If you are symptom free and that's all you wanted out of therapy, you're all done. In the wellness model, going to therapy is like going to the gym. You go to make a good life better, to reach your potential, and to prevent problems in the future. There's no mandatory end date for that.
Your relationship with a therapist can be one of the most meaningful, insightful, and productive collaborations you'll have in your life. But it should ultimately come to an end — and that's by design. “Therapy isn't supposed to be forever,” says licensed therapist Keir Gaines. “There is an endpoint.”
Therapy can last anywhere from one session to several months or even years. It all depends on what you want and need. Some people come to therapy with a very specific problem they need to solve and might find that one or two sessions is sufficient.
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.
But even long-term therapy usually comes to an end, whether that takes a year, or two, or more. If you and your therapist have a good relationship, deciding to end it is not a one-way street -- on either end.
Bad therapy can even be destructive, either re-traumatizing you or causing new psychological harm. The bad news is that something as well-intentioned as going to therapy can backfire. The good news is that you can learn how to recognize when something isn't right.
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.
The end of a therapeutic relationship often offers an opportunity for the therapist and client to engage in the termination process, which can include looking back on the course of treatment, helping the client plan ahead and saying goodbye.
Avoid abrupt termination.
Along with causing patients to feel abandoned, ending treatment too abruptly—whether you decide your patient has met their goals or they decide they are ready to be done themselves—misses a crucial opportunity to cement therapeutic gains.
A weekly session is a great place to start when beginning therapy. Generally, most patients will start with this frequency, then increase or decrease as needed. A weekly session is ideal for people who want to build skills related to things like mindfulness, coping, and communication.
If you're feeling depressed, you may experience a low mood for several weeks and feel like there's no hope of feeling better. On average, it may take about six to eight therapy sessions to notice your progress.
As you progress in therapy, you find that you're less anxious, sad or angry; more confident; and better able to cope with setbacks. Most importantly, you begin to accept yourself. “When we're self-accepting, we're in better spirits, more flexible and more resilient,” he says.
About 75 percent of people who enter psychotherapy show some benefit from it. Psychotherapy has been shown to improve emotional and psychological well-being and is linked with positive changes in the brain and body.
Therapy can have a positive impact and help you refocus your energy, accept a painful or uncomfortable experience, and move on in a healthy, positive way, where you can become joyful again.
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.) The remainder report no clear benefit at all.
The research also found that personality change appeared to occur remarkably quickly. Roughly four or more weeks of therapy was enough to induce meaningful change. In fact, beyond eight weeks, more therapy was not associated with greater personality change.
Many people start to feel better and believe that it's okay to leave therapy. Sometimes clients have unrealistic expectations about how treatment works and discontinue therapy when the reality doesn't match up. The cost of treatment can be a barrier to keeping clients in therapy.
Depending on which study you read, between 20 and 57% of therapy clients do not return after their initial session.
The short answer is that you can tell your therapist anything – and they hope that you do. It's a good idea to share as much as possible, because that's the only way they can help you.
Talk therapy treatment for PTSD usually lasts 6 to 12 weeks, but it can last longer. Research shows that support from family and friends can be an important part of recovery. Many types of psychotherapy can help people with PTSD.
According to the government's mental health recommendations (NICE), 6 to 24 sessions are recommended for effective treatment. There are some common factors that influence the number of sessions you are likely to need to achieve a successful outcome, using CBT for anxiety.
They'll ask about the way you feel, including whether you have any symptoms of depression such as: Sadness or depressed mood most of the day or almost every day. Loss of enjoyment in things that were once pleasurable. Major change in weight (gain or loss of more than 5% of weight within a month) or appetite.
"Generally, it is good etiquette not to ask your therapist any personal questions about them, but to just let the therapists decide when it is appropriate to share," she says. But, if you do blurt out a probing question, your therapist will likely just switch gears in the conversation.
So go ahead and ask the question, if you want to. However, it's also important—and okay—not to ask, if you'd rather not or if you're genuinely not interested or don't want to bring a personal component into the work. You have every right to protect your own boundaries, not just during this pandemic, but at all times.