The Best Online Couples' Therapy Services Of 2023 With Licensed Clinicians

ReGain is the couples therapy arm of BetterHelp, which has more than 15,000 licensed professionals available. To get started, you can navigate to the homepage of either site, where you're prompted to take a questionnaire. 

Choose from a list of topics you'd like to cover, which includes things like resolving conflicts or bettering your communication skills. You can also specify in your opening assessment whether you're searching for a therapist with specific certifications, such as professionals certified in emotionally focused therapy. The final therapist is assigned to you, but there's flexibility to easily change your mental health professional if you don't feel that it's a match.

Once you're officially signed on with a therapist, you'll have access to live video sessions, as well as text communication for an extra element of convenience. Another perk of ReGain is that it allows you to start without a partner, although all sessions will still focus on relationships—but unlike many other services, there's never an extra charge for adding a partner.

Talkspace provides potential clients with a questionnaire that algorithmically narrows down the list of therapists into a group that's best suited to the couple's needs. While this means you won't get full access to every licensed clinician within the Talkspace network, it does make the process feel less overwhelming for anyone seeking out their first therapy session.

Not only can you rest assured knowing the brand has strict licensing requirements for all therapists—guaranteeing the best care—but it also puts access to licensed clinicians at the tip of your fingers with a streamlined app. Use it to schedule appointment times, message your therapist, or manage medications.

When you're ready to start your first session, you'll have the choice of range of communication types including phone, video chat, or messaging. The couple's therapy plan also includes four live video sessions.

When you join Pride Counseling (a subsidiary of Betterhelp), you can select from a few different types of therapy, including trauma-focused, psychodynamic, or more traditional cognitive behavioral therapy structures. While the therapists have different certifications—including marriage and family therapists—they are all licensed within their own states and have at least three years of experience under their belts.

Similar to other online therapy services, the outlet offers phone, video, or live chat sessions, so that you can choose what works best for you and your partner. It also allows for messaging in between sessions through private chat rooms, which are available 24/7 through the app.

Couples Therapy Inc. focuses solely on treating couples, and all of the therapists have advanced training or certifications in the Gottman Method. Couples will start with an extensive assessment, which is actually a requirement of this particular method of therapy. 

The assessment looks at each individual's relationships with their families and friends, how well they trust others, and how they handle conflict, in addition to other personal components. Therapists trained in the Gottman Method emphasize this assessment as a cornerstone of their ability to understand and work with the couple. Because the setup is a far more traditional style of therapy, Couples Therapy Inc. doesn't offer text services. Instead, it sticks to a formula in terms of treatment available through live video sessions or at an in-person clinic.

This program offers couples the rare opportunity to take online classes at their own pace. Available for heterosexual, homosexual, and military couples, these 20-minute classes involve watching videos and completing lessons, which couples can choose to do with the guidance of a relationship coach for an additional fee. It's worth noting that these coaches are not licensed therapists but rather psychology doctoral students. But don't discredit the course altogether; it was designed by two psychologists.

The site notes that the programs are more successful when taken with a partner; however, they do have a version of the program geared toward individuals. The courses aim to improve communication skills and solve relationship issues by helping partners build up their trust in each other. If you're working through the courses regularly, they should take about two months to complete.