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Relationships can be hard to nurture and maintain, but thankfully, there are thousands of experts ready to help. Couples therapy, often called couples counseling, is a great investment for romantic partnerships experiencing difficulties, and can even help you learn skills that will help prevent problems down the road. Research consistently shows couples counseling has clear benefits and is effective at improving relationship satisfaction in the majority of cases.
But finding a nearby couples therapist who you both gel with, has appointments that fit your schedule, and openings within a few weeks may seem like an impossible task. It’s hard enough to find a time when you both are available. Enter online therapy, which can broaden your pool of potential therapists and extend your scheduling options. Our list of best online couples therapy services offers advice on who to turn to for accessible help with relationship troubles, including communication, intimacy and sex issues, conflict, parenting differences, and more.
Best Online Couples Therapy of 2023
- Best Overall: ReGain
- Best for Budget: Talkspace
- Best for LGBTQIA+: The Gay Therapy Center
- Best for BIPOC: Kip Therapy
- Best for Flexibility: Growing Self
- Best for Pre-Marital Counseling: Ours
- Best for Sex Therapy: Modern Intimacy
- Best for Psychiatry: Amwell
- Best for Parenting: Little Otter
- Best Directory: Gottman Referral Network
Best Online Couples Therapy Of 2023
Best Overall : ReGain
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ReGain
- Price: $60–$90 per session
- Insurance Accepted? No
- Types of Therapy: Individual, couples, or relational
ReGain stands out for the quality of its counselors and its ability to deliver affordable, customized therapy with expertly matched therapists.
Thousands of licensed therapists
Additional educational resources
High customer satisfaction ratings
Less expensive than many other online relational/couples therapy services
Have to commit to a monthly payment plan
Can’t review therapist bios before signing up
Does not take insurance
No free trial or consultation
ReGain is the online therapy giant BetterHelp’s sister site and is dedicated to helping people heal their relationships. This full-service platform offers everything: affordability and flexibility, additional resources related to romance, and advice on when to seek couples counseling or individual therapy on relational issues. Plus, there is possible financial aid.
On-site customer reviews reflect a high level of satisfaction with the therapists who work for ReGain. Their credentials include accredited psychologists, marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), clinical social workers (LCSWs and LMSWs), and professional therapists (LPC or LPCCs).
An emphasis on clear and skillful communication in relationships is echoed in the company goals: “Our mission is to build, maintain, and support a platform that lets couples, individuals, and therapists communicate effectively.”
The sign-up process starts with a questionnaire about the type of therapy relationship you’re looking for (individual or couples), information about yourself and your relationship status, your experience with therapy, what you want out of counseling, what you're looking for in a counselor (style, gender, sexual orientation, religious leanings), what you can afford, where you’re located, and your preferred language. You then set up an account and ReGain matches you with a licensed therapist.
Your weekly fee covers one phone or video therapy session per week. If needed, you can schedule individual live sessions with your therapist to discuss relationship issues without your partner present. You and your partner share a joint account portal where you both can communicate with the therapist. You can message your therapist directly at any time in your account portal and will hear back within one business day. All communication is visible to both users and the therapist. Note that ReGain can’t help with psychiatry or medication management.
Therapy is billed monthly at $60–$90 a week, depending on the therapist you work with. You can cancel at any time and not be billed for the next month. There is no free trial period or free consultation option. ReGain does not take insurance, but you can pay with a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) card.
Of the 105 ReGain users we surveyed, 80% said ReGain met all or most of their therapeutic needs and 72% said they would recommend ReGain to friends and family. In addition, 84% of survey respondents reported that ReGain is better than other online therapy services they’d used in the past and 82% reported that the process of looking for a therapist on ReGain is very easy or easy. In addition, 72% said they were very satisfied or satisfied with therapist options at ReGain, while 80% reported that the value for ReGain rates is excellent, very good, or good.
