About 9 years ago, I was in therapy for only 9 sessions, getting help with depression. I think that therapy just made it possible for me to function, but we didn't really delve deep into any of my issues. But I always knew that I needed to go back - I searched and then saw one therapist for just one session about 3 years ago, she was horrible, so I decided not to pursue therapy. Cut to this year, I was making a lot of changes in my life for the better, and I knew it was time. And thank God I found my T and not other bad one!

Going in there, I was worried for the first 10 sessions at least that I should be 'cured' by the time my insured 20 sessions ran out. Well, wouldn't ya know - the real work was just beginning around Session 20! T was honest with me upfront - at our very first session, T told me that it often takes more than 20 sessions - I thought, I'll prove her wrong! Around Session 17, T told me that she sees some patients for years and years, and that she feels that it takes around a year to really build the relationship. T also said that I could leave at any time and then come back if I needed to. After pondering all that, it really helped me to hear T say all this - I was able to take pressure off myself, and I stopped having expectations on when therapy will end.

Do I expect to be in therapy forever? No. Do I know how much longer I'll be in therapy? No clue. That would've freaked me out earlier, but now I'm actually glad because I'm nowhere near ready to consider termination, and I feel like I'm just hitting the deep issues now. But when I do quit, I think that I would definitely consider doing maintenance therapy once every few months, at least for awhile. And I wouldn't rule out the possibility of returning to therapy later - who knows what might come up in life!