges. They will also work together to develop new skills and strategies for communicating and resolving conflict. Over time, this can lead to significant improvements in the overall health of the marriage.
When meeting with one of the counselors at Hope Relentless for online marriage counseling, the flow will be very similar to traditional therapy. The key difference is that you are meeting with a counselor online via zoom instead of a therapist face to face. The end result will be very similar: improved communication, a better understanding of each other's frustrations and dreams, improved intimacy, and a hope that the counseling sessions are leading to an improved future with a better and happier marriage.
Benefits of Zoom Counseling Services
Some of these were already mentioned, but below I will highlight some of the advantages of attending marriage counseling online.
- You can attend from anywhere: This is great for those who have busy schedules or live in rural areas. Couples counseling online can be done from the comfort of your own home or office, and you don't have to worry about travel time or expenses. Simply sign in and join the video chat zoom meeting to get started. You are no longer limited to the google search "counselors near me" as the distance is not an issue for live video sessions.
- It's more convenient: You can easily schedule weekly or monthly appointments around your busy schedule, and there's no need to take time off from work, find childcare, lose momentum when on vacation or get stuck in traffic commuting to the counseling center.
- You can try it before you commit: If you're not sure if marriage counseling is right for you, online counseling gives you the opportunity to try it out without making a long-term commitment. Hope Relentless offers a
free online marriage consultation.
- It's more affordable: Per session, online counseling is often more affordable than in-person counseling. This is true when comparing the fee for online counseling services vs traditional in-person marriage counseling. The affordability increases when you factor in the time needed to drive to a facility and the money spent on gas and potentially parking fees when seeing an in person counselor.
Online couples counseling can be a great way to improve your relationship without the hassle of traditional counseling. If you're considering marriage counseling why not give Hope Relentless online marriage counseling a try? In the best-case scenario, you will experience a breakthrough in your marriage. Worst-case scenario you will learn that you still prefer in-person sessions with your counselor.
Challenges of Online Marriage Counseling
While online relationship counseling services offer many benefits, there are also some challenges that couples should be aware of before beginning online relationship counseling services. Perhaps the most obvious challenge is the lack of in-person interaction. This can for certain personalities make it harder to build a rapport with your marriage counselor.
Another challenge is that online counseling generally requires a high level of self-disclosure. This can be difficult for some couples who are not used to sharing personal information online during a video chat.
Despite these challenges, online marriage counseling services can be a valuable option, especially for couples who need some additional guidance and wisdom from a 3rd party professional, but whose schedules are too busy to consistently attend in-person meetings.
Is Virtual Marriage Counseling Effective?
The simple answer is yes. Studies have shown that online counseling can be just as effective as in person counseling. By using the video function on Zoom, couples often forget they are not in the same room as the counselor. What is important for effective counseling is the counselor and the content that is shared with the couple seeking help. Below we detail what a typical couple who completes online counseling will learn. in addition to the sessions below, couples can expect encouragement, accountability and relevant tools when meeting with a Hope Relentless marriage counselor.
Our online services are available for both married and dating couples. We recommend 12 sessions. This provides enough time to see significant growth in your relationship. It also allows enough time for new patterns and habits to be created.
We recognize life is busy and seasons can change. Think of the 12 weeks as a season where you focus and prioritize your marriage or relationship. The benefit of completing the 12 weeks is the fruit and ongoing impact that will serve your marriage and your family well for the weeks, months, and years to come.
What is covered in 12 weeks of Online Marriage Counseling?
Starting Point: Sessions 1-4 (Relief & Hope)
Often times when couples reach out for help, there is a specific event or recurring issue they are needing guidance to help restore trust, communication, etc. We want to bring relief and hope into the relationship. The first 4 weeks are focused on bringing health and resolution to this initial relationship concerns.
During the first 4 sessions, we will find the patterns that exist in your interactions. We will discuss the most pressing concerns, which is often a symptom of deeper issues. By discovering the underlying issues we can bring relevant counsel and practical tools to your relationship. Bringing some relief to the immediate pain that exists will ignite hope and renewed enthusiasm for your relationship. This will set you up to begin to build a firm foundation and learn new ways of interacting with your spouse in the following eight sessions.