Best for Budget : Talkspace
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Talkspace
- Price: Self-pay rates for four live couples therapy sessions per month and unlimited messaging are $99–$109 per week
- Insurance Accepted? Yes
- Types of Therapy: Individual, relational/couples, teen therapy, psychiatry
As a large online therapy platform, Talkspace has the advantage of offering therapy subscription plans at discounted rates—as low as $99–$109 for a weekly 30-minute session plus text, video, and audio messaging. As a bonus, Talkspace takes several forms of insurance.
Thousands of licensed therapists
Relatively low rates
Accepts several insurance plans
Exceptional customer satisfaction
Several communication options, including text and video or audio messaging
Discounted quarterly payment plans
Shorter sessions
You have to commit to a monthly payment plan
You can’t see therapist bios before signing up
Less inclusive of relationships other than couples
No free trial periods or consultations
Couples, or relational, counseling at Talkspace helps you and your partner identify the issues causing challenges in your relationship and focuses on the strengths you bring to the relationship. You’ll learn conflict resolution and communication strategies that help you apply more empathy, vulnerability, and trust to your relationship.
Online therapy giant Talkspace’s affordable rates apply to couples therapy, too, making it our choice for the best budget option when you’re looking for virtual couples counseling.
Talkspace matches you with a therapist based on your answers to several questions, including why you are seeking therapy and what kind of treatment approach you prefer (new skills, homework, mindfulness, exploring past experiences, etc.). You also have the opportunity to choose the gender of your therapist. The benefit of working with a large platform like Talkspace is that you have access to a network of thousands of therapists. Licensed therapists are available in all 50 states.
Couples therapy is billed at a weekly rate of $99–$109, depending on the plan you purchase ($99 a week if you pay three months out, $109 a week if you pay monthly). Sessions are 30 minutes long and plans include text, video, and audio messaging five days a week. There are no free trial periods or consultations, but Talkspace does take several insurance plans, in addition to FSA and HSA cards.
Of the 105 Talkspace users we surveyed, 97% reported that Talkspace is better than other online therapy services they’d used in the past, and 78% said that Talkspace met all or most of their therapeutic needs. In addition, 82% said they would recommend Talkspace to friends and family and 77% reported the value for money of Talkspace’s services to be excellent, very good, or good. Ninety-two percent of survey respondents had positive feedback on the quality of therapists at Talkspace, while 90% had positive feedback about the diversity of therapists.
Best for LGBTQIA+ : The Gay Therapy Center
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Gay Therapy Center
- Price: $120 and up per session
- Insurance Accepted? No
- Types of Therapy: Individual and couples or relational
When it comes to therapeutic support for LGBTQIA+ couples, we love the transparency, personalized attention, and heartfelt mission of the Gay Therapy Center. With a large roster of LGBTQ therapists, the Center specializes in everything from conflict and shame to gender identity and polyamory.
Large roster of LGBTQ therapists
Additional educational resources
Excellent customer service
High customer satisfaction ratings
Free 15-minute consultation
Therapists’ licensure not listed
No discounted subscription plans
Does not take insurance
Lower rates only available to California residents
For LGBTQIA-affirming therapy, we recommend the Gay Therapy Center—a comprehensive individual and couples counseling platform with diverse therapist options, educational resources, and outstanding customer service.
Launched in 2015 by Adam Blum, MFT, the Gay Therapy Center has curated a roster of more than 40 LGBTQ+, culturally competent therapists.
The Gay Therapy Center does not offer psychiatry or medication management. It provides couples counseling, therapy for cheating and betrayal, and open relationship counseling, as well as individual LGBTQ+ therapy for anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and gay sex. The Gay Therapy Center does not offer psychiatry or medication management.
The Gay Therapy Center has incredible customer service: After a 15-minute consult with the company’s owner or client intake coordinator, you’re paired with a therapist (all of whom are LGBTQ themselves).
Plus, you can find a compelling and educational blog and video content on communications skills, open relationships, and more. If you live in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, or D.C., you can complement your online therapy with in-person services.
