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How Counselors Can Improve Couples Therapy Outcomes Between Sessions

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Couples therapy is a developing field that has shown a lot of success in the long-term retention of relationships by clients. Developments in the area of personalized homework generate ways to increase counseling clients’ benefits from therapy. Clients who engage in their homework can reach their therapy goals faster and be more conscious of their mental health along the way. 

The benefits of homework for couple’s counseling clients

Studies show that homework benefits couples counseling clients in more ways than one. Clients who receive homework in comparison to those who don’t, show a higher likelihood of success in their therapy goals, increased benefits from counseling, and long-term positive effects on their relationship. 

Higher goal-success rate

Studies show that therapy clients who receive homework show a higher success rate with their counseling goals. This is because homework encourages client independence by urging them to implement the methods taught in their counseling sessions. Additional work done at home translates to faster and more thorough results.

Increased benefits

Couples counseling clients see increased therapy benefits when homework is implemented. A study done by Nikolaos Kazantis and his colleagues showed that clients who were more compliant in completing their task observed better treatment outcomes. 

Long-term effects

Multiple experiments show the long-term benefits of homework in couples counseling. One study found that the effects of homework can still be seen in clients up to 12 months after ending therapy. Additionally, a study done by Tang and Kreindler showed that 20-50% of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) failure is due to non-compliance or lack of homework. 

3 Couple’s Therapy Homework Exercises to Try

There are numerous ways to engage your clients in homework. With so many options, it can be daunting to choose appropriate exercises for each unique client. The good news is that with so many methods, there is always something new to try particularly if certain exercises aren’t as impactful as others. 

1. Feelings expression

It’s often difficult for couples therapy clients to express how they feel about each other. Feelings expression exercises can help your clients overcome the emotional roadblock in their relationship. The exercise is most frequently done in the format of “I feel ___ when ___.” 

2. Daily check-in exercise

It can be challenging to remember to check in on your partner with so much going on in everyone’s lives nowadays. The daily check-in exercise is just a simple reminder for your clients to connect one or more times per day. Regular check-ins can have massive benefits as they open the floor for conversation and growth. 

3. Positive language exercises

Using positive language when communicating, results in better delivery and reception of what was said. A simple exercise for clients to try is to encourage them to think about what they would like to say before saying it. The goal is to phrase the statement positively, resulting in conflict aversion and fewer communication problems.

Boost Treatment Outcomes

There are many ways to engage your clients to ensure that they get the most out of their counseling sessions. Homework is a proven way to help clients meet goals, see increased benefits, and experience long-term positive effects from counseling. Adding exercises to do at home helps the client to implement the methods from counseling into their everyday life and retain the skills that they learn to benefit them in the long and short term. 

A digital homework app like Therachat is an innovative way to seamlessly deliver homework to your couple’s counseling clients. You can check in with the couple between sessions and easily track the relationship’s progress over time. Elevate your practice with just one app. Learn more about Therachat for clinicians.

3 Effective Homework Exercises for Counseling Clients

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Homework isn’t just for students — completing homework between sessions allows counseling clients to increase retention of new skills, stay on track with their mental health journey, and reach their goals faster. Homework is no longer a ‘nice to have’ — it’s essential for client progress. Learn more about homework exercises for counseling clients.

The Effects of Homework on Counseling Outcomes

Studies have shown that homework compliance is linked to better treatment outcomes. The good news is that there’s a variety of assignments that clients and counselors can choose from together. So if one method isn’t sticking, there are plenty of other exercises to experiment with. 

1. Journaling

Journaling is one of the most common homework exercises to accompany counseling. Journaling has multiple positive effects on clients including less anxiety, reduced stress, and a more positive and pleasant outlook on life. It’s also highly accessible and inexpensive. 

Clients often discount journaling because they don’t know what to write about — that’s where prompts come in. There are plenty of journaling prompts to generate ideas and get the wheels turning. As clients gain more experience with journaling, many begin reaching for their journal on their own for a positive tool to organize their thoughts or process emotions. They may even surprise themselves with just how much or how often they write. 

