How Long Does Therapy Last? - GoodTherapy.org Therapy Blog (2024)

FAQs

How long does therapy last on average? ›

The number of recommended sessions varies by condition and treatment type, however, the majority of psychotherapy clients report feeling better after 3 months; those with depression and anxiety experience significant improvement after short and longer time frames, 1-2 months & 3-4.

Therapy has been found to be most productive when incorporated into a client's lifestyle for approximately 12-16 sessions, most typically delivered in once weekly sessions for 45 minutes each. For most folks that turns out to be about 3-4 months of once weekly sessions.

There is no “right” length of time to be in therapy. But for most people, there will come a time when therapy no longer feels necessary or progress has stalled. In most cases, the client will choose to end therapy; there are also situations in which a therapist decides to end sessions and refer a client elsewhere.

Family therapy is often short term — generally about 12 sessions. However, how often you meet and the number of sessions you'll need will depend on your family's particular situation and the therapist's recommendation.

Ruth Wyatt, MA, LCSW: With therapy, there usually is no set length of treatment. Therapy can last anywhere from one session to several months or even years. It all depends on what you want and need.

If you are looking for more of a quick solution for a specific problem, short-term therapies can be beneficial, whereas if you would rather have space and time to explore multiple problems or an issue and its potential roots in-depth, long-term therapy may be the right choice for you.

But in general, Dr. Bradford says that people usually are in therapy once a week or every other week, especially if you're just starting treatment.

Long-term psychotherapy is typically referred to as psychotherapy that exceeds the normal parameters of time allotted for the treatment of most psychological disorders.

Retention of records

The guidelines state: "In the absence of a superseding requirement, psychologists may consider retaining full records until seven years after the last date of service delivery for adults or until three years after a minor reaches the age of majority, whichever is later."

What happens after therapy is over? ›

"When therapy is complete, you realize you're an adult," says Tuzman. "You begin to trust yourself." But just as you feel pride that you're ready to meet life's challenges on your own, you may also grieve the loss of the bond you've created with your therapist, says Napoli. "It's a unique relationship," he says.

“You thank me by having done the work, by acknowledging me as you have tonight, and then by living your life in a powerful way,” she said. “That's the thanks.”

Over 98 percent of clients of marriage and family therapists report therapy services as good or excellent.

How long do groups last? Most groups last 8-10 weeks. Others will continue from one term to the next, perhaps taking a break over summer and winter vacations.

The middle stage of therapy is when the real work happens. There will usually be open discussion about the issues, learning new skills, homework to practice the new skills, and reporting on what is and isn't working to determine what needs to be tweaked. This stage should continue until you find solutions that work.

In fact, according to one psychotherapist, some patients actually suffer from too much therapy. Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist and author of "Be Fearless: Change Your Life in 28 Days," contends that in many cases, the more therapy sessions someone attends, the less likely they are to be effective.

So can you have too much therapy? Arguably yes, if you aren't actively working towards an end goal or if you are looking to endless different therapised avenues for help. At some point you need to learn to trust your intuition and make decisions on your own terms.

If your therapist is the first person you want to talk to about it and you hesitate to take action before talking to her, you may have become too dependent. If you feel like you cannot live your life without your therapist's involvement, you may have an unhealthy attachment.

According to Laura Osinoff, executive director of the National Institute for the Psychotherapies in Manhattan, “On average, you can expect to spend one to three years [in therapy] if you are having, for example, relationship problems.

Do therapists improve over time? ›

Taken together, these studies suggest that therapists can improve over time. And, as with our clients, this improvement requires commitment and effort.

Ideally, therapy ends when all therapy goals have been met. If you entered therapy to treat a fear of dogs and you no longer fear dogs, your work is complete. Or you want to communicate better with your partner and you've learned to navigate your disagreements constructively, the goals are met.

The authors note some reasons why patients drop out: They are unwilling to open up about themselves; they cannot agree with the therapist about what the problem is; they just don't get along with or feel confidence in the therapist; they believe they are not improving quickly enough; they have unrealistic expectations.

First off, evidence-based research studies generally show an association between weekly psychotherapy sessions and positive outcomes for clients. This appears to be especially important in the first stage of therapy, when you're building rapport with your therapist and beginning to get to the core of things.

