Posts in category: Dating Tips, Guide and Advice

Divorce is hard. Whether you are considering divorce, going through the process, or are recovering from a divorce, you might need a little extra help and support, and online divorce counseling can be just the thing. As a licensed social worker and former therapist, I know firsthand that sometimes, it’s best to work things out with the help of a professional—and online therapy is a convenient, accessible, and often affordable way to do so. Here, I’ve compiled a list of the best online divorce counseling services, so that no matter where you are in your divorce journey, you can find the right company for your needs.

• The Types of Divorce Counseling

  Divorce counseling can come in many forms, depending on you and your family’s needs. Here are some of the types of counseling you might consider, and some of the types you’ll find on this list. 

  • Couples therapy: Using a service like Regain, Growing Self, or Thriveworks, you and your partner can discuss the possibility of divorce and work through what that might look like. A trained mediator can help minimize conflict and bring you both to a decision. 
  • Discernment counseling: This type of therapy is specifically devoted to deciding whether or not to divorce. You can work through divorce individually or as a couple, with your therapist guiding you through not just the actual process of divorce, but all the emotions and life changes that come with it. You might seek support around co-parenting during or after a divorce, which can also be part of divorce counseling. 
  • Divorce coaching: This focuses more on goal-setting and practical solutions to problems arising because of your divorce.
  • Support groups: Talking with peers can help you learn new coping skills as you navigate divorce and feel less alone as you are surrounded by people going through the same challenges.
  • Psychiatry: Some people might need extra mental health support during or after a divorce, so online therapy companies that offer psychiatry services as well can come in handy. If you are experiencing heightened anxiety or depression as you go through your divorce, meeting with a psychiatrist who can prescribe medication to manage your symptoms can be helpful.

  No matter what concerns or problems arise before, during, or after a divorce, the companies listed here that provide online divorce counseling offer convenient and effective ways to tackle all things divorce-related.

• What to Expect from Online Divorce Counseling

  • Who is it for? People who are considering divorce, are going through a divorce, or who have just gotten divorced. If a divorce is causing you to be anxious or depressed, or if you need help processing complicated feelings around your divorce, divorce counseling might be right for you.
  • How much does it cost? The services on this list range from a low $15 monthly fee to up to $200 or more per therapy session.
  • Will insurance cover it? Maybe. Many of these companies accept insurance. But while individual therapy is often covered by insurance, couples therapy usually is not.
  • How do we meet? Via video, audio, or text-based sessions. Depending on the service you are using, such as couples or discernment counseling or counseling for your children, you might want to attend therapy sessions with your ex- or soon-to-be-ex-partner or your kids.
  • Is it confidential? Be sure to read through any company’s privacy policy to better understand whether it is HIPAA-compliant (HIPAA is the law that protects personal health information) and whether it shares any private information with third parties; we recommend opting out of data collection.
  • What’s the time commitment? The sessions offered by the companies listed here range from 30 minutes to an hour or more—make sure to pick a service whose time commitment per session feels both manageable and comprehensive enough to dig into the issues that are bringing you to therapy. Most of these companies offer weekly services, but it’s also sometimes possible to meet biweekly or even monthly, depending on your needs. 

• How I Review Online Therapy Services

  I’ve spent years testing and surveying real therapy users and reviewing their experiences to help rate and share the best online therapy services. You can see a full breakdown of our online therapy research and testing process on Verywell Mind. Here is an overview of how I capture and evaluate firsthand experience and survey data.

  I had 65 different people sign up for talk therapy with all 55 online therapy companies reviewed. Over the past three years, I’ve published 153 reviews (here are our reviews for BetterHelp and Talkspace, for instance). I had my testers try out each company’s therapy services, and if the company offered other services (like couples therapy and kid or teen therapy) we tested those too. 

  I asked each tester to try each service for at least a month, which usually meant between two and six sessions at each company. I also asked testers to switch therapists partway through, if possible, in order to get a holistic idea of the offerings and quality of each company. My testers were located all across the United States and abroad, meaning I gained extensive information about each company’s services in a variety of areas.

  To compile this list, I investigated online therapy companies that specifically said they offer services and support for divorce or divorce-related issues. I also researched other divorce-related online resources and looked into their specialties.

  I surveyed more than 8,000 therapy clients who are currently using one of the 55 online therapy companies tested or who had used one in the recent past, as well as users of 27 different online therapy directories. I asked users to evaluate each company’s services, from their therapist’s qualifications to whether they found a therapist who met all their needs to how they’d rate the company overall—all told, I gathered 350 different data points. 

