I'm just curious as to how others generally do therapy. Do you work on the same topic/plot from one session to the next until you feel you're "done" with it, then move onto something else? Do you generally do that unless something pressing comes up in your life? Or is each session more self-contained, about a particular topic or topics that may not come up again? Or is it a mix of the two?

In my Monday session, a topic came up partway through that probably wasn't "finished." It could have easily been pursued more in today's session. But I had something else on my mind from some news I got Monday regarding my H needing (relatively minor) hip surgery, so I switched to that, and we focused on that and other topics that came out of that (including some recurring themes) for the rest of the session. I feel like that was what I needed to talk about today.

But then right at the end of session, I said how I knew there was more to discuss regarding my mom from last session, that maybe we could take that up next session, and he said OK.

I wonder if it would have been better if I'd just continued with that until I felt more "done" with it? Or if it made more sense to do what I did and discuss the topic most pressing on my mind at the moment (and that is also affecting my day-to-day life)? My T generally lets me lead sessions and choose the topic, which I like. Though I know other T's can be more directive (I imagine this would be the case with something like EMDR and maybe CBT or DBT, but not sure if it is in other types of therapy).

So just curious as to how others tend to handle it in their therapy? And if you think one way is better than the other, or if it depends on the circumstance?