Maybe you work opposite shifts. Maybe one of you travels for work, or you live in a small town an hour from the nearest office. Or maybe the idea of sitting in a waiting room together feels like too much right now. Online couples therapy in Ontario lets you meet with a couples therapist by secure video, from home or from two different places. This post explains how a session works, what research says about video sessions, how to set up your space and when online couples counselling may not be the right first step.
This post is general information, not therapy or advice for your relationship. A qualified therapist can help you sort out what fits your situation.
Online couples therapy in Ontario, how a session works
Online couples therapy works a lot like sitting in a therapist's office. The main difference is the screen. Before your first session, you get a secure video link by email. There is nothing to download. At the start time, you click the link and your therapist joins you.
A session usually starts with a check in. Your therapist asks what has been happening and what you each hope to work on. Then the two of you talk, with your therapist guiding the conversation. They may slow things down, ask each of you to explain what you meant, or help you hear the feeling under a hard comment. Near the end, you may agree on one small thing to try before next time.
Some people call this virtual marriage counselling, but you don't need to be married. Online couples counselling is open to any couple. That includes married, dating, living together or living apart. It also includes same-sex couples and couples who are not sure yet whether they want to stay together. You don't need to have a crisis to start. Many couples come because they feel stuck, distant or tired of having the same fight.
Joining from the same couch or from two different places
Many couples sit side by side and share one screen. That works well when you live together and can find a private room.
Couples therapy online from different locations is also an option. Each partner joins from their own device, in their own space. This can help when:
You live apart for now, for school, work or family reasons.
One of you is away for work during the week.
Your schedules don't line up, but you can each step away for an hour.
Sitting close together during hard talks feels tense, and a little space helps you both stay calm.
There is one important rule. Both partners must be in Ontario during the session. Each person needs to be somewhere in the province while you meet. If one of you will be travelling outside Ontario, let us know ahead of time so you can plan around it.
Sessions are fully online or fully in person. We can't set up a session where one partner is in the office and the other joins by video.
Is online couples therapy effective?
This is one of the most common questions couples ask. The research is still growing, but it is encouraging.
In one small trial, couples were randomly placed in either video sessions or face-to-face sessions of the same couples program. Both groups improved in relationship satisfaction and mental health. Results did not differ between the two groups. The bond with the therapist also grew over time in both groups (see Sources). This was one study with a small number of couples, so it doesn't prove that video works for everyone. But it suggests that a screen does not have to get in the way.
Another larger study looked at an online program for couples that was built from in-person couples therapy. Couples worked through activities online and had short calls with staff. Couples who did the program reported feeling better about their relationship than couples who waited. This was a web program, not therapy with a live therapist, but it shows that couples can make real changes using online tools (see Sources).
What matters most may be the same things that matter in an office: feeling safe, feeling heard and having a therapist you both trust.
Setting up your space at home
A little planning can make a big difference. Here are some simple tips:
Find privacy. Choose a room with a door. If kids are home, plan for someone to watch them, or meet when they are asleep or at school.
Use headphones if you are apart. If you are in two places, headphones help keep the conversation private.
Check your connection. Sit close to your Wi-Fi and close other apps. A charged device helps too.
Set the camera at eye level. Try to make sure your therapist can see both of your faces if you share a screen.
Give yourselves a buffer. Leave a few minutes before and after. Jumping straight from a work meeting into a hard talk is tough.
Plan your after. Some sessions bring up big feelings. Agree ahead of time on what you will do next, like a walk, a meal or some quiet time apart.
When things get heated on screen
Arguments can happen in any session. On video, it can be easier to talk over each other or for one partner to go quiet. Your therapist will watch for this and step in to slow things down.
Many therapists pay close attention to patterns like criticism, defensiveness, contempt and shutting down. These are often called the four horsemen. Spotting them in the moment can help you change course.
If you need a pause during a session, it is okay to say so. Your therapist may suggest a short break, a few slow breaths, or switching who is talking. If you are in two places, it can also help to agree that nobody leaves the call without saying so first.
When online couples counselling is not the right first step
Couples therapy is not the right first step for every relationship. If one partner is afraid of the other, is being threatened or controlled, or has been hurt, joint sessions may not be safe. Talking openly in front of a partner who uses fear or control can make things worse at home.
In that case, individual support is usually a better place to start. You can learn more about support for survivors of violence. If you are not sure, you can talk this over privately during the free consultation.
Online sessions also may not fit if neither of you can find a private space, or if one partner is not willing to take part right now.
Approaches that work well by video
The same couples approaches used in the office can be used online. Some therapists draw on emotionally focused couple therapy. This approach helps partners understand the feelings and needs under their fights, so they can reach for each other instead of pushing away.
Others use skills-based approaches. These can help you learn to listen, take turns and repair after a hard talk. Many therapists blend approaches to fit the couple in front of them.
Couples therapy can help with things like:
Feeling more like roommates than partners
Trust problems after an affair or broken promise
Big decisions, like moving, having kids or caring for a parent
Money stress and household roles
Intimacy and feeling close again
Deciding whether to stay together
Cost, billing and your first step
Sessions with our therapists range from $130 to $200, depending on the clinician.
We accept Health Spending Accounts (HSAs).
We can direct bill many insurers. Coverage depends on your plan, so check with your insurer before you start.
Book a free 15-minute consultation with our admin team. Let them know you're interested in online couples therapy, and whether you'll join from one screen or two. They'll help you find a good fit. We also have offices in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Ottawa if you would rather meet in person.
If you're in crisis: if you or someone you love is in immediate danger, call 911. If you're thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8 any time, day or night.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Sources
Couples therapy delivered through videoconferencing: effects on relationship outcomes, mental health and the therapeutic alliance, Kysely and colleagues, Frontiers in Psychology, 2021
A randomized controlled trial of the web-based OurRelationship program: effects on relationship and individual functioning, Doss and colleagues, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2016