1. How long do you expect or want to stay in therapy.

I've seen my T for 4 years, mostly 4 times per week. For quite a while I thought that I probably need to see him until the end of my life (or his - because he is much older than me, I thought it during the time when I was very obsessed by him and therapy). Now I'm quite certain that I finish at some point - probably somewhere after 5-10 more years.

2. Do you think you've actually improved after spending so long with your therapist?

Yes, absolutely. I've uncovered my trauma an I have been able to make some sense of it. But there's still a lot to do.

3. At what point do you think maybe you should switch therapists or end therapy if you haven't made any improvements?

Somehow this question doesn't make much sense to me. According to my understanding improvements in therapy come through the relationship with the therapist. If the relationship grows and deepens then the improvement are bound to come (assuming that the T still knows what he's doing and is not just playing a payed friend). So, the only reason I would switch therapists would be when I don't think there is any hope I could connect to the T and I don't see that he is committed to establishing a relationship with me.

4. For those that continue on for years and years and don't see any improvement what is the point especially with the financial burden?

I've had quite long periods in therapy that have looked like an impasse and where I've have basically only negative feelings to my T. I can't say that it lasted for years, but I think it lasted about a year. Quite obviously I didn't see any improvements during that period, which at the same time doesn't mean that there weren't any improvements, but I just absolutely did not want to see them because that would have meant that my T was somewhat useful, which I would have hated to admit at that point.

So, again, this question doesn't make much sense to me. It all boils down to the relationship. If there is no relationship and I can't see the T working towards one then I guess it would take me very short time to decide that this therapy is pointless. However, it there is some relationship (even perhaps negative at the time being) but I can see the T trying to actively look for the meanings of that then some part of me knows that important work is still going on and there are good reasons to keep going.