5 Best Online Premarital Counseling Programs 2024 For Couples
Updated on
- Written by Blanca Garcia, RDN
Medically reviewed by
Melissa Mitri, MS, RD
All articles are produced independently. When you click our links for purchasing products, we earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about how we earn revenue by reading our advertise disclaimer.
Talkspace
- Quick assessment for provider assignment
- Communication options: text, video, and audio messaging
- Payment plan option
- Licensed counselor
$85 off your first month: HEALTHCANAL85
ReGain
- Recognized professional certifications with academic degrees
- Live sessions, chat, messaging, and phone
- Three-way live sessions and phone supported
Faithful Counseling
- Geared toward Christian couples
- Therapists are licensed
- Option to subscribe
Getting married is the biggest commitment of your life. You are joining together as one and combining your extended family. By seeking premarital counseling services, your chances of understanding each other improve significantly.
Joining your life with another person requires more than just good communication skills. To have a healthy marriage, it can be beneficial to learn a variety of techniques from premarital counseling.
You may be wondering is premarital counseling online free? Just like In-person therapy, it costs money. But there is so much choice out there, it’s possible to find an affordable choice.
However, in-person therapy and online services can be covered by health insurance. Usually, health insurance companies require the therapy to be provided by licensed therapists in order to be covered. Other types of therapists not in this category may need to be paid out of pocket.
5 Best Online Premarital Counseling Programs For Couples In (April. 2024)
- Talkspace – Editor’s Choice
- ReGain – Varied amount of Therapists
- Faithful Counseling – Best for Christians
- Couples Therapy Inc. – Most Varied Services
- e-Therapy Cafe – Best for Wedding Day
What Is Online Premarital Counseling?
Online premarital counseling is facilitated through the internet. A premarital counseling program is geared toward couples trying to prepare for married life. You learn essential relationship skills that help you learn conflict resolution skills and improve your communication with your partner.
These skills are also learned in terms of important topics you will encounter as a couple such as finances, beliefs, religion, roles in the marriage, spending time together, children, and extended family relationships.
When you start to think about it, premarital counseling is really just couples counseling specifically for preparing a couple for marriage.
As you start considering relationship therapy, you may ask yourself, where can I find marriage counseling near me? The advantage of online premarital counseling is that location doesn’t matter – you can get the couples therapy you are looking for right from the comfort of your home.
The clear benefits of online premarital counseling are that you can eliminate commute time, and scheduling difficulties, and access multiple providers to find your own style. Additionally, online premarital counseling costs may be lower.
Is Online Premarital Counseling Effective?
The purpose of premarital counseling is to provide you and your partner with the relationship skills needed to start a strong marriage.
Although couples counseling can also be done after marriage and when issues arise, identifying relationship issues early is part of premarital counseling. Being proactive in this way can help you figure out techniques for conflict management before you’re married.
But can online premarital counseling sessions be as effective[1] as in-person therapy sessions? Yes, they can. Although in some cases, it may not provide some aspects an in-person therapy session can provide.
The idea is for you to be able to identify strengths and weaknesses in your partnership and find ways to solve or manage challenging situations. Couples therapy in person or online can make a difference in how you start your marriage.
There are different types of counseling techniques, and a variety of professionals use these techniques. These techniques can be conducted by a family therapist, licensed marriage and family therapist, or a relationship coach online in the comfort of your home.
There may be some restrictions related to the online therapists’ ability to diagnose, fulfill court orders, or prescribe medication. Make sure you ask or read the terms of the online premarital program before scheduling your session.
If you are seeking therapy, specifically a counseling service that can offer premarital counseling, an online premarital counseling program can be helpful.
Especially If you are one of many busy couples out there that may have difficulty getting together with traditional counseling, this may be an effective solution. Learn about five online premarital counseling services for couples in 2022.
Best Online Premarital Counseling For Couples In 2024
Talkspace
A no-frills online therapy for couples, a quick assessment, and a match with a licensed therapist within 48 hours.
- Quick assessment for provider assignment
- Communication options: text, video, and audio messaging
- Payment plan option
- Licensed counselor
- One program option for couples therapy
- Messaging only during weekdays
Talkspace is an online counseling service that provides individual therapy, couples therapy, teen therapy, and even psychiatry with professionals that provide medication management. This service also offers employee assistance programs.
It’s a one-stop shop for your and your family’s needs. An online resource that not only includes couples therapists but also family therapists so over time when the need arises you are already familiar with this online platform.
Among the counseling service options, you can choose to take premarital counseling, relationship counseling, or marriage counseling. Premarital counseling helps improve communication and conflict resolution and prepares you for the big day.
