[AnnaBegins]

I was talking to a friend earlier tonight and he said the average length of a successful course of therapy is three to five years. Me being me, my gut reaction to this was that there is no way I can hang on three to five years. Sometimes I doubt my ability to hang on and tough it out for three to five days.

I was wondering what everyone here thought about this. Have any of you felt that you had success with therapy sooner? Or has it been your experience that it might take even longer? The longest I've ever been in therapy was a year and it terminated because I graduated from college, not because we mutually decided it was time.

[jadedbutterfly]

hmmm... I have been in therapy since I was a teen... and I am now 43yrs... so I guess it depends on your diagnosis and your issues....

[TheRealFDeal]

Way longer than 5 years.

[Altinak]

First attempt, I was 14 and with a psychologist, I think I lasted... A month? 6 weeks? Before lying my way out of it for my internet back, things got worse after a month again ^

Second attempt, I was 18, it lasted again about a 4-6 weeks. It was with a counsellor at a charity, and she spooked me so I just never returned.

Third attempt, I was 20, and I've been in threapy for 9 months! YAAY. LOL. Still reckon I have long way to go.. I guess it depends on the therapist, and how much work is needed.

I've been in therapy (on and off) since I was 16 and I'm now 35.

[Flooded]

7 yrs and counting

[StrawberryAnnie]

Once a week from 16-20. Twice a week since age 20 and still currently (I'm 27 now). That is just individual therapy. It doesn't include groups, hospitalizations, treatment centers, day programs, and psychiatry appointments (those were once a week for a good 2.5 years). As terrible as it sounds, I cannot imagine not having therapy. My therapist is the only person I trust and can really talk to.
But yeah, diagnosed 11 years ago and still in treatment.

I've been in therapy for five years. I am just now getting some big breakthroughs. I've had other successes earlier than this too, but I am now feeling I have gotten to the root of some big things. The truth is it doesn't have to take three to five years. The key to it working is being honest to your doctor's and therapists (and other workers) and having the right doctors and therapists.

[AnnaBegins]

Originally Posted by AgentBaphomet

The key to it working is being honest to your doctor's and therapists (and other workers) and having the right doctors and therapists.

Having the right doctors and therapists - that's definitely been a challenge for me. My first therapist kept trying to get me to "admit" there was physical abuse in my household and when I finally convinced her there wasn't, she dropped me as a patient - after she told my parents that everything I was going through was all their fault. I spent more time back then trying to help my parents deal with my issues than I spent actually trying to deal with my issues and to this day I believe they still blame me for what she said to them.

Slight change in question - how long do you think it takes before you know whether or not you have the right doctor and/or therapist? I've been seeing mine for six months now and I'm not sure it's doing me any good. Things seem to have gotten worse rather than better but I don't know if that's because I'm forcing myself to talk about stuff I'd rather keep buried or because we're not the right fit.