Compare Our Top Picks

Best for Couples Counseling Regain	Best for Couples Counseling Regain	View on Regain.us		See Retailer		$70-$100 per week, billed as a monthly subscription		No		Couples therapy, individual relationship counseling		Video, phone, messaging	Full Review
Best for Guidance Through Divorce Growing Self	Best for Guidance Through Divorce Growing Self	View on growingself		See Retailer		$85-$170 per session		No		Individual therapy, couples therapy, divorce counseling, coaching		Video	Full Review
Best for Counseling Kids Through Divorce Thriveworks	Best for Counseling Kids Through Divorce Thriveworks	View on thriveworks		See Retailer		$200-$240 for intake sessions, $160-$195 for follow-up sessions		Yes		Individual therapy, couples therapy, teen therapy, child therapy, family therapy, psychiatry/medication management		Video, phone, in-person	Full Review
Best for LGBTQIA and BIPOC Inclusive Therapists	Best for LGBTQIA and BIPOC Inclusive Therapists	View on inclusivetherapists		See Retailer		Varies by provider		Varies by provider		Individual therapy, couples therapy, child therapy, teen therapy, family therapy, coaching, medication management		Varies by provider	Full Review
Best for Anxiety and Depression Brightside	Best for Anxiety and Depression Brightside	View on brightside		See Retailer		$95-$349 per month, billed as a monthly subscription		Yes		Individual therapy, teen therapy, psychiatry/medication management		Video, unlimited messaging	Full Review
Best for Psychiatry Talkiatry	Best for Psychiatry Talkiatry	View on talkiatry		See Retailer		Varies depending on copay		Yes		Psychiatry/medication management, individual therapy, teen therapy, child therapy		Video	Full Review
Best for Group Support Circles	Best for Group Support Circles	View on circlesup		See Retailer		$29 per month for monthly subscription, $21.50 per month for six-month subscription, $14.90 per month for annual subscription		No		Group support		Audio	Full Review

After having my son six months ago, I had to adapt to the fact that my normal ways of destressing weren’t as readily accessible. Here’s where my game-changing micro habit comes in: I get sunlight every morning as soon as my son wakes up, and I’m never looking back.

How I Added This Micro Habit to My Life

This routine isn’t necessarily groundbreaking:

• My son wakes up and needs me immediately.
• I wake up and am usually groggy from a night of interrupted sleep.
• I go to his room, take him out of his sleep sack, pick him up, and walk over to our nearest window.
• I gaze outside and let my eyes adjust to the morning light. He does the same.
• I get us both in some comfy clothes that are reasonable for a quick walk.
• I put him in his baby carrier and take a stroll around the block.

It isn’t long by any means—after all, my time is crunched. I need to get myself ready, feed and dress him, and then head to work. But within about 10 minutes, we have bonded all while getting fresh air and a bit of sunshine.

On the days when life gets in the way? We just gaze out the window together, and that works just fine.

How Getting Sunlight First Thing in the Morning Has Changed My Life

I first began this habit when my son was 4 months old. I was back at work from maternity leave, fighting bleary eyes for hours after waking up. Plus, I was missing our time spent together in the mornings.

In the two months since I’ve followed this habit religiously:

• I have noticed that I feel instantly awake and refreshed.
• I also notice a general sense of positivity and well-being, whereas before I implemented this habit, I could let that groggy feeling turn into grumpiness that lasted all morning.
• My overall sleep hygiene has also slightly improved. I didn’t struggle to fall asleep to begin with. I want to attribute this to the fact that having a baby is so exhausting; I’m eager to sleep any chance I can get. Now, when I do get sleep, it feels a bit more restful.

Research suggests this sunny morning routine has something to do with it. A 2023 article published in the Journal of Sleep Research found that exposure to bright light first thing in the morning resulted in better sleep at night and boosted alertness throughout the day.

What the Experts Say About Morning Light

There’s plenty of science to support all of these great insights. I chatted with licensed health psychologist Neesha Patel, PhD, to learn more about why this small act has had big results in my life. She explained that bright light first thing in the morning can boost mental clarity.

“Bright light first thing has been linked to sharper cognitive function throughout the day,” she says. She also notes that it can boost energy, sharing that “morning light supports healthy cortisol levels, enhancing focus and alertness.”

Licensed psychotherapist and founder of HumanMend, Lindsie Meek, also notes how the ritual alone can create calm and connection. “This practice can be very grounding,” she begins. “It can also help those suffering from depression to receive an uptick in serotonin, which helps lift mood,” she continues. 

Licensed marriage and family therapist and vice president of clinical services at Your Behavioral Health, Lindsey Rae Ackerman, explains the exact science of how this whole light exposure thing works.

She explains that morning light is absorbed through specialized light-sensitive cells in the eyes that bypass normal vision processing. “Instead, they send signals directly to what’s essentially the brain’s master clock to reset our entire sleep-wake system,” she continues.

How You Can Make This Routine Yours

Choose a non-negotiable morning routine and add some sunlight gazing to it:

• My husband follows this routine by looking out a bright, sunny window while brushing his teeth every morning.
• If you need coffee before you can even speak to anyone, don’t allow yourself to pour a cup until you gaze at the sunlight.
• Take over the morning dog-walking duties.
• Enjoy all the benefits heading your way. 

Consider looking into light therapy lamps. A light therapy lamp mimics natural sunlight, therefore offering similar benefits. While it is most often used in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder, you can expect to have a similar experience as you would from exposing yourself to natural sunlight.

You might also have a complex set of circumstances in the morning, or struggle with holding down a morning routine. Try habit stacking, which involves adding a new, healthy habit to one you already do daily. It is proven to result in daily actions with major payoffs.