Therapy with an associate therapist starts at $120 (available only if you live in California), while sessions with more experienced therapists start at $185 for 50 minutes. There are no subscription plans, so you pay per session. The center matches you with a therapist after a free 15-minute consultation. The Gay Therapy Center does not take insurance, but can provide superbills and will take FSA and HSA cards.
Of the 105 Gay Therapy Center clients we surveyed, 79% said the center met all or most of their therapeutic needs; 71% said they would recommend the Gay Therapy Center to friends and family; and 81% reported that the Center is better than other online therapy services they’d used in the past. Seventy-one percent reported that the value for the center’s rates is excellent, very good, or good.
Best for BIPOC : Kip Therapy
- Price: $65–$225 for individual session; $200–250 for a couples/relational session
- Insurance Accepted? No
- Types of Therapy: Individual, couples/relational, young people, families, group
Kip Therapy specializes in families, young people, gender identity, sexuality, and couples, and has a therapist directory you can search by race, as well as gender identity, sexual orientation, specialty, price, and availability. This boutique business prioritizes quality therapist-client time, making sure their practitioners have reasonable caseloads and receive ongoing training.
Newer therapists are available at lower rates
Unique and effective therapist search functionality
High customer satisfaction ratings
Special emphasis on identity
Therapists are often not taking new clients
No discounted monthly payment plans
Therapists’ licensure not listed
Does not take insurance
The majority of Kip Therapy’s 36 therapists specialize in relationships and family counseling—all through a culturally competent, gender- and LGBTQIA-affirming lens. Of all the online therapy services we reviewed, Kip rose to the top of services that make an additional effort to be inclusive.
Of the 105 Kip clients we surveyed, 69% said they would rate the diversity of therapists at Kip as excellent, very good, or good.
The company prides itself on being a unique online therapy destination that trains and nurtures emerging therapists. To that end, it has a clinical training program for graduate interns and post-graduate fellows working toward licensure. This allows for tiered rates associated with a practitioner’s experience.
Thorough therapist bios and search functionality help you make informed choices about whom you want to work with. You can search the counselor directory by specialty, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, and availability. Despite a robust list of counselors, you won’t find psychiatrists or medication management services at Kip.
Couples therapy costs $200–$250 for a 45-minutes session, depending on the level of therapist you use (tiers 1–3). There are no subscription plans, so you pay session by session. Initial consultations are free only with tier 1 therapists. For consultations with therapists from other tiers, you pay $25. Kip does not take insurance, but can provide superbills and will take FSA and HSA cards.
Of the Kip users we surveyed, 70% said Kip met all or most of their therapeutic needs, and 84% reported that Kip is better than other online therapy services they’d used in the past. In terms of cost, 14% of survey respondents said Kip is very affordable, 26% said it is affordable, and 33% said it is somewhat affordable, while 65% reported that the value for Kip rates is excellent, very good, or good.
Best for Flexibility : Growing Self
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Courtesy of Growing Self
- Price: $65–$160 per session
- Insurance Accepted? No
- Types of Therapy: Individual, couples, or relational
Growing Self is a collection of relationship specialists trained in marriage counseling, couples therapy, relationship coaching, premarital counseling, dating coaching, divorce and breakup counseling, and parent coaching. There is something for everyone at this online therapy platform, including varying rates and flexible scheduling options to help you navigate around budgets and busy schedules.
Thorough counselor bios
More flexibility with rates and scheduling than most platforms
Additional educational resources
Free 30-minute consultation
High customer satisfaction ratings
Difference between coaching and therapy can get confusing
Does not take insurance
Growing Self’s responsive therapists and customer service representatives helped it earn the title of best online therapy platform for flexibility. Its 51 counselors and coaches are highly trained in relational and personal growth and are easy to schedule with, with many appointments available before or after traditional workday hours.
Growing Self’s primary focus is helping you build healthy relationships that are the result of “love, happiness, and success.” Your journey with Growing Self starts with a simple questionnaire, then you’re matched with a therapist for a free 30-minute consultation.
The providers at Growing Self are experienced in marriage, family, and premarital counseling and coaching. You can find an array of therapy modalities at Growing Self, depending on who you work with. These include cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, the Gottman Method, emotionally focused therapy, and sex therapy. Growing Self practitioners can’t help with psychiatry or medication management.