2. Breathing exercises

Breathing exercises are an effective way to reduce anxiety, stress, and calm the body. Clients can begin by incorporating breathing exercises into their daily routines. Encourage clients to schedule breathing for a few minutes each day. The goal is to get them used to this exercise and to encourage them to get in the habit of using it in moments of stress and anxiety. 

There are multiple breathing exercises clients can choose from. They may find that some are more effective than others. Encourage clients to try a few to discover what works best for them. 

3. Mindfulness exercises

Another one of the most accessible homework exercises for counseling clients. Mindfulness-based interventions help clients become more aware of their thoughts and emotions, allowing them to halt negative thought patterns as they arise — shifting from negative, circular thinking, to more positive and rational thoughts. Over time, this is shown to be effective in reducing anxiety, stress, and depression. 

Meditation is the most common and accessible form of mindfulness. It’s able to provide relief from both internalized struggles, and external stressors like hectic environments.

What the Research Shows: 

  • A study found that people who maintained a long-term meditation practice lowered the negative impacts of aging on the brain. Additionally, those who had an average of 20 years of meditation practice under their belts had more grey matter in their brain overall. The results showed that meditation has a widespread positive effect on the brain as a whole.
  • A study from Johns Hopkins University found that meditation had the same effect as antidepressants on reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and pain. It’s an effective alternative for clients who either don’t want to take medication or who haven’t responded well to medication in the past. 
  • Another study found that mindfulness was correlated with a reduction in symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). 93 participants showed a significant reduction in anxiety and an increase in positive self-statements.

Make Homework as Simple as Possible

We know homework is effective at improving patient outcomes, but it’s also a new habit that clients will need support adopting. It’s all too easy for clients to forget about homework between sessions, so make it as simple as possible. Boost compliance and reduce barriers by making the homework experience as natural as possible for clients. A digital homework app like Therachat goes right on your clients’ own devices — so they can access and complete their homework wherever they’re comfortable. 

For counselors, this means you have the ability to: 

  • Create and customize digital activities that can be assigned to multiple clients. Save time and help a wider scope of your practice 
  • Follow up with clients through an easy-to-use instant messenger that’s safe, private, and more convenient than texting with your personal number 
  • Track and look back on client progress
  • Added security benefits such as HIPAA compliance 
  • No need to file and manage paper documents

Ready to modernize your practice? Learn more about Therachat for clinicians.

How to Easily Send Counseling Homework to Clients

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Homework is one of the most influential factors in counseling success. Assigning short exercises is a powerful strategy to help clients gain insight into their experiences. It also helps them work through processing their emotions outside of sessions. A small amount of homework can have a huge impact on your counseling practice. We’ve outlined how to send counseling homework to clients and keep them on track, even outside of office hours.

The Importance of Homework

Research has shown that counseling clients who complete homework assignments are more engaged and empowered in their therapy process, experiencing better treatment outcomes. In most cases, clients use homework to apply what they have learned in therapy, reflect on their progress, and practice new skills in the context of their day-to-day. However, counselors can always tailor homework to fit each individual client and their unique counselling goals. 

The Switch to Digital

As the world moves further away from in-person services and towards an online-first practice, online homework is both a necessity and a convenience. A study found that when Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) homework was assigned digitally, clients working through substance abuse saw significantly increased positive outcomes. Digital homework apps offer a whole host of benefits that traditional pen and paper just can’t.

  • The convenience and accessibility to keep counseling goals top of mind
  • There’s no need to come into the office to pick up homework. If a client is ready to move on, they can simply choose activities from their personal device
  • Clients can complete homework in a comfortable environment on their own time

The Benefits of Digital Homework for Counselors 

It’s not just clients who love the convenience of a digital homework app — counselors also use it to modernize their practice and elevate the client experience.

