Engaged in ongoing independent researchMystery shopped each of the brandsContacted the brands’ customer service teams to ask questions and gauge responsivenessConsulted six leading psychologists and psychiatristsBecame customers of online therapy providers ourselvesReviewed academic research about the efficacy of online therapy versus in-person therapyRead hundreds of verified customer reviews from trusted third parties such as the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot
Includes audio, video, and text messaging with therapistTherapists available in all statesAccepts insurance for diagnosed mental health conditions
Cons
Hard to reach customer serviceHigher weekly cost than ReGain
Costs $109 per week Accepts Insurance Yes, for diagnosed mental health conditions Session Format Live video sessions; unlimited text, audio, or video messaging between sessions Talkspace is an online therapy platform that offers couples therapy in addition to individual therapy and psychiatry. A couples therapy subscription includes four 45-minute virtual live sessions a month in addition to unlimited messaging between you, your partner, and your therapist. Live video sessions are conducted through the Talkspace website or app, and you can send text, audio, or video messages to your therapist. To get started, Talkspace will ask you a few questions to match you with a couples counselor, including why you’ve thought about getting help, whether you’ve worked with a couples counselor before, and what gender you’d prefer in a provider. Since you and your partner can join online sessions and send messages in the messaging room with separate logins, the couples therapy plan from Talkspace can be a good option for couples who are living apart or long distance. Talkspace states that its therapists have set schedules to check their clients’ messages five days per week. According to our April 2022 survey of 1,000 online therapy users, 49 percent of Talkspace users received responses to their messages within a day. Of the rest, 14 percent received responses within a few days, 14 percent received responses within a week, and 23 percent stated that it regularly took more than a week to receive responses. If you want to invite your partner to sessions, Talkspace recommends that you and your partner log in from different devices. If you do, you will be the primary account holder, and your partner will be the secondary account holder. Only the primary account holder is able to schedule live sessions and request a superbill to submit to their insurance company if eligible for reimbursement. Talkspace clarifies that although it accepts insurance in certain situations, insurance doesn’t typically cover counseling unless your reason for seeking it stems from a mental health condition, such as sex addiction, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or a mood disorder, among others. Check with your insurance provider to clarify whether your plan covers couples therapy. Without insurance, the convenience of live sessions and messaging comes at a cost. Talkspace couples therapy costs $109 per week, or $436 billed monthly, which is the highest starting weekly cost on our list. We found it hard to reach customer service when we had questions about couples therapy on Talkspace. Contact information was difficult to find, and our questions submitted through a contact form didn’t get answered for more than five business days. This may be frustrating if you want to reach out to Talkspace to clarify anything before starting or during your subscription. Talkspace has licensed therapists for users in all states.
Includes audio, video, and text messaging with your therapistLowest weekly cost on our listOffers financial assistance to qualified applicantsTherapists available in all states
Cons
Doesn’t accept insuranceRequires you to reapply for financial aid every three months
Costs $60 to $90 per week, depending on provider availability, user preferences, and user location Accepts Insurance No Session Format Live video, phone, or chat sessions; unlimited text, audio, or video messaging between sessions ReGain is a specialty site of BetterHelp that’s dedicated to providing online relationship therapy. Like BetterHelp, ReGain offers four live sessions per month, in addition to unlimited messaging between couples and their therapist. Live sessions can last between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on how much time you and your therapist determine you need. Partners can communicate with their therapist through phone, video, or live chat. ReGain matches you with a therapist based on a questionnaire you complete when you sign up. When matched to a therapist, you’ll receive an email stating that you were matched and who with. At that point, you’ll be prompted to enter your payment information to start therapy. If at any time you are unhappy with your match, you can request a new therapist in your account settings. ReGain may be a more affordable option than other online couples therapy options. Plans cost between $60 and $90 per week, depending on your location and the availability of providers who meet your preferences. If you indicate during the sign-up process that you can’t afford therapy, ReGain will ask a variety of questions to determine your eligibility for financial aid, including questions about your employment status and your partner’s, your combined income, and the number of dependents you have. Depending on your answers, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 40 percent. If you receive financial aid and wish to continue to receive your discount, you’ll be asked to reapply every three months. Although ReGain has the lowest weekly costs among the platforms on our list, it does not accept insurance for its couples therapy. ReGain has therapists available for users in all states.
Easy to navigate provider listingResponsive customer serviceAccepts insurance for diagnosed mental health conditions
Cons
Messaging option only available by paying an additional membership feeNot available in all states
Costs Starting at $99 per session, depending on the provider’s rate; memberships starting at $39 per month, depending on the provider’s practice location Accepts Insurance Yes, for diagnosed mental health conditions Session Format Live video Thriveworks is a mental health practice with therapists who offer couples therapy sessions virtually. For partners who know exactly what kind of couples therapist they’re looking for, its provider search tool makes it easy to find a choice that checks all the boxes. Couples who have tight schedules may also appreciate that some Thriveworks therapists have same-day or next-day appointments available to get started. Instead of having a questionnaire that matches you with a couples therapist, the search tool on Thriveworks shows you therapists in your state and allows you to filter by:
Therapy typeSpecialtySession typeInsuranceTherapist’s genderClient’s ageProvider’s languageCounseling approach
We found that Thriveworks customer service was easy to contact when we had questions about a therapist or their practice. We called and live chatted with customer service agents who helped answer our questions and offered options for therapists that fit our therapist wish list. Thriveworks offers live 50-minute video sessions for couples counseling. You and your partner can join the session separately. If you and your partner want the option to message your therapist, you have to pay for a Thriveworks membership in addition to the per-session cost. Membership costs start at $39 per month but may be higher depending on your therapist’s practice location. The messaging chat room is shared with your partner. Thriveworks has therapists in most states, but as of October 2022, it does not have therapists licensed to practice in New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia.
