I saw my T for 9 years, we terminated for 9 years and then I saw her again for another 9 years! Theoretically I knew her for 27 years :-)

Lots of people see a therapist off-and-on in their lives; my high school girlfriend who is a T sees her therapist that way; when she has a problem. So maybe you won't see your T for more than 3 years at a stretch but over time. . .

Too bad my T retired in 2005; now I'll have to find another T for 2014 :-)