5 Reasons Online Counseling is What Your Marriage Needs During the Current Pandemic

Even the best marriages need some help now and then. Under the strain of being sequestered at home with your partner during the current pandemic, you may find yourself disagreeing or arguing more than before.

You may even be feeling the impact of just too much time with your partner.

Couples often come to see me when they need to work on a specific part of their marriage or when it feels like their marriage can’t be saved.

You may figure that since you can’t come into a therapy office right now, there’s no point in working on your marriage.

Just because seeing a marriage counselor in their office might not be possible, doesn’t mean you can’t get the help you need for your marriage to thrive.

Online counseling or online therapy sessions can be just as helpful and rewarding as in-person sessions. In some ways, it may even be easier to fit into your already busy schedules.

Here are 5 reasons why online marriage counseling can help you connect with your spouse and save your marriage from deteriorating.

1. A chance to connect

Between close quarters, managing kids, and the stressors of work, you may be missing the time needed to focus on your partner and your marriage. When that happens, it can feel very disconnected and make an already stressful situation even more strained.

Committing to even an hour a week of online counseling forces you to stop what you’re doing and focus on your relationship with your partner.

It gives you a chance to check in with each other and troubleshoot problems. Doing this can make it easier to get through your new day-to-day routines and forge ahead as a team.

2. Resolving problems before they get worse

It’s unknown how long our lives will be upended because of Covid-19, and the strain on your marriage may get worse the longer it goes.

Waiting for safer at home orders to end before seeking help for issues within your marriage may only cause them to intensify.

Generally, with couples therapy, the earlier you come to see a therapist for your marriage problems, the better chance you have at resolving them.

Couples typically wait six years before getting needed help. But delaying counseling can lead to built-up resentments and even more disconnection.

Online counseling gives you the option to work on your marriage before those problems escalate.

Whether you’re around that six-year mark, newlyweds, or have spent decades together, going through a worldwide pandemic is enough of a reason to check in with a therapist.

3. A safe space

There may be some discomfort in sitting in an office with a therapist discussing your most personal relationship issues, especially if things are tense with your spouse.

Online counseling lets you attend sessions from the comfort of your living room (or any other room), where you may feel safer exploring your issues.

Whether through online counseling, secure phone counseling, or in-person, our job as therapists is to help you talk through your problems and concerns in a supportive space that encourages discussion and listening.

4. Finding a new perspective

You may not understand why your husband is so much testier than normal or why your wife feels overwhelmed by taking on more demands around the house.

You may not even have time during the day to check-in and talk about your stresses and fears, or even your successes.

Checking in each week with someone who can help facilitate a conversation that just focuses on you and your partner — without the distractions of kids or work — can give you a new perspective on what your spouse is experiencing.

This can lead to more empathy for your partner and a better connection for you both.

Even if you can’t immediately resolve all of your problems, regular online counseling sessions can help open the lines of communication.

Strengthening your relationship now will set you up to be stronger for whenever life becomes a bit more normal.

5. Stress reduction

We’re experiencing a time that may be testing your marriage more than you could have imagined. And you may be feeling unhappier in your marriage for a variety of reasons.

But unhappy marriages lead to more emotional and physical stress that can increase things like anxiety, depression, and even blood pressure.

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Online counseling can help bring your stress levels down by resolving conflict in your marriage and encouraging ways to increase happiness during your days at home.

During this very uncertain time, it’s just as important to focus on the health of your marriage as it is on your own mental health. If you’re experiencing difficulties in your marriage, online counseling can help set you up for a lifetime of success.