Blog posts, podcast episodes, and quizzes on the website help you make informed decisions and learn more about relationship and career counseling and life coaching.
Therapy costs $65–$160 per 45-minute session at Growing Self, depending on the therapist you are working with and their qualifications and training. Growing Self offers a free 15-minute consultation with your recommended or chosen therapist. It does not take insurance, but can provide superbills and will take FSA and HSA cards.
Of the 105 Growing Self users we surveyed, 95% reported that the process of looking for a therapist on Growing Self is very easy or easy. Eighty-nine percent had positive feedback on the quality of therapists at Growing Self, while 84% had positive feedback about the diversity of therapists. Seventy-two percent said they would recommend Growing Self to friends and family.
Best for Pre-Marital Counseling : Ours
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Ours Online Therapy
- Price: $500 for the program (4-week guided online experience plus 2 counseling sessions)
- Insurance Accepted? No
- Types of Therapy: Couples or relational
Ours only does premarital counseling, and in a unique way by combining a guided online experience with live counseling sessions. It is a relatively inexpensive way to dip your toe into couples counseling while you organize and prepare to commit to marriage.
Diverse platforms keep all types of learners engaged
Additional educational resources
Money back guarantee if you’re not satisfied
Therapist license status not listed on the site
Does not take insurance
No free trial or consultation
Ours only offers premarital counseling and provides a carefully crafted four-week program that includes two live sessions with a counselor, making it our pick for the best online counseling for pre-marital counseling.
The motivation behind Ours’ program is that relationships are the number one indicator of physical, emotional, and mental health, and that we all want to be heard, seen, understood, and loved in our relationships. The emphasis at Ours is on communication, finances, values, and more.
Ours was launched in 2021 with the expert backing of relationship therapist Liz Earnshaw. The founders wanted to create an easy place for couples, especially millennial couples, to start exploring how to make their relationships even better. The four-week program is bookended by your therapy sessions (there are seven relationship counselors on staff) and also includes assessment and survey tools to help you to explore your relationship, communication style, values, and more. The majority of the program is a self-guided online experience developed by your counselor in a proprietary software program called, Loveware.
Loveware sessions are customized according to what is important to you and your partner (e.g., finances, parenting, boundaries, etc.) and include warm-up exercises, educational content, guided conversations, reflection prompts, and planning tools. Your counselor is on call during this time and between Loveware sessions to answer any questions via messaging.
Ours programming costs $500 for a four-week guided online experience and two couples counseling sessions. You can get started for $50 to see if it is for you, and then pay the remaining $450 when you decide it is. There are no free trials or consultations and Ours does not take insurance.
Of the 105 Ours users we surveyed, 87% of survey respondents reported that Ours is better than other online therapy services they’d used in the past. Seventy-eight percent said Ours met all or most of their therapeutic needs, while 83% had positive feedback on the quality of therapists, and 75% had positive feedback about the diversity of therapists.
Best for Sex Therapy : Modern Intimacy
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Modern Intimacy Therapy
- Price: $150–$300 per session
- Insurance Accepted? No
- Types of Therapy: Individual, couples or relational, coaching
The sex-positive, high-profile team at Modern Intimacy specializes in helping you and your partner live fulfilled lives by connecting the dots between mental health, relational health, and sexual health.
Specialized in couples, relational, and sex therapy
Helpful additional educational resources
Thorough practitioner bios
Only offers services in five states
Insurance not accepted
Free 30-minute consultation
The small, but well-qualified, culturally diverse team at Modern Intimacy is highly trained in most issues you and your partner(s) may have related to sex, which is why we ranked them as the number one online counseling site for sex therapy.
The team includes therapists certified in sex therapy, sex addiction therapy, couples therapy, trauma therapies, LGBTQIA-affirming therapy, and more. They can also help with mood disorders, body image, eating disorders, and betrayal, and are well-versed in working with secular and religious clients, monogamous and polyamorous clients, folks exploring their gender identities, and people in non-traditional relationship models, such as BDSM/kink.