  • Create and customize digital activities that can be assigned to multiple clients. Save time and help a wider scope of your practice 
  • Follow up with clients through an easy-to-use instant messenger that’s safe, private, and more convenient than texting with your personal number 
  • Track and look back on client progress
  • Added security benefits such as HIPAA compliance
  • No need to file and manage paper documents

A digital homework app like Therachat is one of the simplest ways to save time and help clients reach their goals even faster. It also fosters better communication and therefore a stronger client-counselor relationship — one of the clearest predictors of counseling success. Clients who feel comfortable and connected to their therapists are more likely to disclose important information. This is important for insights into their mental health progress. 

Counseling Homework Made Simple

With the convenience of counseling technology right on our devices, there’s never been a better time for you to integrate digital tools into your practice. Homework is an integral part of therapy, helping clients implement newly learned skills into their everyday life. It’s an easy way to stay connected to clients, keeping them engaged and on track between sessions. It also opens a critical relationship-boosting channel for communication between you and your clients. 

Homework empowers counselors with a deep understanding of a client’s progress throughout treatment, allowing them to adjust their approach if necessary. Like everything else, results come with consistent and steady progress. The sooner you start to send counseling homework to clients, the sooner you and your clients can enjoy the benefits that come with a regular homework routine. Therachat makes it easy to deliver homework to your clients, track their progress, and communicate securely and professionally. See the benefits of Therachat for clinicians.

4 Homework Exercises to Assign Clients Between Counseling Sessions

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Assigning homework exercises for counseling clients is one of the best ways to keep them on track and consistently working toward their goals. Studies have found that there is a positive correlation between homework compliance and therapy outcomes. Overall, greater homework compliance is associated with improved treatment outcomes. There are many forms of positive homework exercises to assign — every client is different and may enjoy certain exercises over others. Work through them together to find what.

Journaling or Other Forms of Writing

Journaling is known to lead to increased positivity, reduced stress and anxiety, and a generally pleasant outlook on life. With the help of a counselor, clients can take advantage of these benefits and create positive new daily habits. Start slow and small to slowly build up the habit. 

Assign readings

Knowledge is indeed power! Assigning readings between sessions can equip clients with the tools to better understand themselves, and their symptoms, or learn new coping skills to practice. This also opens space for counselor-client conversations. Review readings together to create common ground to build a strong foundation of trust and understanding. 

Encourage novel experiences 

Guide clients to build confidence and self-trust by encouraging them to go out into the world and seek new experiences. The novelty keeps things interesting, while also showing clients first-hand that they’re capable of putting themselves out there. Another perk: new experiences slow down time and create a healthy break in client schedules — leading to hope and excitement for the future. 

This could look like: 

  • Trying a new hobby 
  • Joining a club
  • Volunteering 
  • Getting involved in community programs 
  • Attending social events 

Instilling New Habits 

Try assigning clients small steps between sessions to build a new healthy habit. Breaking the goal into smaller pieces makes the habit attainable while creating points of contact to check in together. Over time, clients gain the confidence to work towards bigger, more daunting habits. 

Boost Homework Compliance Between Sessions

The most important component of homework is consistency and compliance. Keeping clients on track between sessions ensures continued goal motivation and success. A digital homework app like Therachat allows counselors and clients to work together, build trust, and maintain consistency. Clients are empowered to check in however it feels best for them with features like daily homework reminders, skill-building activities, emotion tracking, and mindfulness exercises.

How Counselors Can Support Caregiver Mental Health

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Caregivers are an integral, often unseen, part of our healthcare system. In 2018, 25% of the population were caregivers — 7.8 million Canadians. Caregivers are most commonly adults aged 45 to 64, many of which are caring for children and parents simultaneously. While more than half of caregivers express their caregiving experience as rewarding, it can take a toll on mental health. Caregivers may find themselves putting aside their own needs to ensure their care receiver is taken care of. This can lead to burnout, exhaustion, and a decline in health. 

Caregivers can benefit from support from the support and guidance of a mental health professional. Many struggle to find the time or resources to regularly attend sessions. There are tools and strategies that allow counselors to better support caregivers from afar, and between sessions. 