To get started with this service, you take a quick premarital counseling assessment and get matched within 48 hours. Once you are assigned, you get access to live video sessions and unlimited messaging Monday-Friday.
Although the website indicates 24/7 unlimited messaging, the option for couples therapy limits the messaging to Monday-Friday.
This online service accepts insurance providers with a directory of insurance companies that cover counseling through Talkspace, you can also pay out-of-pocket.
Sessions:
Four sessions at $109 per week, 45 minutes each session. You can get a 10% discount if you pay three months in advance.
ReGain
ReGain is a platform of independent therapists that work directly with you and your partner.
- Recognized professional certifications with academic degrees
- Live sessions, chat, messaging, and phone
- Three-way live sessions and phone support
- Cannot diagnose, fulfill court orders or prescribe medication
- Message sent to the therapist can be seen by the partner
ReGain is a website owned and operated by BetterHelp, a platform with more than 13,000 available therapists in its network. It fully focuses on the connection between independent therapists and clients. It specializes in couples and has the option to hold private counseling sessions if a partner needs to start therapy on their own, with the feature to invite their partner later into therapy.
This platform requires the therapists to have an academic degree, a minimum of three years of experience, and to be qualified and accredited by their professional organization.
The counseling sessions are with therapists that are not employed by ReGain; therefore, all your information is held private by the therapist. You get unlimited messaging or voice messaging; you can schedule one video or phone call with your therapist based on their schedule.
ReGain and its therapists don’t submit claims to Medicare, Medicaid, or health insurance companies. Even if you get reimbursed, you may need to meet specific requirements it’s advised you check with your insurance company.
Sessions:
$50-$75 per week, live sessions of 35-40 minutes; billed every four weeks.
Faithful Counseling
A different approach to counseling, Christian premarital counseling online is for couples that want faith to be at the core of their counseling.
- Geared toward Christian couples
- Therapists are licensed
- Option to subscribe
- Does not accept insurance
- Cannot diagnose, fulfill court orders or prescribe medication
Faithful Counseling has licensed therapists that also share a Christian/religious background. They use a combination of faith and clinical expertise to help couples that want to include God in their married lives.
The therapists are independent providers that work directly with you and are not employed by Faith Counseling.
To get started, you can take an assessment to best identify your needs and find the best premarital counselor. Uniquely, this assessment asks about your religion and your beliefs to best match a therapist.
When choosing a faith-based therapist, it’s important to be aware that most faith-based therapists are not required to be licensed in the United States. Therefore, if not licensed most insurance companies will not pay or reimburse for these services.
Faithful Counseling does not submit claims to Medicare, Medicaid or health insurances. The services offered through this platform are usually not covered by insurance. You may submit for reimbursement but it’s not guaranteed, it’s advised you check with your insurance company if you intend to request reimbursement.
You can be comfortable knowing that the therapists from Faithful Counseling are licensed therapists that can help with improving communication, relationship counseling, and conflict resolution.
Sessions: $50-$70 per week, billed every four weeks.
Couples Therapy Inc.
Online therapy services start with a comprehensive assessment to better understand your needs.
- Varied types of services
- Online and In-person therapy
- Therapists have specialized training for couples therapy
- Two to three-hour thorough assessment
Couples Therapy Inc. is special in that it has counseling services that cater specifically to your needs. Some of the services are premarital counseling, couples therapy, affair recovery, discernment counseling, and hopeful spouse.
This online premarital counseling program comes with a thorough two to three-hour assessment, which is great for a couple that wants to go in-depth with counseling. This may not be convenient however for busy couples that may not have the time to sit through such an assessment.
This company trains its staff in the Gottman Method[2], a method that includes a thorough assessment of the couple that helps the therapist reach the goals of improved communication, intimacy, and affection.
The assessment includes a joint assessment and an individual assessment. The assessment identifies a couple’s strengths and challenges with suggested interventions.
Some of their other services are in-person retreats like couples therapy retreats or sexuality retreats. This company has two dozen therapists operating from three different countries, so you can get a 15-minute free consultation with a therapist of your choice.
Couples Therapy Inc. may accept insurance, they have a great section talking about all the possibilities in obtaining coverage.
Sessions:
$150-$275 for 55-minute sessions, or intensive therapy $2500-$6500
e-Therapy Cafe
A boutique-style online program that offers one-time sessions or membership options.
- Option to use a licensed therapist or certified life coaches
- Offers unique services
- Option to subscribe
- Boutique style, a limited amount of therapists
A unique online resource, e-therapy provides three options, a one-time session or the choice between two membership plans. It offers a variety of premarital counseling options; relationship coaching, couples counseling, and wedding coaching.
