Embarking on a journey of love means embarking on a journey of growth — one that is rich with moments of joy but also filled with challenges. Sharing your life with someone is a delicate dance of compromise and understanding. A relationship, like any intricate work of art, is susceptible to cracks and blemishes that can sometimes leave it shaken to its very foundation. The question that often arises is whether a relationship in turmoil can successfully find a way back to stability.

One less-explored path that a couple experiencing issues in their relationship can take to foster healing and growth is self-guided couples therapy.

What is self-guided couples therapy?

When couples therapy is described as “self-guided,” that means it’s a form of relationship support and guidance that one or both partners navigate on their own, without the direct involvement of a licensed therapist or counselor.

It involves utilizing various resources, tools, and strategies to address relationship challenges, improve communication, and forge a strong connection between partners.

Key aspects of self-guided couples therapy

Autonomy:

Unlike traditional couples therapy, which requires a therapist to guide the process through pre-arranged sessions, self-guided couples therapy puts control in the hands of those seeking help for their relationship. They have the freedom to choose the topics they want to address, the pace at which they progress, and the tools they find most effective.

Resources:

Self-guided couples therapy often relies on a range of resources, such as books, articles, online courses, relationship apps, workbooks, videos, and audio material. These resources are designed to provide information, insights, and practical exercises that can help people navigate challenges and strengthen their relationships.

Flexibility:

One of the advantages of self-guided couples therapy is its flexibility. A couple can access resources and work on their relationship at a time that suits their schedule and preference, for example do couples therapy at home. This can be especially valuable for anyone with a busy life or difficulty in going to regular therapy sessions.

Cost-effectiveness:

Traditional couples therapy with a licensed therapist can be expensive. Self-guided couples therapy is often a more affordable alternative that allows a couple to work on their relationship within their budget.

Empowerment:

Self-guided counseling empowers a couple to take an active role in improving their relationship. It encourages them to communicate openly, reflect on their own behaviors and feelings, and work collaboratively to find solutions.

Privacy:

Some couples may prefer to work on their relationship challenges privately, without having to give their intimate details to someone else. Self-guided couples therapy provides a way for those in a relationship to engage in meaningful discussions without the presence of a therapist.

Self-guided couples counseling can be used alongside traditional couples therapy

It's important to note that while self-guided couples therapy can be helpful in many ways, it might not be suitable for all situations. Serious issues, such as severe communication breakdowns, trust issues, or significant emotional trauma, may require the expertise of a trained therapist to guide the healing process.

In those instances, self-guided couples counseling can serve as a supplement to traditional therapy, offering additional tools and perspectives. It’s also important that anyone using a self–guided therapy program keep their therapist in the loop on what they're doing.

Whether a couple opts for traditional therapy, self-guided couples therapy, or a combination of both, the key is that they’re making an effort to improve their relationship and to create an environment where open communication, empathy, and mutual understanding can thrive.

Relationship apps like AllyCouples offer self-guided therapy right on your phone!

Actively working on your relationship and creating new habits to help nurture it isn't easy. Even if you know exactly what to do (in theory), you’ll need something that can guide you in the moment and can be part of your everyday life. Something you can use wherever and whenever works for you. Perhaps you feel most comfortable doing couples therapy at home or maybe on a walk?

The AllyCouples app is the virtual guide for a journey toward relationship renewal and growth. As licensed psychologists, we developed AllyCouples specifically to make it easier for couples to overcome the barriers that prevent many from working on their relationship when they initially notice difficulties. We’ve met so many couples with problems that could have been prevented if the underlying issues had been addressed much earlier.

Just as in traditional couples therapy — which always starts by understanding what a couple’s problems specifically look like for them — AllyCouples begins with both partners answering questions about the current state of the relationship. It then provides a tailored plan with recommended content and interactive exercises that we’ve found to be the most helpful in dealing with specific relationship issues.