Couples therapy can be a powerful tool for those experiencing challenges in their relationships, but not all couples can align their schedules to attend therapy together (or at all). Thankfully, telehealth therapy is more available than ever, allowing those who might not otherwise be able to schedule regular appointments to get the help they deserve. For those with relationship anxiety, virtual couples therapy offers a new option to address stressors and build a stronger bond.
Virtual couples therapy can effectively address relationship anxiety through specialized techniques refined for the individual participants. It synthesizes well with digital tools, and therapists can adapt the process to create seamless remote sessions. Those considering virtual couples therapy can maximize what they gain from it through simple but effective choices, such as creating a comfortable space at home, maintaining connection during video sessions, and implementing anxiety management techniques that work specifically in an online format.
The Vicious Cycle of Anxiety and Therapy
Anxiety can be a challenging force to contend with. It serves as a significant stressor, putting the body into fight-or-flight mode. Studies show that people who struggle with anxiety are less likely to seek professional treatment, and if they do, they may repeatedly delay their first appointment (sometimes by multiple years).
Why? Anxiety can make a person feel vulnerable and in danger. For individuals with relationship anxiety specifically, seeking couples therapy may seem nearly impossible; relationship anxiety can leave a person feeling insecure and frightened that their partner may abandon them if they suggest attending a session together.
Thus, the individual chooses not to seek therapy, leading to the proliferation of anxiety symptoms and unresolved behaviors, which places further strain on the relationship. This vicious cycle can benefit from couples therapy to break free.
How Virtual Couples Therapy Can Help Relationship Anxiety
Virtual couples therapy offers options that may not otherwise be available to couples. For those who are having trouble seeking help otherwise, whether due to the effects of relationship anxiety, demanding schedules, or other challenges, telehealth may be a good choice.
Reduces “Imposition”
For those experiencing relationship anxiety, one of the most significant determining factors in seeking care is the perception of how it impacts the other partner. It is common for patients to feel that asking their partner to attend therapy is a “big ask” that is imposed upon their time. Going to a therapist’s office may feel cumbersome and uncomfortable. Because they are so attuned to their partner’s feelings as a means of avoiding abandonment, they never commit to going.
Telehealth therapy reduces this feeling of imposition on the other partner by making visits easier. Simply sit together and have a video call. Some therapists require that both partners be physically present in the same room, while others welcome the two to participate from different locations (e.g., on each person’s lunch break).
Increases Comfort
Those struggling with anxious feelings may find their home is a much more comfortable place for therapy. Create a cozy spot before a session, whether in bed, in a home office, or outdoors in the fresh air. This helps participants relax and fully engage with the session.
Connects With Intention
Easing relationship anxiety means connecting partners with intention. Each person should actively try to understand, hear, and be heard with clarity, compassion, and vulnerability. A couples therapist assists in this endeavor, but it is up to the participants to put in effort to support their partner and grow on their own, too.
Virtual-Specific Tools That Can Help
Online couples therapy connects well with the many digital tools that technology has made available. Some recommendations that a therapist might integrate into sessions on relationship anxiety include:
Shared Resources
Many online resources are collaborative, and couples can use this to their advantage. Join calendars to make more time for each other, share a joint photo album to create positive memories, or even create a two-person digital notebook. This can assist with communication and help the person struggling with anxiety to challenge their negative thoughts in the moment.
Meditation Apps
Anxiety is not just a mental process; it is also a physical one. A person’s heart rate may rise, and they might feel adrenaline and more. Online meditation apps can pair well with virtual couples therapy as a tool to keep anxiety controlled, both during sessions and in between.
Get Help for Relationship Anxiety Online
Relationship anxiety can feel like a challenge that separates you from a close, trusting relationship with your partner. However, virtual couples therapy can help! Contact Village Counseling today to schedule a telehealth visit and get started on a strategy that can help both of you build a strong foundation that lasts.