Of course it depends...I was specifically focused on trauma work though a range of other issues were also involved. While it was going on I had no idea that it was the "right thing" and it felt as though it was never going to end. It also was completely absorbing and exhausting.

Some signs though did occur that told me to stick with it. I noticed right away that I was able to stay with difficult things and not do all I could to avoid and numb out. That I had more of a tendency to do simple but nice things for myself. Eventually I found myself developing a sense that I was befriending myself, acting as a best friend would act, keeping myself company, and my therapist was a sort of representation or place holder for that capacity.

I found that it was not necessary to go over every issue or bad experience. That just focusing on doing work on one thing at a time tended to have healing effects on things that I wasn't going over.

And then I just felt a broadened capacity to feel all sorts of things and accept that, good, bad, or neutral.

That was my trajectory. And then I felt a sense of transformation and much more ability to take on things. I expanded my world, started trying new things, adopted much healthier ways of living. Now I enjoy things that used to feel either beyond my reach or like chores. Am I always happy? No. There is a lot to be sad about, but I've attained more peace about it.