With in-person and telehealth options, Modern Intimacy operates in just five states: California, New York, Florida, Illinois, and Colorado.
The therapeutic journey at Modern Intimacy starts with a free 30-minute consultation with an intake specialist, who then recommends a therapist based on your needs and goals. Unfortunately, Modern Intimacy doesn’t accept insurance.
Founder Kate Balestreiri, PhD, has contributed to the national conversation on sex therapy through dozens of media and podcast appearances, and often hosts webinars and writes for the blog on Modern Initimacy’s website.
Sessions at Modern Intimacy run from $150–$300, depending on the level of therapist and the type of therapy you are engaging in. Modern Intimacy doesn’t accept insurance.
We did not interview users of Modern Intimacy as part of our survey.
Best for Psychiatry : Amwell
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- Price: Self-pay rates are $279 per intake session; $109 for subsequent sessions for psychiatry
- Insurance Accepted? Yes
- Types of Therapy: Individual, adolescents, psychiatry, couples, or relational
If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, or other diagnosable disorders, Amwell offers compassionate psychiatry and medication management, in addition to marriage or couples counseling, and even has counseling specifically for pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause.
24-hour psychiatry services
Accepts several insurance plans
High customer satisfaction ratings
Unclear which therapists provide couples therapy, which can make sign-up confusing
Therapist bios not listed on the website
While couples therapy can address a range of relationship obstacles, including communication, conflict, parenting, and challenges with sex, sometimes you need additional support to work through anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and other mental health issues. That’s where Amwell comes in. We’ve made it our top choice for couples psychiatry because both expert psychiatry and couples therapy are available.
Amwell psychiatrists offer evaluations, assessments, and treatment through medication management. They are well-versed in all types of depression, including postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder, and bipolar disorder.
Couples counselors at Amwell cover a wide variety of relationship challenges, including communication, conflict resolution, infertility, infidelity, parenting problems, sexual issues, and more. Couples therapists can address the many symptoms and relational impacts of postpartum depression.
An initial psychiatry appointment at Amwell costs $279, while additional 15-minute visits cost $109. Therapy visits at Amwell run from $109 to $129 for 45-minute sessions, depending on the training and experience level of your assigned therapist. There are no discounted subscription options, free trials, or consultations, but Amwell does take some insurance plans, as well as FSA and HSA cards.
Of the 105 Amwell users we surveyed, 91% said its psychiatric services were above average, and 87% said Amwell met all or most of their therapeutic needs. When it comes to cost, 30% of survey respondents said Amwell is very affordable, 35% said it is affordable, and 26% said it is somewhat affordable, while 87% reported that the value for Amwell rates is excellent, very good, or good. Overall, Amwell therapy clients report a 97% satisfaction rate.
Best for Parenting : Little Otter
- Price: Self-pay rates are $90 for initial session; $540 for one 90-minute psychiatric assessment and one standard therapy session; $2,040 for a 12-session bundle
- Insurance Accepted? Yes
- Types of Therapy: Individual, couples/relational, infants, children, young teens, families
Little Otter focuses on helping your whole family, working with kids ages 0 to 14, as well as with parents and couples. Their expertise in parenting covers anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, ADHD, behavioral challenges, OCD, grief, loss, and many other mental health challenges.
Specialized in families, children, and parenting
Offers discounted bundles
One insurance provider is in-network
Can provide superbills for out-of-network insurance providers
More expensive than some other platforms
Bundled packages only
Does not accept most insurance
Little Otter offers therapy, psychiatry, medication management, and sleep management training for kids ages 0-14. It also offers counseling and parent coaching for individuals, couples, and families. Its full-service family practice is what made them our best online therapy platform for couples counseling related to parenting.
Parent coaches at Little Otter focus on supporting your day-to-day life and helping you encourage positive behavior in your children. If you’re facing obstacles with your partner or are unable to follow through on the parenting strategies Little Otter suggests, they offer counseling for parent misalignment, co-parenting support, couples support, and individuals.