It also includes other niche areas like therapy for LGBT, trauma, emotional animal support letters and therapy, veterans, and college counseling.
The wedding coach is unique, and you get matched with a coach to help you handle the months that lead up to your wedding day.
With these counseling sessions, you get the option to choose a licensed therapist or a certified life coach. All prices, session times, and differences between coaches and therapists are clearly lined out in the frequently asked questions.
e-therapy Cafe does not accept insurance payments but upon request can provide a detailed monthly “Super Bill” or a detailed bill of services so you can submit for reimbursement.
You don’t have to go through a long consultation process to find out if this is a service that fits your needs. With 16 therapists, this may be a limited amount of therapist options.
Sessions:
$55 for 30-minute sessions per session
$49 for 30-minute sessions for four sessions
$45 for 30-minute sessions for eight sessions.
Types Of Pre-Marriage Counseling
Preparing to get married means you need to figure out what you need. You can find a variety of premarital counseling types.
Low-Cost Premarital Counseling
Although it would be nice to find premarital counseling online free of charge, it is still an affordable version to get started. Power of Two[3], a program developed and paid for by a grant from the United States Federal Government, can go as low as $36 per month or an annual cost of $240.
Premarital classes
Premarital classes are pre-determined classes with specific topics and a number of hours to complete the classes.
Faith-Based Counseling
You can also find faith-based premarital classes with an option of licensed therapists or a non-licensed premarital counselor. These type of services don’t always accept insurance or they may not qualify for reimbursement.
How We Chose The Best Online Premarital Counseling
When we looked at online relationship therapy services, we chose online services that provide therapists that are licensed, provide an online premarital course, counseling, or a specialty in relationships.
We also included online services that accept insurance and provide “Super Bills” or the payment structure allows for choice in session amounts or payment plans. This gives you options based on your ability to cover the counseling with insurance or pay for it yourself.
Final Thought
In this digital era, online therapy is common, and there are plenty of great options to choose from. Identifying what is most important to you and your partner should be the first thing to do. You can independently research what is important to you and even choose the therapist based on their profiles.
An online premarital counseling session can seem convenient, but you need to keep in mind that it may not be covered completely by your health insurer. Before committing to an online course and can’t afford the cost out-of-pocket, check with your insurer for a level of coverage or if reimbursement is possible.
When choosing a therapist for your premarital counseling, the best way to go is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Of course, if it does not meet your criteria there are options and ultimately it’s up to you to decide what fits you best.
The goal is that you have easy access to premarital counseling that fits your busy lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Premarital counseling and online premarital counseling cost can vary drastically. Depending on the number of sessions you want or the level of intensity, the cost can vary anywhere from $45-$275 per session.
Yes, you can get a marriage license without premarital counseling. But there are six states that provide discounts on your marriage license when you undergo a certain number of marriage counseling hours. These states are Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Texas, and Tennessee.
Couples counseling can be done at any time while dating or married, you can take a relationship class for improving communication or just for relationship maintenance. But premarital counseling is specific in helping couples prepare for married life.
Online marriage counseling can be a good option if you are busy, can’t get to a therapist nearby, or feel more comfortable doing therapy in the comfort of your home.
Yes, some insurance companies cover online premarital counseling. Check with your insurance for specific requirements to qualify for premarital counseling. Also, check the online platform if it accepts insurance payments.
Most do as it’s a way to identify your needs and be able to match a person with a therapist.
Most insurance companies won’t cover therapy sessions if the therapist is not licensed. Always check with your insurance company for requirements needed for reimbursement or coverage. Also, online counseling platforms will disclose in their FAQ section if they provide a “Super Bill” for reimbursement.
Yes, most therapists offer a joint session with your partner and an individual session at an additional cost.
+ 3 sources
Health Canal avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic researches from medical associations and institutions. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Health Canal, you can read more about the editorial process here
- Hao, Y., Franco, J.H., Sundarrajan, M. and Chen, Y. (2020). A Pilot Study Comparing Tele-therapy and In-Person Therapy: Perspectives from Parent-Mediated Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, [online] 51(1), pp.129–143. doi:10.1007/s10803-020-04439-x.
- The Gottman Institute. (2022). The Gottman Method – About | The Gottman Institute. [online] Available at: https://www.gottman.com/about/the-gottman-method/
- Power of Two Marriage. (2022). Power of Two Marriage. [online] Available at: https://www.poweroftwomarriage.com/
Written by:
Blanca Garcia, RDN
Medically reviewed by:
Medically reviewed by:
