If you and your spouse are Christian and facing challenges in your marriage, you may be seeking Christian therapy services from a licensed professional counselor.
In this guide, we’ll go over the best platforms for Christian marriage counseling. We’ll also explain what to expect during your marriage counseling sessions with a Christian counselor.
Want to skip right to the suggestions for Christian marriage counseling? Here are our 3 recommended therapy solutions:
Best Christian marriage counseling services
It can be difficult to find counseling services that are based on your faith in God and the teachings of the Christian church.
In this section, we’ll take a look at the top therapy platforms for Christian marriage counseling, so you can find the best option for you and your partner.
1. ReGain
Tailored for individuals and couples navigating relationship or marital issues – ReGain is your online relationship therapy solution. Starting at $65/week, you can schedule one weekly live session and message your therapist anytime. Start your path to healthier connections with ReGain – fill out their online assessment form.
ReGain is an online counseling platform that specializes in marital and relationship counseling, with many Christian counselors on the platform.
When signing up for ReGain, you are taken through a questionnaire that will help match you with a therapist who meets your needs, preferences, and marriage counseling goals. You can specifically opt for a therapist who understands and aligns with your Christian beliefs, and is a practicing Christian, so you can incorporate your faith into your marriage counseling.
Along with your religious preferences, you will also be asked if you would prefer a male or female counselor, how old you would prefer them to be, and whether you would like them to be more liberal or conservative in their beliefs. ReGain asks these specific questions to match you and your partner with someone of a similar background and belief system, so you can feel better understood right off the bat.
In addition to choosing a therapist who aligns with your Christian background and beliefs, you will also be asked questions about you, your relationship pain points, and your goals for counseling.
There are many reasons why a couple may decide to get marriage counseling – with ReGain, you have the option to choose what mental health issues you want to focus on during your sessions. For example, the sign-up process asks about what brought you to ReGain, and you can choose between options such as conflict resolution, overcoming infidelity, improving overall communication, and issues regarding parenting and child-rearing.
After you complete the questionnaire, you can choose to invite your partner to the platform. You also have the option of waiting and doing so at a later time. After this step, you will usually hear from your therapist within 48 hours of completing the sign-up process, so that you and your partner can immediately get started.
Once you are matched with a therapist, you will have the option of completing regular sessions over a video chat, phone call, or live chat. It’s possible to schedule these counseling sessions at a time that works for you, and you can also text message your counselor during the week. If you ever decide you want to change to a different therapist, you can choose to do at any time.
2. BetterHelp
Explore emotional well-being with BetterHelp – your partner in affordable online therapy. With 30,000+ licensed therapists and plans starting from only $65 per week, BetterHelp makes self-care accessible to all. Complete the questionnaire to match with the right therapist.
BetterHelp is an online counseling platform with a huge number of Christian counselors on the platform. This is an individual therapy platform and a therapist can potentially invite your Christian beliefs into your healing, so you can create spiritually-based action plans that will help you and your spouse improve your bond with the help of your faith in God.
The therapists at BetterHelp are all accredited, licensed professionals, with a Master’s or Doctoral degree in their field. Every counselor is certified by their state’s professional board, with at least three years of training and 1,000 hours of field experience.
When you first sign up for BetterHelp, you will go through a questionnaire that will match you to a Christian marriage counselor who meets your needs. Every therapist has a unique approach and method of counseling – this detailed questionnaire helps match you with a counselor who is a good fit for you.
Once matched, you’ll get one therapy session with your counselor each week, over a video/phone call or live chat if you’d prefer, as well as the ability to message your therapist as much as you’d like.
The one issue with BetterHelp unlike ReGain is that the platform is not designed specifically for relationship counseling with two people getting support. It’s a better choice if you’re looking for individual help with your marriage at this stage.
3. Christian Counselor Directory
The Christian Counselor Directory connects you with dedicated Christian therapists in your US area who uphold strong principles and faith. This specialized directory includes both professional and pastoral therapists. Plus, discover nearby churches for a comprehensive spiritual resource.
