But for couples with busy and conflicting schedules, the logistics of arranging recurring therapy appointments can be difficult. Making time for weekly or monthly appointments that you can both squeeze into your crowded schedule isn’t always easy — or cheap. And that’s where online marriage counseling comes in. This digital version of traditional marriage counseling has a few things going for it. Depending on the platform, couples may have the convenience of scheduling sessions by chat, phone, and video, with the added flexibility of being able to reach out to their licensed therapist whenever they need them for online couples counseling. The lower price point of online therapy compared with in-person therapy is another big perk, and some online marriage counseling platforms also operate on an income-based sliding scale for even more savings. Here, we’ve researched the most popular virtual marriage counseling platforms, compared and contrasted their services, pros and cons, and pricing, and shared it all below so you can decide which one sounds right for you. Both partners can share an account
All communication is visible to both partners
Convenient; Ability to message your therapist Negative customer reviews that cite issues with customer service and receiving refunds Wide variety of free resources
No texting offered Evening and weekend availability
Proven efficacy; Evidence based; Programs available for heterosexual, LGBTQ+, and military/veteran couples Insurance Not accepted Session Format Chat room, phone, video ReGain is a simple, user-friendly online platform owned by BetterHelp. While BetterHelp offers individual therapy, ReGain offers online relationship therapy, with couples sharing a joint account so they can communicate with their counselor. The simplicity of its platform and the option for private or joint sessions are why we rated it as the best overall platform for virtual marriage counseling. ReGain’s user-friendliness extends to its scheduling. According to our April 2022 survey of 1,000 online therapy users, 48 percent of respondents who selected ReGain chose it because it offered appointments outside of work hours or on weekends. Nicknames are used to identify you and your partner or spouse in the system, which enables anonymity between your counselor and you and your partner. To sign up, you’ll answer questions designed to match you with a counselor. That process can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on therapist availability. Subscriptions don’t begin until you’ve been matched, and they can include unlimited messages and live sessions via phone or video. Note that while ReGain doesn’t take insurance, it’s worth checking with your provider to inquire about reimbursements for online counseling. You and your partner will communicate with your therapist in a dedicated online “room.” In this space, you can write about yourself and your relationship and ask questions. When your therapist reviews your messages and replies, you’ll get a notification. All communication is visible to both parties. You don’t need to schedule sessions, and you can interact as frequently or as infrequently as you like. You can also schedule live phone or video sessions. Note that three-way live sessions aren’t supported, so you’ll need to be sharing a computer or smartphone with your partner for this. For online marriage therapy, ReGain charges $60 to $90 per week. Prices depend on your location, preferences, and therapist availability. If you choose to cancel your subscription or change your payment plan, you can do so from your account dashboard. ReGain’s app is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Google Play and 4.7 out of 5 stars on the Apple app store. Better Business Bureau (BBB) reviewers gave ReGain 3.19 out of 5 stars, and Trustpilot reviewers gave it 3.2 out of 5 stars. Positive reviews cited a convenient app and helpful therapists. Negative reviews cited billing issues and difficulty contacting customer service. Most of the positive reviews on Trustpilot were from customers who were invited by ReGain to review the company, while most negative reviews were from people who were not invited. ReGain is not accredited by the BBB, which gives the online therapy platform an F rating due to 32 complaints filed against it and two unresolved complaints.
Pros
Easy-to-use platformFlexibility
Cons
Three-way live sessions by phone or video not currently supportedAll communication is visible to both partners
Insurance May be accepted under certain conditions Session Format Chat room with video and audio messaging, live video Talkspace is a robust online platform offering couples counseling among other services. It’s a flexible, on-demand approach to therapy that may appeal to busy couples, which is why it earned our designation for the best on-demand therapy. After signing up, you’ll complete a short questionnaire to clarify your preferences. You’ll then be directed to a matching agent (who is a live person, rather than an automated service) who’ll use your answers to connect you with a recommended therapist, and you can begin. All Talkspace therapists have at least a master’s degree, but not all Talkspace couples counselors will be licensed marriage and family therapists. The Talkspace platform gives you and your partner a secure, shared online therapy space to share details about your relationship at your convenience (think of it as a personal direct message or chat app between you, your partner, and your therapist). You can log in to this private chat room from your smartphone or desktop whenever it suits you, and receive notifications when your therapist has responded. Talkspace allows you to message your therapist as needed, but your therapist’s responses will be limited to once or twice a day, five days a week, depending on their schedule. You’ll also be able to schedule four live video sessions with your therapist per month. Therapists on Talkspace can help you identify issues, patterns, and problematic dynamics in your relationship, share communication tools to help you rebuild trust, and guide you in improving empathy and problem-solving skills. Although Talkspace accepts insurance for individual therapy, it recommends contacting your insurance provider directly to see whether your benefits will cover the cost of your online marriage counseling sessions. Customer reviews of Talkspace are mixed. It gets a B rating and 1.09 out of 5 stars on the BBB and 1.2 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. The app store reviews are more favorable, with Google Play users giving it 4.1 out of 5 stars and Apple users giving it 4.7 out of 5 stars. Despite the higher app store ratings, recent negative reviews on the BBB and Trustpilot mentioned problems using the app, billing issues, unprofessional therapists, and difficulty reaching customer service. A few favorable reviews mentioned convenience and the ability to use insurance. For more insight into how Talkspace users felt about their experience with the platform, we evaluated the results of our online therapy survey. Of the respondents who used Talkspace, 78 percent reported being satisfied with their therapist and the care they received. Furthermore, 81 percent reported their overall satisfaction with the platform as positive or highly positive.
Pros
FlexibleConvenientAbility to text with therapist
Cons
Therapist response rates vary, although Talkspace promises responses five days a weekNegative customer reviews that cite issues with customer service and receiving refunds
Insurance May be accepted under certain conditions Session Format Video conference Growing Self has done online marriage counseling for close to a decade, but the platform also offers counseling for couples who are not yet married. Growing Self’s online premarital counseling helps couples learn essential relationship skills, prevent future problems, and develop a long-term plan to keep their marriage strong. The platform pairs you and your partner with experienced mental health professionals — all have at least a master’s degree in a mental health field, and most are licensed marriage and family therapists (LFMTs). To get started, couples can schedule a free consultation session by completing a form either online or over the phone. It’s an opportunity to share a few details about yourselves and clarify what you’re hoping to achieve in online relationship counseling, as well as your preferences for a therapist in terms of experience level, affordability, and availability. Growing Self will follow up to schedule your free session with a therapist based on your needs. If it’s a good fit, you can book your first therapy session and go from there. All sessions are conducted through a secure platform that’s compliant with data privacy laws, and three-way video calls are available for long-distance couples. Sessions vary in price, depending on the education and experience of your therapist, ranging from $105 to $160 per 45-minute session. You may pay less if you qualify for Growing Self’s income-based sliding scale rates, which are determined by your annual household income and the size of your family. An important note: Growing Self points out that, although it can help you find ways to use your insurance benefits, marriage counseling is not typically covered by insurance unless either individual in the marriage has a diagnosable mental illness and therapy sessions are used to resolve their psychiatric symptoms. Although Growing Self’s therapists are out-of-network providers, they can help you use your insurance benefits when applicable or use sliding-scale payment options. Growing Self does not have any customer reviews posted on the BBB or Trustpilot, and it doesn’t have an app.
Pros
Offers premarital counseling as well as marriage counselingSliding-scale ratesWide variety of free resources such as blogs and podcasts
Cons
In-person therapist availability may be limitedLack of customer reviews online
Insurance Not accepted Session Format Video conference Couples Therapy Inc. operates similarly to other online relationship counseling platforms, but one thing that sets it apart is its intensive weekend retreats. The ability to dedicate one weekend to virtual marriage counseling instead of committing to a weekly schedule makes Couples Therapy Inc. our pick for the best online marriage counseling for an intensive online retreat. Couples Therapy Inc. is a team of more than two dozen clinicians practicing across thirty states and four countries. For a list of the twenty states where Couples Therapy Inc. does not operate, click here. Its online relationship therapy sessions and intensive retreats use video conferencing with a structured approach. For online therapy appointments, you can choose from a list of therapists on the platform, who detail their expertise and training. Then you can schedule your session to begin therapy. Couples Therapy Inc. offers varying options to suit your budget, and you can meet individually with a therapist for guidance on your relationship if your partner isn’t ready. If you choose the intensive couples retreat, you’ll start with what the platform calls “The Big Big Book,” which is a large survey that asks for a comprehensive history of your relationship. This gives your therapist insight and information to help them understand your needs and prepare for the retreat. Expect to wait at least three weeks for the start of your intensive retreat, since therapist availability varies. Each session starts on a Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. You’ll walk your therapist through your relationship story, starting from the very beginning and meet again on Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The total cost for an intensive online retreat depends on the therapist’s training and experience, but you can expect to pay $3,500 to $6,500. Couples Therapy Inc. also offers sessions for couples who would prefer therapy on a per-session basis instead of an intensive online retreat. Expect to pay between $119 and $220 per 55-minute session, depending on the therapist. The platform doesn’t have any customer reviews posted on the BBB or Trustpilot, and it doesn’t have an app.
