The 8 benefits of online couples therapy

A new way to solve conflicts and insecurities that attack the couple's well-being.

Couple relationships are not always easyIt is normal for them to experience stages in which difficulties and conflicts may arise between the partners, since each one has his or her own needs, tastes, insecurities and world view.

In reality, some people have an erroneous idea of what love is and what it means to be in a couple, largely fed by movie scripts, as it seems that people are predestined to be united without taking into account the factors that favor or not the well-being in the couple. In everyday life and in day-to-day life the reality is very different, and communication and negotiation skills often determine the success of a couple's relationship.

• Recommended article: "The 14 types of couples: what is your relationship like?"

Online couples therapy: ideal for bringing couples back together again.

Scientific studies conclude that couples therapy is one of the most useful psychotherapy offers, but many couples are not aware of its benefits and that it helps to improve the level of satisfaction within the relationship and restores the happiness of the members if they are going through a bad patch.

On the other hand, it must be taken into account that for couples therapy to be effective it is necessary to commitment to consistently attend your sessions and actively participate in your progress.For example, this means that in order to overcome an infidelity crisis, before the first session it is necessary that the one who committed the infidelity has interrupted his or her meetings with the third person.

In addition, maintaining the relationship does not always have to be the goal to achieve; sometimes, the best thing for both is for it to end, but in cases like this it is possible to aspire to a resolution that harms both as little as possible or even allows the relationship to continue outside the framework of the couple's relationship.

Unlike other types of psychotherapy, it is not necessary to have received any diagnosis to go to the psychologist, since the therapeutic sessions revolve around the relationship and not the individual..

Benefits of online couples therapy

However, due to the stigma attached to going to a psychologist and the shame felt by some individuals, some people miss this opportunity to improve and enjoy love again. Fortunately, online couples therapy offers confidentiality, privacy and convenience, bringing numerous benefits.

But, what are the advantages of going to online couples psychotherapy? In the following lines we explain it to you.

1. All the benefits of online therapy

New technologies have allowed new ways of offering psychological therapy.It is no longer necessary to go to a psychology clinic to attend therapy sessions with your partner because it is possible to receive psychological assistance from your computer, tablet or even smartphone.

Online therapy is becoming increasingly popular and research supports its effectiveness. As we explained in our article "The 10 benefits of the online psychologist", the advantages of distance psychotherapy are:

• Access from anywhere.Online couples therapy can be done from anywhere in the world. It is possible to attend it without the need to travel and despite mobility and transportation difficulties.
• ConvenienceThis form of psychological therapy offers a more flexible schedule, so that the patient can adjust the sessions to his or her schedule and pace of life.
• ConvenienceCouples can connect with the online psychologist from their own environment (e.g. their home), where they feel comfortable and safe.
• TrustComfort: the comfort favors trust and a good therapeutic alliance that has an impact on the couple's well-being, just as it happens in face-to-face therapy.
• Different forms of communicationOnline therapy allows you to converse with the psychologist in the way that best suits your needs: video call, chat.
• Writing as a therapeutic toolWriting about one's thoughts and emotions is a very effective therapeutic tool that can be used in online therapy.
• PrivacyTrust and comfort allows couples to feel more relaxed and communicate more openly when it comes to disclosing personal information.

2. Improve communication

Many couple problems are caused by poor communication (either by the receiver, the message or the sender). (either by the receiver, the message or the sender), as this not only generates conflicts, but efficient communication allows them to be solved.

Online couples therapy offers patients the possibility of learning the communication skills necessary for a good relationship, because knowing how to empathize with the other partner, paying attention to his or her opinion and negotiating avoids many problematic situations and helps to prevent toxic relationships. Likewise, learning to be assertive is key to prevent love from fading and helps to strengthen and improve emotional bonds.

3. It helps to overcome occasional crises that could escalate.

Everyday conflicts in a couple's life can often increase over time if they are not resolved at the right time. It may also happen that both partners do not interpret the conflict in the same way or have different beliefs about some aspects of the relationship.

It is not necessary to go to couples therapy only when you have already hit rock bottom and the breakup is near, but the treatment can be carried out at any time of the relationship and to any problem that affects the couple, however minimal it may seem. Online couples therapy helps to improve satisfaction between partners.For example, by learning negotiation skills that are basic to improve communication.

4. It allows to overcome problems in intimate relationships

The intimate moments with the couple have a very important role in the unity and stability of the couple. and influence the emotional health of its members. Hugs, affection and moments of intimacy encourage the development of a unique connection.

The origin of problems in a relationship can be many. One of them is sexual problems, which cause shame, guilt, feelings of failure and other negative emotions.

These problems not only affect the person who suffers from them, but his or her partner as well. Whether due to sexual dysfunctions (e.g. sexual arousal disorder, Pain disorders, etc.) or monotony, in couples therapy it is possible to find solutions to these difficulties and, in this way, increase the union between the actors in the relationship.

5. Overcoming infidelity

One of the fundamental values to build a stable love relationship and marriage is fidelity.For this reason, many couples seek psychological help when there has been an infidelity in the sexual and romantic sphere. Infidelities can occur for many reasons, for example, monotony and boredom. It is possible to prevent this situation before it happens by means of online couple therapy.

Also, in cases where the unfaithful act has already been committed, distance psychotherapy is a good alternative to regain the stability of the couple.

6. It helps to put future plans back on track.

It is not essential to have the same views on everything for a relationship to work, however, agreeing on core values and having common goals and ambitions does have a positive effect on the relationship.. Each person has his or her own set of values, but it is necessary for a relationship to follow a direction in which both people feel good about and are committed to. Online couples therapy helps to work on that path together.

7. Combat estrangement with your partner

When conflicts arise, it is common for the relationship to erode and for the partners to drift apart if no solution is found. if no solution is found. Feeling offended when things don't go your way is quite common in interpersonal relationships, and the discomfort can lead to enormous resentment when problems are not put to rest.

Online couples therapy helps to find the balance between the needs and desires of each individual in the relationship, and in this way it is possible to avoid reproaches and prevent conflicts from becoming bigger and bigger and the tension can be so great that the relationship ends up breaking.

8. Increases satisfaction and happiness within the relationship.

Conflicts with our partner hurt us more than confrontations with other people and cause more passionate and emotional reactions.

Love is a magical feeling, but when relationship when relationship problems arise, emotional pain and deep discomfort can lead to confusion and emotional imbalance that can affect our daily lives. and emotional imbalance that can affect our day-to-day life and daily activities, such as work, for example.

This form of therapy, by helping the couple feel united again, improves the well-being and happiness of the participants in the relationship and recovers again those positive feelings that may be hidden.

Bibliographical references:

• Change, D.J. (2010). Empirical evidence on the use and effectiveness of telepsychiatry via videoconferencing: implications for forensic and correctional psychiatry. Social Science & Medicine, 71: pp. 1308 - 1315.
• O'Donohue, W. and Ferguson, K.E. (2006). Evidence-Based Practice in Psychology and Behavior Analysis. The Behavior Analyst Today.
• Rees, C.S. & Haythornthwaite, S. (2011). Telepsychology and videoconferencing: Issues, opportunities and guidelines for psychologists. Australian Psychologist.
• Zack, J.; Stricker, G. (2004). Kraus, Ron, ed. Online counseling: a handbook for mental health professionals. Amsterdam: Academic.