Unlike the other two services we’ve looked at, the Christian Counselor Directory allows you to find Christian marriage counselors you can see in-person.
On the website, you can put in your zip code or state, click enter, and you’ll be able to see a list of Christian therapists and counselors that practice in your area.
Each therapist has a profile, where you can learn more about their therapy approach, and specializations. Here, on the left, you can see if a given therapist provides relationship counseling.
Using this directory makes it easy to find Christian counselors near you. However, it is a bit of effort to click on each counselor’s profile and see if they provide marriage counseling.
Also, you may find that depending on where you live, there aren’t a huge number of counselors available on this platform. For those in small cities, it might be hard to find a Christian marriage counselor, unless you use an online service like ReGain.
How does Christian marriage counseling work?
When working with a counselor specializing in Christian marriage counseling, you will learn new skills that will strengthen your relationship – such as open communication, problem-solving, and how to resolve conflicts respectfully and healthily. During your sessions, you will talk about the good and the bad parts of your relationship, and learn the deeper reasoning behind your conflicts and pain points.
It’s not uncommon for marriage counseling sessions to erupt into arguments between you and your spouse. If this occurs, your marriage counselor can act as a referee and help to bring you both to an understanding. They may remind you that it’s not you against your partner, but you two as a team against whatever issue you are facing.
Depending on what your marriage and family issues are, you may need several months of sessions, or just a few. Your therapist will come up with a treatment program specific to your emotional, marital, and spiritual needs. For example, if you are having issues with conflict, your therapist may help you practice “seeking to understand, then to be understood”. Hearing out the other person without immediately responding (therein letting your resistance and emotions get in the way) can help you both reach a place of understanding, empathy, and compassion for one another.
In a faith-based counseling session, your provider will ask you and your partner questions about your married life and how prayer and spirituality fit into your family. They may ask you about your experience with depression or anxiety or ask you to ponder questions like “What was your spiritual life like within your family as a child?”, and “What does your faith and being faithful mean to you?”.
Your therapist might also provide you with a bible study guide that focuses on the best ways to incorporate your faith into your marriage. You and your partner may also be asked to complete small homework assignments, designed to support what you discuss in your sessions. These assignments may include things like discussing your personal experience as a member of the church, carving out time each day to practice prayer together, and taking time to discuss certain bible verses that apply to your situation.
While the goal of marriage counseling is to resolve your issues and learn how to communicate in your relationships, some couples do decide to part ways in the end. As a Christian, divorce is something that the church usually dissuades its members from doing, but if this is something you have been considering, your therapist can help you and your partner discuss your options.
How much does Christian marriage counseling usually cost?
Christian counseling is usually more expensive in person than it is online. This is because traditional brick and mortar establishments have high overhead costs and must pay for things like rent, office equipment, and support staff.
Traditional therapy providers usually cost anywhere from $100 to $250 for a 60-minute session. Online platforms, on the other hand, typically costs between $65 and $90 per week, including one session each week, plus the ability to message your mental health professional.
Keep in mind that while it’s common for traditional therapy to be covered by your health insurance, online therapy is generally not. All insurance plans vary in their coverage, so check with your provider to see what options are offered.
What are the benefits of marriage counseling?
Regardless of what relationship challenges brought you to marriage counseling, seeking help from a professionally trained counselor can help you and your partner overcome the conflicts and miscommunications that are preventing you from enjoying your marriage.
Couples seek relationship counseling for many different reasons. Whether you are having communication problems, intimacy or infidelity issues, or conflicts about raising your children, marriage counselors can help bridge the gap and improve how you both relate to one another.
It can be difficult to admit your marriage needs professional help. But seeking support, rather than ignoring your problems, is a step worth taking – and may be the key to healing your marriage and family.
Conclusion
When it comes to improving your marriage, having a foundational knowledge of what your options are is the best first step to take.
Online Christian marriage counseling platforms like BetterHelp, ReGain, and the Christian Counselor Directory can help you find a provider who will help you tackle your marital issues while keeping your Christian faith at the forefront.
If you’re unsure which provider or mental health professional to choose, feel free to leave us a comment below and we’ll get right back to you.