Assign Homework for Better Clinical Outcomes

Patients often leave counseling feeling lighter, clearer, and generally in a better mindset. However, returning to their usual environment makes it difficult to carry those positive feelings forward in day-to-day life. Assigning homework between sessions gives caregivers something to work towards outside sessions where a counselor isn’t present. Homework keeps growth and self-care top of mind, allowing caregivers to tend to their own needs. 

Studies show that homework leads to better patient outcomes. A meta-analysis from 2010 looked at 14 studies to compare therapy outcomes of patients who completed homework and those who didn’t do homework at all. They found that those who completed homework in combination with therapy reported better aftereffects than about 70% of those who didn’t engage with homework at all. 

Use a Digital Homework App to Keep Caregivers on Track

A digital homework app like Therachat is an innovative tool that counselors can implement to keep patients on track between sessions. 

Research has found that therapists who don’t consistently follow up on homework assignments are less likely to generate patient regard for the activity. It’s all too easy for patients to forget about homework or put it off after leaving a session. Particularly when working through difficult thoughts and feelings. That’s why following up with a homework app between sessions is one of the best ways to support caregivers when they don’t have the time or resources to make it into an appointment. With emotion tracking, skill-building, assessments and thought reframing activities all in the app, it’s an easily accessible tool that gives caregivers the power to take care of themselves between sessions. 

Prioritizing Caregiver Mental Health

Caregivers are an essential part of our healthcare system — but we want to ensure they’re getting the support they need as well. By implementing homework and following up with an app between sessions, counsellors are empowering caregivers to prioritize their mental health. Because you can’t pour from an empty cup.

3 surprising benefits of a digital homework app

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More and more counsellors are incorporating technology like a digital homework app into their practice. This is especially important as the shift to online counselling became a necessity in the year 2020. As the industry embraces virtual counselling, digital tools are essential to ensure patients are staying on-track between sessions. 

That’s why a digital homework app is a game-changer. It comes with many surprising benefits for both counsellors and their patients.

Better relationships with patients lead to better outcomes

Research has shown that better relationships between patients and their counsellors leads to better counselling outcomes. A meta-analysis found that many factors like agreeing on therapy goals, applying patient feedback, and repairing ruptures are as vital to a positive outcome as the treatment method used. In short, more communication and trust leads to better counselling outcomes. It also makes counsellors more in-tune with their patient’s needs, leading to higher responsiveness. A digital homework app is a touchpoint that can significantly strengthen the counsellor-patient relationship by increasing connection. 

Stay connected to patience outside of counselling sessions 

For many, counselling progress can feel stagnant outside of sessions. It’s a feeling that’s familiar for many patients: they leave a counselling session, they feel a weight off their shoulders — but a return to the same environment can lead to relapses in negative thoughts and feelings. Adding a channel of connection between sessions via a digital homework app helps patients stay in the same mindset they found during their session. 

It’s also a great way to stay connected while maintaining professional boundaries. Many counsellors don’t feel comfortable giving out their number and opening a constant channel of personal communication with patients. Digital homework apps allow a solution: the relationship stays open, but professional. 

An easy way to follow-up

Research suggests that therapists who don’t consistently follow-up on homework assignments are less likely to generate patient regard for the activity. That’s because counselling can feel ‘out of sight, out of mind’ for many patients as soon as they leave sessions. It’s all too easy to forget about homework or put it off — especially when working through difficult thoughts and feelings. Adding a digital homework app to a patient’s toolbox helps them stay on-track, take ownership of their progress, and keep their goals top-of-mind. So you can work towards growth together. 

Embrace technology with a homework app

Technology is here to stay in the world of counselling. A digital homework app like Therachat is an innovative tool counsellors can use to support their clients from a distance. It offers features like daily homework reminders, skill-building activities, emotion tracking, and mindfulness exercises. It’s a way to stay connected to your clients and support them as they meet their goals.


Ready to level-up your counselling? Learn more.