Is The Cost Of Therapy Worth It? A Look At Couples Counseling

Many couples who are considering handling their issues through couples counseling worry about the cost, and understandably so, as many insurance plans do not cover the cost of mental health services, particularly couple’s therapy. Plus, the cost of counseling varies based on location, availability, and the experience of the therapist you consult. This article will explore therapy costs and how you can find a therapist who is within your budget.

There are different types of services (including online, in-person, text, or self-guided) and payment models (such as sliding scales, health insurance-based payment, or payment plans) that can make therapy more affordable and accessible for a wider audience. Here are some reasons why therapy may be worth the cost:

Unparalleled support

Many people think that the support they receive from their loved ones is enough to get them through difficult situations and mental health challenges. And while this may be true for some, the truth is that if you are having relationship issues, your loved ones may not be the most qualified or unbiased people to help you see these problems through right now. 

Countless hours of education and practice have gone into becoming a professional and an authority in mental health and relationship matters. There are many techniques that a couples' counselor can utilize that the average person is probably not aware of or able to utilize.

Another thing you risk by relying on someone who is not trained is getting the wrong advice. Although your friend or loved one may have your best interest at heart, they could still unknowingly steer you wrong. Some of the advice that you receive could even cause more harm than good. Relying on the words of a non-professional, you could end up putting your relationship at risk.

Getting help from someone who knows how to help you find the right things to do for yourself is important. Be sure to check the credentials of any therapists you and your partner(s) are considering seeing, as each one has different experiences, specialties, training, certifications, and approaches to therapy. Seeing a couple’s therapist can help you and your partner apply positive changes and get back to a mutually healthy and fulfilling relationship.

Productive conversation

Many people who seek out couples' therapy do so because of persistent disagreements, misunderstandings, and/or arguing. If you are having issues communicating, you may need expert help to get back on the same page again. The cost of therapy is worth it when you take this into account.

A couple's therapist is likely the best person to help you with this problem. It is not likely that you want to have just anyone come in and help mediate a conversation in your relationship. Even if you do, the disagreements we have with our partners are often kept and you probably do not want to reveal the innermost workings of your relationship to others, particularly if they are not unbiased and experienced in such matters.

In couples therapy, you will both be given a chance to express your feelings and work through your problems. A couple’s therapist will carefully listen to both accounts of the issue without taking sides. They will guide both you and your partner in your conversations to be more productive overall.

Communication is the best tool you can learn to help your relationship and build, or rebuild, a strong foundation. You must be sure the person that you bring in to facilitate that is an expert. The problems that you and your partner have will need to be handled with great care to better ensure the healthy preservation of the relationship.

Bedroom talk

Lack of intimacy, whether sexual intimacy, emotional intimacy, or intellectual intimacy, is a top complaint of those having relationship issues. If you are struggling with being intimate, a couple's counselor can help.

Sex and intimacy can be fragile things in a relationship. When it comes to sex, the lack of regular sexual activity in a relationship can be a warning sign that something is wrong. It doesn't necessarily mean that this issue lies with your relationship; it could be that you or your partner are encountering an issue that you do not know or understand, such as depression or stress. Additionally, everyone has differing intimacy needs and preferences, and not all romantic relationships involve sex.

With so many potential nuances involved, it can be important to get the help of a professional. A trained couples’ counselor can help you both dig down to the root of the issue and apply exercises and therapy strategies that are best suited to you and your partner’s needs. 

This is a great tool to have because, in our society, it can be so difficult to talk about intimacy and sex. You will be able to relax with the help of a counselor because these conversations are nothing new to them. They can smoothly direct the conversation and can help both of you get back to a healthy place of intimacy for both of you.

For most couples, this has a ripple effect throughout their whole relationship. Displays of affection, passion, and love release serotonin, which creates a happy feeling in the brain and body. This can help remind the two of you why you chose each other in the first place. And sometimes, this can be enough to give you the morale to keep pushing, even when it gets tough.

When you take this into account, the cost of therapy is worth it. You will gain tools and understanding that will be invaluable to your relationship and happiness. You might even gain a stronger relationship along the way!

Treatment for underlying issues

There are times when issues in a relationship are not rooted in the relationship at all. If you or your partner has an underlying issue that is causing your problems, a therapist can help you get the help that you need.

A couple of examples of underlying issues that could be causing relationship issues but that are not a direct result of the relationship are anxiety or depression. If this is the case, it can be incredibly difficult to fix issues that have seeped into the relationship, because they are not themselves rooted in the relationship. It takes great patience, understanding, empathy, and sometimes professional help, and that’s okay!

Underlying issues such as these may need to be identified and treated by a professional. Positive mental health can have a ripple effect, positively impacting our relationships in turn. Taking care of ourselves is of the utmost importance, whether in a relationship or not.

A therapist can guide you down the path of treating underlying issues while also addressing relationship problems. There are some things that you can do concurrently with your partner and some that may need to be done independently as individuals. With the help of a licensed professional, you can determine which one applies to you – maybe both!

Higher success

If you’ve been having relationship issues for quite a while, going in to see a counselor or therapist is often significantly more effective than trying to ignore the problem. 

Therapists have worked with countless other families and helped them to reach a better outcome. They can assist you in ways that you would not be able to imagine. The benefits are numerous.

If you want to give your relationship the best chance for survival, you might want to consider trying mental health services like couple’s therapy or group therapy. You don’t have to do this alone.

Homework

Couples therapy does not stop when your time in the office is up. A good counselor will give you homework to continue the work you are doing throughout the week.

These homework assignments will be custom-tailored to the issues you and your partner have. A therapist has valuable experience with common couple issues. This ensures that they know what works to work through your relationship problems and what does not.

Finding a therapist

If you have decided to see a therapist, your next step will be finding one. Despite the benefits that many couple’s get from therapy, the average cost of couple’s therapy is approximately $100-200 per session, which is cost-prohibitive for many.

Rather than trying conventional in-person therapy, which is often more expensive due to high overhead, many couples opt to try online therapy has been found to be just as effective for a variety of conditions and concerns as in-person therapy. The Journal of Marital and Family Therapy recently published a 2021 study exploring the feasibility and efficacy of internet-based psychotherapy for families and couples. The study found online psychotherapy to be a successful and safe mode of therapy for a multitude of demographics, including couples, with a variety of conditions and concerns.

Additionally, a 2020 study published in Frontiers in Psychology assessed the experiences of couples attending online couple’s therapy. Participants consistently said they appreciated the physical distance from their therapist, which increased productivity during sessions and provided an increased sense of empowerment, leading the researchers to conclude that the benefits of online therapy tended to exceed client expectations.

Online therapy platforms like Regain connect clients with individual and couple’s therapists and counselors who are licensed and certified. Though Regain does not accept insurance, many people find that it is more affordable and cost-effective than in-person couple’s therapy, and the cost is often comparable to what you might expect from a co-pay. In some cases, Regain may offer financial assistance in the form of reduced pricing; you can inquire to see if you qualify.