Trust is the foundation of every healthy relationship. When it's broken—whether through infidelity, lies, broken promises, or betrayal—the pain can feel unbearable. The good news: trust can be rebuilt, and online counseling has made professional help more accessible than ever. This guide compares the best online counseling options for couples working through trust issues.
What's in This Guide
Understanding Trust Issues in Relationships
Trust issues can stem from many sources, and understanding the root cause is essential for healing:
Common Causes of Trust Problems
- Infidelity: Physical or emotional affairs
- Lying: Pattern of dishonesty, even about small things
- Broken promises: Repeatedly failing to follow through
- Financial betrayal: Hidden spending, debt, or financial decisions
- Emotional unavailability: Withdrawing during times of need
- Past trauma: Bringing trust wounds from previous relationships or childhood
- Privacy violations: Snooping, sharing private information
Signs of Trust Issues
- Constant suspicion or checking up on your partner
- Difficulty being vulnerable or open
- Assuming the worst about your partner's intentions
- Holding grudges and bringing up past hurts
- Anxiety when your partner is away or unresponsive
- Difficulty forgiving, even for small things
- Emotional walls and distance
Important: Trust issues affect both partners. The betrayed partner carries the wound, but the partner who broke trust often struggles with shame, guilt, and uncertainty about how to make amends. Both need support.
Why Online Counseling Works for Trust Issues
Online counseling offers unique advantages for couples working through trust problems:
- Privacy: No risk of running into someone in a waiting room—important when dealing with sensitive issues like infidelity
- Accessibility: Sessions from home, no commute, easier to fit into busy schedules
- Comfort: Being in your own space can help you open up more easily
- More options: Access to therapists specializing in infidelity and trust, regardless of location
- Lower cost: Online platforms typically cost 20-40% less than in-person therapy
- Flexible scheduling: Evening and weekend availability
Research has shown that online couples therapy is as effective as in-person therapy for most relationship issues, including trust and betrayal.
Best Online Counseling Platforms for Couples
1. Individual AI Support: Marina AI
While not couples therapy, individual support is often crucial when dealing with trust issues. Marina AI offers:
- 24/7 availability for processing intense emotions as they arise
- Complete privacy to work through your own feelings
- Evidence-based CBT techniques for managing anxiety and intrusive thoughts
- Preparation for difficult conversations with your partner
- Affordable: $33.33/month for unlimited sessions
Best for: The betrayed partner processing trauma, the unfaithful partner working through shame and guilt, or either partner needing support between couples sessions.
2. ReGain
A BetterHelp company focused specifically on couples. Features include:
- Licensed therapists specializing in relationships
- Messaging, phone, and video sessions
- Both partners can message the therapist individually or together
- Prices starting around $65-$90/week
Best for: Couples who want ongoing access to their therapist between sessions.
3. Talkspace Couples Therapy
Well-known platform with dedicated couples therapy options:
- Weekly live video sessions
- Unlimited messaging with your therapist
- Therapist matching based on your needs
- Some insurance accepted
Best for: Couples who want the flexibility of messaging plus scheduled video sessions.
4. Growing Self
Boutique online therapy practice with specialists in infidelity and trust:
- Highly vetted, experienced therapists
- Discernment counseling for uncertain couples
- Higher cost, but specialized expertise
Best for: Couples dealing with infidelity who want specialized expertise.
5. Affair Recovery Programs
For infidelity specifically, dedicated programs like AffairRecovery.com offer:
- Structured recovery programs
- Online courses and workshops
- Peer support groups
- Expert-led content
Best for: Couples specifically dealing with infidelity who want structured recovery programs.
The Process of Rebuilding Trust
Rebuilding trust is a process that takes time, consistency, and commitment from both partners. Here's what effective trust-building typically involves:
For the Partner Who Broke Trust
- Take full responsibility: No excuses, blame-shifting, or minimizing
- End the betraying behavior completely: This is non-negotiable
- Be transparent: Answer questions honestly, even when painful
- Allow your partner to process: They need time and space to grieve
- Be patient: Trust rebuilds slowly through consistent actions, not words
- Do your own work: Understand why the betrayal happened
For the Betrayed Partner
- Allow yourself to grieve: The relationship you thought you had has changed
- Ask the questions you need: But know that more details aren't always helpful
- Set boundaries: Be clear about what you need to feel safe
- Avoid revenge behaviors: They feel justified but damage healing
- Take care of yourself: The trauma of betrayal affects your mental and physical health
- Consider individual therapy: Processing betrayal trauma often requires individual support
For Both Partners
- Commit to the process—rebuilding takes 1-2 years minimum
- Create new patterns of communication
- Understand that healing is not linear—there will be setbacks
- Focus on building a new relationship, not restoring the old one
Individual Healing: An Essential Part of the Journey
Couples therapy is important, but individual support is often equally—sometimes more—important when trust has been broken:
Why Individual Therapy Matters
- The betrayed partner may experience symptoms similar to PTSD—intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, anxiety, depression
- The unfaithful partner needs to understand their own patterns, often rooted in deeper issues
- Couples therapy focuses on the relationship; individual therapy focuses on personal healing
Marina AI can provide crucial support between therapy sessions. Available 24/7, Marina helps you:
- Process overwhelming emotions when they arise (often at 2 AM, not during business hours)
- Prepare for difficult conversations with your partner
- Work through anxious thoughts and fears
- Develop coping strategies for triggers
- Build self-esteem that may have been damaged
Research insight: Studies show that having individual support alongside couples therapy significantly improves outcomes for couples dealing with infidelity and trust issues.
When Trust Can't Be Rebuilt
Sometimes, despite best efforts, trust cannot be fully restored. It may be time to consider ending the relationship if:
- The betraying behavior continues or is repeated
- There's no genuine remorse or accountability
- One or both partners aren't willing to do the work
- The betrayed partner cannot move forward despite time and effort
- There's abuse (physical, emotional, or psychological)
- The relationship causes more harm than good to your mental health
If you're unsure whether to stay or leave, discernment counseling can help you make a clear decision. See our guide on finding a couples therapist who specializes in this area.
Starting Your Healing Journey
Trust issues are painful, but they don't have to define your relationship's future. Many couples emerge from trust crises with stronger, more honest relationships than they had before.
The key is getting the right support:
- Couples therapy to work on the relationship together
- Individual support to process your own emotions and healing
- Time and patience to allow trust to rebuild gradually
If you're not ready for couples therapy, or need support in between sessions, Marina AI is here 24/7. You can process your emotions, work through difficult thoughts, and prepare for the conversations that will help you heal—all in a completely confidential space.
Healing from broken trust is possible. Take the first step today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to rebuild trust?
For significant betrayals like infidelity, experts suggest 1-2 years minimum. The timeline depends on the severity of the betrayal, the consistency of trust-building behaviors, and both partners' commitment to the process.
Can trust ever be fully restored?
For many couples, yes. However, the new trust is often different from the old. It's built on honesty and awareness rather than naive assumptions. Many couples report their rebuilt relationship is actually stronger than before.
Is online therapy effective for infidelity?
Research shows online therapy is as effective as in-person therapy for most relationship issues. The privacy and convenience can actually make it easier for couples to engage with difficult material around infidelity.