Video Conferencing Couples Therapy In The Time Of Coronavirus

Update: While COVID is in retreat and quarantine restrictions are lifting, we are still providing teletherapy and video chat therapy in addition to in-person therapy at our offices in Tribeca and Park Slope, Brooklyn. Perhaps the biggest legacy of the pandemic for our practice has been our increased ability to offer remote therapy, which we dedicated ourselves to at a time when fear and uncertainty were present not only for our patients but for us as therapists. Because of this, we find it meaningful to look back at this page that was written during that time:

Video Conferencing Couples Therapy Can Fast-Track Help During A Stressful Time

Quarantine is a great time to start video conferencing couples therapy in NYC, even though that may seem counterintuitive. Couples may initially be afraid to begin online couples therapy, assuming it will stir the conflict that they will be stuck living in during COVID-19: dealing with the claustrophobia that comes from spending too much time at home without the ability to take space from each other easily or blow off steam with friends. However, a good New York video chat couples therapist knows this, and won’t push couples to places that are unsafe or too disruptive under these unusual circumstances.

In fact, not only is doing video chat therapy or phone therapy possible during the time of the coronavirus, but it can also help fast-track treatment in some ways. Without the intimidation factor of meeting a couples therapist in their office, couples almost always find it easier to be themselves in video conferencing therapy (whether via Skype, Zoom, FaceTime or Google Meet). Sitting on the floor or cozy on their couch, often in their most comfortable clothing, partners are more likely to let their guards down in the intimacy of their home environment.

Video Chat Couples Therapy Can Triage What Needs Immediate Attention In A Relationship During Quarantine

Being crammed inside with a partner is stressing the healthiest and most well-balanced of relationships so it’s no surprise that many couples in our video conferencing couples therapy are having a hard time navigating things like alone time versus together time, balancing work and kids, managing conflict, and maintaining healthy communication with each other. Worrying about health and feeling like things are outside of their control can make tempers shorter, anxiety higher, and everything feel more overwhelming in general. Remote couples therapy can help triage what needs immediate attention and come up with a plan to get partners working better as a team.

Online Couples Counseling Can Also Address Underlying Issues That May Or May Not Be Related To COVID-19

Infidelity, co-parenting struggles, navigating in-laws, and sex or money disagreements can all be talked about or worked on in online couples counseling. In fact, being quarantined together can sometimes help couples find time to prioritize their relationship, allowing them to finally talk about things they may have been avoiding for a long time. With a video conferencing therapist’s help, couples can make good use of a difficult situation by devoting their time and attention to healing or growing their relationships.