Relationship Counseling Sessions 5-12 Building a Foundation that Lasts
(Keeping the Happy in the Ever After)
Relationship Counseling Session 5:
Building a Firm Foundation
This session will examine what your marriage is built on. In this session, we will explore the past to better understand what we have or have not learned and then create a vision for the future. Where are we going, what do we want, and how will we get there?
Here are some of the questions we will explore together:
- What previous learning has occurred that has been helpful and/or destructive?
- What is influencing the actions within your marriage?
- What is the standard?
- What do you want your marriage to look and feel like?
- What dreams and experiences are important to you?
We will begin creating a firm foundation that you can stand and confidently build your marriage and family upon.
Relationship Counseling Session 6: Dreams
This session will talk about the importance of shared dreams in marriage as well as individual dreams. We will go over goals and how partners can support one another’s goals. We will use this session to dream about the marriage you see and practically represent that dream in a tangible way.
Often times marriages or relationships can fall into the business of life. Each person becomes focused on what needs to get done that day. The tasks, the chores, the responsibilities, the bills, all the stuff on the "to do" list. The end result can be that the relationship is set aside and the dreams are put on pause. When dreaming together we can rekindle the excitement, joy, and passion for life and for one another.
Relationship Counseling Session 7: Communication Deposits
This session will teach you the secret to effective communication with your spouse. You will get ideas about how to communicate more effectively and form a deeper connection through your communication. We will look at what works in your relationship regarding communication and how to build on that.
Words are powerful. The words we use about, towards, and with our key relationships set the tone and foundation for our relationship. When our words are harsh, critical, rude, or condescending we are actively eroding the strength and quality of the relationship. But when our words are encouraging, positive, and life-giving, we build trust, intimacy, and joy in our relationship. Session 3 is all about awareness. What kind of words are we using currently and how can we create more positive deposits into our relationship?
Hope Relentless Relationship counselors will simplify this process and provide each person with easy to remember tips for increasing positivity in the relationship. It may seem simple, but consistent words of encouragement are a key building block for a fulfilling relationship.
Relationship Counseling Session 8: Conflict in Communication
This session will walk you through some landmines of communication that can lead to conflict. You will be encouraged to look introspectively at your part to play in conflict and the importance of getting on the same page as your spouse. You will learn practical ways to have difficult conversations and how to treat each other in the midst of those difficult conversations.
This is one of the most impactful sessions for many couples. Those who complete the 12 weeks share that what they learned in session 8 changed the entire course of their conversations when in conflict. They felt equipped and confident to navigate through difficult conversations. Previously, difficult conversations would spiral out of control leaving both people frustrated and would create toxic feelings. With a new perspective and fresh tools, they learned key steps to ensure that difficult conversations brought them closer and enhanced the relationship.
Relationship Counseling Session 9: Intimacy
In this session, we will examine some of your past sexual histories and discuss how/if it impacts your present. We will openly discuss ways to improve your sex life as we focus on building intimacy that leads to a growing and long standing friendship in the marriage.
Intimacy is more than just sex, but sex is a key part of intimacy. Often times in a relationship the sexual desires of each individual may be different. The important thing is creating a safe space where each individual feels heard and valued around this key area.
Relationship Counseling Session 10: Awareness
In this session, we will discuss the importance of awareness and the necessity of bringing clarity to areas that can be ambiguous or filled with assumptions. We will discuss awareness with yourself, your spouse, and the opposite sex. When working with couples, I find that awareness and agreement around boundaries are uncommon.
Assumptions can be a stumbling block for relationships. As we increase our awareness it allows us to share more openly with our spouse. Increased awareness will lead to healthier conversations and help eliminate unwanted and unseen relational land mines.
Relationship Counseling Session 11: Community
This session focuses on the importance of growing in service and connection to people and how this impacts your marriage. We look at the different communities you are a part of and examine your thoughts and experiences when it comes to community. We talk about your engagement and the role of your family, friends, and society when it comes to your marriage.
Relationship Counseling Session 12: Now What?
This session reviews what we have learned in our time together. You share what has stood out, challenged, and impacted you the most. We talk about the next steps and how to keep your marriage on the right track for growth and investment. We create a personalized plan for the next year of your marriage.
If I Am Ready to Give Online Marriage Counseling a Try What Do I Do Next?
Schedule a free consultation. We look forward to speaking with you.
If you are located in Gilbert Arizona check out our Marriage Counseling Gilbert page.