Specialized therapists at Little Otter can help treat anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, ADHD, behavioral challenges, OCD, grief, loss, and many other mental health challenges. They currently don’t work with autism spectrum disorder.
The process starts with a $90 welcome session, then you pick a bundled option for psychiatry or therapy based on that initial call and what Little Otter suggests moving forward.
The first step at Little Otter is scheduling a $90 welcome session. After that, based on what Little Otter suggests, you can buy bundled care for either psychiatry or therapy:
- $540 for assessment bundle: One 90-minute assessment plus one standard therapy session
- $2,040 for a 12-session bundle (Note that there is a 24-hour cancellation policy.)
Little Otter is in-network with Kaiser Permanente, and can provide a superbill if you have another insurance provider. It also accepts HSA and FSA payments.
Of the 105 Little Otter clients we surveyed, 75% said they would rate their overall experience at Little Otter as excellent, very good, or good, and 70% said their provider met all or most of their needs. Additionally, 78% said the quality of therapists they met with was excellent, very good, or good.
Best Directory : Gottman Referral Network
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Gottman Referral Network
- Price: Directory is free to access; therapy costs per session vary by therapist
- Insurance Accepted: Varies by therapist
- Types of Therapy: Individual, couples or relational, children, families
The Gottman Method is one of the most highly regarded couples counseling frameworks, and the Gottman Referral Network is a comprehensive, easy-to-use directory of Gottman Method-trained therapists nationally and internationally.
Only Gottman-trained therapists listed
More than 500 therapists to choose from
Thorough therapist bios
Not all therapists take insurance
May have to reach out to multiple therapists before finding one who is available
The Gottman Referral Network is a directory of more than 500 Gottman-trained therapists in all 50 states and more than 40 countries. Gottman therapists are most well-known for effectively working with couples, but they can also treat individuals, children, and families struggling with anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, abuse, blended family issues, and more.
Developed by John Gottman, PhD, and Julie Schwartz Gottman, PhD, the Gottman Method is a popular relationship counseling framework for helping you and your partner "disarm conflicting verbal communication; increase intimacy, respect, and affection; remove barriers that create a feeling of stagnancy, and create a heightened sense of empathy and understanding within the context of the relationship," according to the Gottman Referral Network website.
With the directory, you can search by country, state, zip code, or therapist name, as well as by services provided, level of certification, and whether or not they take insurance. Then, reach out to a therapist who seems like a good fit.
The price of care depends on the Gottman Method-trained therapist and whether or not they accept your insurance provider.
Of the 180 Gottman Referral Network users we interviewed, 79% said they would rank the directory above average. While 95% of survey respondents said they were able to find a therapist who met all or most of their needs using this directory. The one frustration users flagged is that while the directory notes when a therapist no longer has availability, nearly 50% of survey respondents said this was often inaccurate.
Final Verdict
Our top choice for online couples, or relational, therapy is ReGain—a full-service, inclusive, flexible, and affordable service with highly trained and regarded therapists who all specialize in treating couples, an emphasis on clear communication, and additional educational resources.
If flexible scheduling and price are among your top concerns, check out Growing Self. It offers a wide variety of relationship specialists who can provide counseling and coaching throughout the life of your relationship, with flexible scheduling options and a range of price points.
If you’re a member of a historically marginalized group and want to ensure you and your partner(s) find care that affirms your identity and/or is culturally competent, reaching out to Kip Therapy or The Gay Therapy Center for couples counseling could be your safest bet.