Pros
Option for stand-alone couples sessions or an intensive three-day sessionEvening and weekend availability for stand-alone couples sessions
Cons
Large investmentNot available in all states
Insurance Not accepted Session Format Online activities, video chat Our Relationship doesn’t provide traditional online therapy. Its self-help, online programs are better described as a coaching process that guides couples in solving their own problems. The fact that couples can access relationship advice to work on their marriage when convenient for them and at their own pace makes Our Relationship our pick for the best self-paced program. Our Relationship offers an alternative to therapy; it is not a type of therapy. For $79, couples can choose a self-guided plan, or they can pay $199 to work directly with a coach who is trained to help clients get the most out of the program. Some coaches are doctoral students, and some are licensed therapists. Each program features online activities that couples or individuals can complete to solve relationship problems. If you opt for the more expensive program, you’ll also get five phone sessions with a coach. The approach is based on integrative behavioral couple therapy, an approach focused on achieving both acceptance and change as positive outcomes for couples in therapy, according to the American Psychological Association. A study published in 2016 in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology found that for 300 heterosexual couples who used the Our Relationship program, the group reported significant improvements in relationship satisfaction, communication, emotional and sexual intimacy, emotional support and trust, and commitment to the relationship compared with a group who had completed the program. Our Relationship’s programs are designed for heterosexual couples, same-gender couples, military and veteran couples, as well as individuals who are looking for help strengthening their relationships. After choosing a program, you’ll set up an account. Once you’ve registered, you can begin exploring the program and schedule your first coaching session, if applicable. You can choose your coach based on their expertise or based on their availability. You will then meet with that same coach throughout the length of the program. As you move through the program, you’ll complete lessons individually and then come together as a couple to share what you’ve learned. If you’re working with a coach, you’ll be able to schedule four more 20-minute calls — usually one per week — for guidance on how to apply what you’re learning to your relationship. Our Relationship programs are self-paced and generally take 8 to 10 hours, which are completed over five to eight weeks. Another unique perk: Our Relationship offers a free activity first to see if the program is right for you. Visit the homepage and enter your email for the free materials. Our Relationship does not have any customer reviews posted on the BBB or Trustpilot, and it doesn’t have an app.
Pros
Self-pacedUsers reported increased satisfaction with their relationshipTailored to heterosexual, same-gender, military and veteran couples, and individuals
Cons
Coaching, not therapy
When comparing providers, ReGain earns our distinction for the best overall online marriage counseling due to its user-friendly platform and affordability. Growing Self is our pick for the best online premarital counseling to help couples develop the framework for a strong marriage. If you’re looking for an intensive online therapy session that gives you the guidance you need over the course of one weekend, Couples Therapy Inc. could be right for you. For those who prefer a less structured experience, Our Relationship offers easy-to-follow, self-paced online marriage coaching. If you value therapy that works on your time, we recommend Talkspace for its flexible, on-demand approach.
Engaged in ongoing independent researchMystery shopped each of the brandsContacted the brands՚ customer service teams to ask questions and gauge responsivenessBecame customers of online therapy providers ourselvesReviewed academic research into the efficacy of online therapy versus in-person therapyRead hundreds of verified customer reviews from trusted third parties such as the BBB and Trustpilot
Check out the methodology page for more on our evaluation process for online therapy. Together, we’ve researched prominent brands through the experiences of real customers collected by trusted third-party review sites such as the BBB and Trustpilot. We’ve also consulted with independent psychologists and other mental health professionals to better understand why people seek out online therapy, and we read the latest research into the efficacy of online therapy versus in-person therapy. When evaluating each company, we considered the session types they offer, the modes of therapy they specialize in, the credentials of their therapists, their business reputation and reported customer satisfaction, as well as the ease of registration and how easy it is to use the service. Price, payment options, and whether the company accepts insurance are all crucial components to consider. We always try to recommend a range of options for all budgets, with special consideration for lower budgets. After our experts have selected the best online therapy platforms on the market, a practicing and independent licensed therapist reviews our picks and audits each company as a whole to ensure that every selection we recommend is appropriate for the users we’ve identified.
