Online Couples Therapy in Utah: A Therapy Guide
Online couples therapy has been around for longer than the pandemic but when the world went online in March 2020 many people found this useful tool. There are many big tech platforms that have offered online therapy but it has become even more normalized in private practices. Clients and therapists wondered before the world went online if online treatment was truly as effective as in-person therapy. Even still people aren’t sure about finding out that it is effective.
The truth is online couples therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy. Preparing to get the most out of your online therapy session can make a difference. If you eliminate distractions while at home then the experience as a whole will yield the same results. Online couples therapy can even give you better results when it helps you attend therapy more consistently. It has more accessibility and convenience that you might be more likely to show up and make progress on your relationship. You gain more hope and it makes it a better experience for you than sporadically attending couples therapy in person. The most effective therapy is the one you can commit to and work in. I love online couples therapy and think you might like it too.
What is online couples therapy?
Online couples therapy is a type of relationship counseling where you meet with a couples therapist through a HIPPA-compliant video platform, much like facetime. In online couples therapy. All therapists can technically provide couples therapy but it requires specialized training in working with couples. When you work with a marriage and family therapist a large part of the training in graduate school and internships is on working with couples. Online couples therapy allows you to focus on your relationship as the client and helps you both work to make your relationship better.
Couples therapy in general is about working on yourself as an individual not blaming your spouse or putting the responsibility on them for things that might be going wrong in the marriage. My job as a couples therapist is not to blame anyone but to help you use better ways of interacting and communicating. It’s hard not to be defensive when you feel attacked or blamed. Online couples therapy can help you learn how to connect much better.
Is online couples therapy effective?
Yes! For some reason, people believe that in-person is superior, and they won’t get the benefits of therapy unless they show up to the office. That is not at all true and in fact, we have found that if a therapist knows how to do effective online work it can be even more effective than in-person therapy. What makes therapy effective is you and how you show up. Of course, you need a therapist that has the training and knows how to utilize online therapy effectively. However, online couples therapy can be helpful when you show up to therapy sessions consistently, you ensure you have privacy for the therapy sessions, and you are willing to work on things outside of sessions.
Therapy is only once per week for one hour and most of the change will happen outside of therapy. This is what makes therapy the most effective. It doesn’t matter how you access the therapist as long as you are willing to put forth the work. I love working with couples who understand that it takes effort to connect and have a better relationship.
What are the benefits of online couples therapy?
One of the biggest benefits of online couples therapy is the convenience it offers. It saves you so much wait and travel time to utilize online couples therapy. You don’t have to worry about a babysitter, although it’s important that children are able to take care of themselves and not be a distraction throughout the process. You don’t take at least 90 minutes of your time to travel to the office and back as well as spend an hour in the session. I like meeting with people in person just as much as online but most of all I like whatever makes it so you can commit to doing the work to having a happier relationship. I find that online couples counseling allows couples to utilize this more.
How long does online couples therapy take?
Online couples therapy is really dependent on what you are struggling with and what you work on outside of therapy. I ask couples to commit to weekly sessions for on average six months. That might seem like a long time but it’s really not that long when it comes to how long it may have taken your relationship to get to the point of struggling. Six months is a short time to be able to heal something that may have taken a while. It also depends if you and your partner are doing individual therapy at the same time. The more effort you put in generally the more efficient the process is. It can certainly take longer than six months but six months is an average to expect.
How do I prepare for online couples therapy?
The best way to prepare for your therapy session is to make sure you have a secure and private place to meet for your session. Make sure that you don’t have children to distract you and that they can manage without you for one hour. I find it’s better to use a computer or laptop so we can all see each other on the screen. Ensure that you have a good internet connection and come willing to be open.
Online couples therapy can make the difference
Your relationship with your significant other, partner, or spouse is the most important one. You wouldn’t be thinking about therapy if you didn’t want to improve it. I can understand that it’s hard to take this step and wonder if it’s worth it. I get that it’s vulnerable to reach out to a stranger and ask for help. I understand where you are coming from and why you might be hesitant. I want you to know as a couples therapist I am committed to working on your relationship. There are so many benefits to marriage counseling that can help your relationship.I didn’t come into this field to judge anyone. I want to alleviate your struggles by giving you the tools you might already be seeking but haven’t been able to successfully find. Attending online couples therapy with your spouse can offer you convenience and accessibility in your busy life. It makes it that much easier to make your relationship a priority. You won’t regret online couples therapy no matter how uncomfortable it feels to open up about your struggles.
Begin working with an online marriage counselor in Utah
You can have a relationship where you feel like you can be open and trust your partner to be able to handle what you share. It’s possible to have a happy and healthy relationship. This Utah Counseling Practice has a marriage therapist specializing in online couples therapy. To begin counseling follow the steps below:
Meet with a marriage therapist
Start working on your relationship
Other mental health services provided by Marcus Hunt Therapy
Online Couples Therapy isn’t the only counseling service offered at this Utah Counseling Clinic. Other mental health services provided by Marcus Hunt Therapy include PTSD treatment, anxiety therapy, ADHD treatment, EMDR therapy, LDS marriage counseling, therapy for men, LDS marriage counseling, and premarital counseling.
About the Author
Marcus Hunt is a marriage and family therapist at Marcus Hunt Therapy in Utah. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Utah Valley University in behavioral science. Marcus has a master's degree in marriage and family therapy where he learned not online how to work with couples but learned how to do it effectively online. Marcus enjoys working with couples and helping them develop happier and healthier relationships. He recognizes it’s difficult to know how to navigate relationships and marriages without the help of someone who has the expertise and training. Marcus helps couples develop communication skills that they may naturally not possess. He knows how your relationship with your significant other is your most important relationship and loves helping couples make it even better. When Marcus is not doing couples therapy, he enjoys riding his ebike and his scooter with his wife around center street in Provo.