Compare the Best Online Couples Therapy
Name | Price | Accepts Insurance? | Accepts HSA Or FSA? | Types of Therapy |
---|---|---|---|---|
ReGain
Best Overall |
$60-$90 a session | No | Yes | Individual, couples |
Talkspace
Best Budget |
$99–$109 per week (couples) | Yes | Yes | Individual, couples, teens, psychiatry |
The Gay Therapy Center
Best for LGBTQIA+ |
$120+ a session | No | Yes | Individual, couples |
Kip Therapy
Best for BIPOC |
$200-250 per session (couples) | No | Yes | Individual, couples, young people, family, group |
Growing Self
Best for Flexibility |
$65-$160 a session | No | Yes | Individual, couples |
Ours
Best Pre-Marital |
$500 for a 4-week program | No | No | Couples |
Modern Intimacy
Best for Sex Therapy |
$150-$300 per session | No | Yes | Individual, couples, coaching |
Amwell
Best for Psychiatry |
$279 intake session; $109 subsequent sessions (psychiatry) | Yes | Yes | Individual, adolescents, psychiatry, couples |
Little Otter
Best for Parenting |
$90 initial session; $540 for psychiatric assessment and one therapy session; $2,040 for 12 therapy-session bundle | Yes | Yes | Individual, couples, infants, children, teens, families |
Gottman Referral Network
Best Directory |
Varies by therapist | Varies by therapist | Varies by therapist | Varies by therapist |
Guide to Choosing the Best Online Couples Therapy
Is Online Couples Therapy Worth It?
Pursuing professional help for your relationship can be a big decision and investment. But, if you’ve encountered roadblocks and feel like you can’t move forward without resentment, couples, or relational, counseling may help you and your partner(s) develop or improve the fundamental components of an intimate relationship, including:
- Stronger communication
- Conflict resolution
- Thoughtful and effective listening skills
- Creating intimacy and trust
Comparing Online Couples Therapy
There are a variety of factors to consider when choosing which online couples counseling service is best for your situation:
- Price: Couples counseling at the services listed above can range anywhere from $60 to $300 a session. When evaluating the value you get for your money, consider the length of the session, qualifications of the therapist, and subscription and bundling options.
- Insurance coverage: A few of the online couples therapy services listed above accept some insurance providers. As always, coverage depends on your insurance plan. The best way to confirm coverage is to check with your provider.
- Scheduling options: One of the benefits of online therapy is that there is generally more flexibility in terms of when your therapist can meet with you. If you and your partner have a hard time arranging times to meet, try larger online therapy services with bigger therapist directories.
- Therapist expertise, experience, and licensure: Therapists need to be licensed in your state in order to legally provide therapeutic services. Some online therapy services get around this by providing coaching instead of therapy. Coaches do not have to be licensed in your state. Consider the level of care you need before you commit to either therapy or coaching.
- Your specific needs and goals and the service’s specializations: There are several online assessment tools (some on the platforms listed above) that can help you and your partner determine your counseling or coaching needs. Providers can help with this too, or, if you know you want sex therapy specifically, for example, there is generally someone out there for every need.
- Communication options (chat system, text messaging, phone call, video call, etc.): Different services will offer different communication methods. Look first for platforms that offer video sessions, as text or chat therapy can often fall short—especially for couples counseling.
- Ease of switching therapists: When you’re looking for an online therapy service, research the process of switching therapists. Services that offer free consultations with prospective therapists allow you to get a sense of whether you’ll be able to work with that person before you start to pay for services.
- Customer service: Make sure the service you choose has responsive customer service via email, phone, or text. This will be important if you have questions before you sign up that aren’t answered on the website, run into technical issues, or want to switch therapists.
Relationship therapist Nic Hardy, PhD and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), recommends developing a list of non-negotiables with your partner(s) before you start your search for a therapist or online therapy platform. “The non-negotiables should reflect what is most relevant to your issues, and who you believe would be best suited to support you in this journey,” he says.
When it comes to comparing, picking, or evaluating therapists, Hardy suggests paying attention to the therapist’s objectivity, and their ability to remain neutral, support, or challenge, everyone in the relationship.
He also recommends evaluating the therapist on whether you feel you have a connection with them, allowing you to express yourself without fear of judgment.
Lastly, Hardy emphasizes the importance of experience. “Relationships are nuanced and the challenges presented are not always black and white,” he says. Experience allows a therapist to navigate these issues with clarity, he adds.
Who Should Consider Online Couples Therapy?
