I've been in therapy on and off for 17? years. I think it just helps to have a sounding board with someone that actually knows what they're talking about. I fired my last therapist. Going to start seeing my old therapist again cause she's been the best therapist I've had but she has bipolar too, so she knows my crazy. I've had 10? therapists. Not all are created equal. I think when you click with someone it helps. No shame in being in therapy that long. BP is a lifelong illness and **** comes up and it helps to have someone to talk to about it. I know the board is a good resource but therapists tend to know more, since you know that's what they went to school for. :P My therapist is actually a professor at a college and teaches future therapists, she just does therapy with some people on the side. Usually she just works with people for a while, but we've been working together over 2 years now.