Unique weekend intensive therapy formatAll therapists trained in the Gottman method and discernment counselingOffers a free self-guided couples therapy course
Cons
Not available in all statesDoes not accept insuranceHigh upfront cost
Costs Starting at $3,500 per retreat, depending on the provider Accepts Insurance No Session Format Live video The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy states that marriage and family therapists who regularly practice short-term therapy spend an average of 11.5 sessions with the couples they treat. That amounts to an average of three months of weekly sessions. For couples who can’t accommodate weekly therapy sessions, an intensive format may be a good option. Couples Therapy Inc. offers couples therapy in a weekend intensive format, meaning that sessions with your partner and therapist run virtually from Friday through Sunday on a chosen weekend. The Friday session is held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET, and the Saturday and Sunday sessions are held from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. Depending on the therapist’s schedule, you may be able to change the day of your sessions if you and your partner aren’t available on weekends. Although it’s a relatively short investment in time, the virtual weekend retreats come with a larger upfront cost, starting at $3,500 per retreat, depending on the provider’s rates. Couples Therapy Inc. retreats aren’t eligible for insurance reimbursement. Couples Therapy Inc. also offers therapy on a per-session basis for $119 to $220 per 55-minute session, depending on the therapist. Couples Therapy Inc. therapists all have training in the Gottman method and discernment counseling. The Gottman method is an approach to couples therapy that involves a thorough relationship assessment and integrates research-based interventions to help couples reach their goals, such as improving verbal communication and fostering intimacy, respect, and understanding. If you and your partner are considering separating or are ambivalent about it, your therapist may recommend discernment counseling. According to an article published in November 2020 in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, discernment counseling is designed to help couples considering divorce obtain a greater sense of clarity and confidence in their decisions regarding the future of their marriage. After discernment counseling, couples may decide to stay married, divorce, or attempt to reconcile by attending couples therapy. You can choose your therapist by looking through the Couples Therapy Inc. therapist directory to find therapists licensed in your state. Each therapist’s profile lists their education, extra training, and practice values so you can choose a therapist who suits your needs. Therapists are available in most states, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Australia. According to the American Psychological Association, most state laws allow psychologists licensed in the United States to offer therapy internationally, providing their client’s country of residence doesn’t require additional training or licensing. As of October 2022, Couples Therapy Inc. does not have therapists licensed in Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Louisiana, Mississippi, Michigan, and Vermont. If you want more information about what you can expect from its online weekend retreats, Couples Therapy Inc. offers a free self-guided course that’s available once you create an account to help you get started. It has 19 lessons of readings and videos that explain topics like the different types of couples therapy, what to expect from the intensive program, and how to get the most out of couples therapy.
Session Type Live video sessions between partners and therapists are the most typical ways to connect. Depending on the platform, live sessions can take place through phone, video, or text.
Shared Messaging Some platforms offer unlimited messaging between you, your partner, and your couples therapist between sessions. This type of asynchronous communication might work better for couples who prefer to reflect on their sessions or relationship at different times of the day. Partners share the message room with their therapist, so this may not be an option for those who aren’t ready to communicate this way.
Schedules Online couples therapy sessions can last between 30 and 50 minutes on the platforms we researched. It’s important to consider which platform has therapists with appointment availability that works for both partners. Thriveworks has therapists available for booking the same day or the next day, but the weekend intensive from Couples Therapy Inc. might need more planning ahead of time.
Type of Approach Couples therapists each have unique training and values that influence how they conduct their sessions. Talkspace and ReGain have questionnaires that match you with therapists based on your goals and desired approach. Thriveworks lists each of its therapists’ specialties and approaches. Couples Therapy Inc. has therapists trained in the Gottman method and discernment counseling.
Schumacher adds that couples may typically see relationship therapists “years after they start having problems, so getting into therapy sooner rather than later is a good way to go.” He recommends that partners think about starting therapy “at any point, whether it’s prevention or maintenance work, or at the first sign of trouble.” Couples considering marriage, strengthening their marriage, recovering from infidelity, considering or going through a divorce, or wanting to work through intimacy issues can benefit from couples therapy. Jordie Smith, a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice in Canton, Michigan, adds that couples therapy sessions can also focus on communication, past trauma, upbringing, and finances. One technique is emotionally focused therapy (EFT). According to the Society of Clinical Psychology, EFT helps distressed partners create a more secure relationship bond in three stages: ReGain offers couples therapy at a lower price than its competitors and offers financial assistance for cost-conscious couples. For partners who prefer to choose their providers over being matched, Thriveworks therapist profiles include extensive detail to help partners vet the one they feel most comfortable with. For couples who want to tackle their relationship concerns in a short amount of time, Couples Therapy Inc. offers a unique intensive couples therapy program that couples can complete within a weekend. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357) is also a resource to consider. The SAMHSA help line is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-days-a-year treatment referral and information service for individuals facing mental or substance abuse disorders.
