The length of therapy depends on many different factors. Trauma, the number of things to work through, the dedication of the client, the skill of the counselor, current life circumstances, social support, physical health, access to needed medications, and frequency of sessions are all factors that can lengthen or shorten therapy time.

 

Some clients wish to seek help for only a particular problem that is currently bothering them. Some wish to dig deep and get to the root cause of many ongoing issues, particularly relationship issues. Some wish to pop on or off in line with what is going on with their life. And some wish to keep regular appointments as part of their regular, everyday life. All of these choices are acceptable and normal.

 

So what can you expect for your therapy length? There are never any guarantees and to give a deadline would be a lie. However, it would be very rare circumstance that sessions would reach their goal in under six weeks. It can take that long just for a relationship to be established between a counselor and a client. It takes time for trust to be established.

 

The last caution I would have is this: don’t go to counseling expecting your counselor to tell you what to do. We do not live your life, and therefore will not have to deal with your consequences. The counselor’s role is to help you figure out what it is that you really wish to do. And that can take time!

Steffani Wooley, MA, LPC-I

Jon