You also know therapy is working if you're using the skills you learned in session, outside of session. For example, are you better able to set boundaries with others, prioritize your own needs and demands, and effectively deal with situations without spiraling into a panic attack? These are great signs of progress.

The lesson here? An occasional message of support outside of the therapy routine can strengthen the therapeutic bond. If nothing else, it shows the client in a very clear way that they don't leave your thoughts when they—or you—leave your office.

Because short-term therapy tends to be structured and focused on the patient making progress on a specific goal or goals, some people find it more helpful than long-term therapy. Short-term therapy may be beneficial for people who: Are experiencing relatively recent symptoms of depression or anxiety.

Other things to avoid during a therapy session include: asking about other confidential conversations with other clients; showcasing violent emotions; or implying any romantic or sexual interest in your therapist. The number one job of a therapist is to keep you safe and protect their clients' privacy.

A MHTP does not expire. A referral is valid until the referred number of sessions have been completed, regardless of whether a patient chooses to change their allied mental health provider.

While not common, a friendship can develop when you've finished therapy. There are no official rules or ethical guidelines from either the American Psychological Associated or American Psychiatric Association regarding friendships with former clients.

Do therapists ever date former clients? ›

The APA Code, Standard 10.08(a), states: "Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with former clients/patients for at least two years after cessation or termination of therapy.” This is the first part of the 2-year rule.

Depending on which study you read, between 20 and 57% of therapy clients do not return after their initial session. Another 37 to 45% only attend therapy a total of two times. Although many factors contribute to premature client termination, the number one cited reason by clients is dissatisfaction with the therapist.

Even when proper therapeutic boundaries are held, it is not unusual for a counselor to grieve a client's death. Counselors often form emotional bonds with their clients because therapeutic relationships are relationships.

According to Dr. Gold, the first thing to do is grieve. “You should find a way that feels right to you to memorialize and process the relationship. It might mean you talk about it with someone else who knows you went to therapy and knows what the relationship meant to you and feels safe to process the loss with.

One of the questions that couples often ask when they first start therapy is, “Can we actually fall in love again?” The answer is a resounding “Yes, absolutely!” But it doesn't happen easily or accidentally.

Reach out empathically when clients no-show or cancel.

The purpose is to let clients know you available to them, not to chastise them. You are leaving the door open for returning back to treatment. A phone call is more personal, but if you hear nothing back, follow up with an email a week or so later.

While most therapists do appreciate small gifts from clients on occasion, they are also never expected. If you do want to get your therapist a gift, for therapeutic and ethical reasons, small, meaningful items are usually best, and almost never money or a gift card.

Normalize and validate the response. Compassionately state that crying is a normal reaction. Let the client know explicitly that it's okay to cry; there's no need to hold back the tears. If offering a tissue box, it's often useful to say, “Please don't try to hold those tears back.

About 75 percent of people who enter psychotherapy show some benefit from it. Psychotherapy has been shown to improve emotions and behaviors and to be linked with positive changes in the brain and body.

Stopping therapy may be an option if you feel you have achieved all the goals you set and you've developed the skills to move on. You've learned how to manage your symptoms or have found a way to move through a challenge.

Can you have too much therapy? ›

In fact, according to one psychotherapist, some patients actually suffer from too much therapy. Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist and author of "Be Fearless: Change Your Life in 28 Days," contends that in many cases, the more therapy sessions someone attends, the less likely they are to be effective.

So how long does it typically take for treatment to work? Recent research indicates that on average 15 to 20 sessions are required for 50 percent of patients to recover as indicated by self-reported symptom measures.

Anywhere from 50 to 75 percent of people who go to therapy report some benefit—but at least 5 percent of clients get worse as a result of treatment. (For people from marginalized groups, harmful outcomes may be even more common.)

In psychotherapy we are also aware of the important fact that the amount of unwanted effects is very similar to fields such as pharmacotherapy, and the number of patients reporting unwanted effects of psychotherapy is between 3 and 15% of cases (Berk and Parker, 2009).

Ghosting Your Therapist: Why Do Individuals Prematurely Dropout of Therapy. Studies show that 20-57% of individuals do not return to therapy after their initial appointment. There are various reasons for this, and for premature dropout rate in general.