Hardy suggests considering couples, or relational, therapy if any of the following three situations apply:
You’re experiencing ongoing arguments or disagreements about similar problems: Every relationship will have problems, but if you are caught in a cycle of conflict with your partner(s), especially about the same issues over and over, get help before it evolves into new, larger issues.
You can’t see a path forward: When both you and your partner(s) feel you have done all you can to resolve your issues, it may not be enough or you find there are lingering feelings of resentment. “Professional help is often needed to offer a new and objective perspective, and help individuals develop new relationship skills,” says Hardy.
Your relationship feels like it’s on autopilot: This may mean your relationship has plateaued. Neither person is at fault or has done anything wrong, but the relationship may feel unsatisfying and devoid of emotion and feelings, like you're living as roommates instead of partners. “Outside help is sometimes needed to revitalize a dormant relationship or push beyond certain plateaus,” says Hardy.
Online couples and relationship counseling is not for people in distress or diagnosed with severe mood disorders, schizophrenia, or are experiencing psychosis. Please consult a psychiatrist in these cases.
What If I'm Having Thoughts of Harming Myself?
If you are in crisis, having suicidal thoughts, and feel you may harm yourself, urgently call 988—the national suicide and crisis lifeline. This is not the time to seek help through a therapy or psychiatry website. The trained staff at the suicide and crisis lifeline can help you address and deal with mental health issues. This number is preferred over 911, where the person who picks up may have little training in mental health.
If you are considering calling 988, please know that your local police department will be notified of the emergency and will often be the first to respond. This type of intervention can be traumatic and often damaging or fatal, particularly in communities of color that may have experienced police brutality and tension.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do Online Couples Counselors Accept Insurance?
Not many online couples and relational therapy services accept insurance, but some do. This information is generally found on the site’s FAQs page. You can also check with your insurance company to see if it covers couples counseling. If you do have coverage, but the online therapy service doesn’t accept insurance, see if you can get a superbill for reimbursement. If a therapy service doesn’t take insurance, it is not uncommon to still be able to pay with an FSA or HSA card.
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What Do Online Couples Therapists Do?
Online couples and relationship therapists work with you and your partner or partners (if you are in polyamorous or in open relationships) to improve communication, resolve conflict, create clarity around parenting and other expectations, work through intimacy and sex issues, and even decide if you should stay together. It is often the case that people in a relationship are in individual counseling as well as relational counseling so they can address personal issues and reactions, including stress, that may be creating challenges in relationships.
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How Much Does Online Couples Therapy Cost?
Online couples and relationship counseling costs can vary greatly (the providers listed above offer therapy for $60 to $300 a session), depending on the experience and expertise of the therapist, the rates or subscription service discounts of the counseling platform, and what your insurance may, or may not, cover. The best online therapy websites make pricing information as transparent and easy-to-find as possible. If it is not obvious where this information lives, look in the FAQs or email or call customer service.
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What is the Success Rate of Online Couples Therapy?
Sometimes online therapy platforms may list self-reported success rates, but most of these are not peer-reviewed studies and should be taken with a grain of salt. A 2022 study on the efficacy of online couples counseling suggests that it is generally successful in getting results. This study added to the evidence that online therapy in general can be just as effective as in-person therapy, and that couples therapy is effective at helping therapy participants reduce stress and anxiety and boost overall happiness within their relationships over time.
Methodology
Our methodology for evaluating online therapy companies is comprehensive and data-driven. To fairly and accurately review the best online therapy programs, we sent questionnaires to 33 companies and surveyed 100 current users of each. This allowed us to directly compare services offered by gathering qualitative and quantitative data about each company and its users’ experiences.
Specifically, we evaluated each company on website usability, sign-up process, subscription offerings, client privacy protections, and how easy it is to change therapists. We then looked at therapist qualifications, the types of therapy offered quality of care, client-therapist communication options, session length, and the therapist assignment process. Finally, we assessed cost, value for money, whether the companies take insurance, overall user satisfaction, and the likelihood clients would recommend them.
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