[NoChildSupport]

I'm not sure how often I should go... I'd like to see one 2-3 times a week but I see a lot of people say they see their therapist once a week, once every two weeks or even once a month... That doesn't seem sufficient to me. I never really got a chance to receive therapy (somewhat of a long story) but the one I was getting set up with said I'd see him once a month. That freaked me out. I feel like I need more than that. I wake up sad, I go to sleep sad. I cry for no good reason. I cut myself sometimes and just recently carved some letters into my skin. I think too damn much. I'll think of ten different things at the same time and I can forget what I'm talking about in the middle of a sentence... I won't kill misled but I think about dying a lot. I can't even go out in public. I'm a mess. Im sick of it. I feel like I need some intensive therapy. I've gone without any help for several years. I'm driving myself crazy. Can I request how often I want to see someone or do they decide themselves? Would once a week or every other week really be enough for me??

[angelene]

If I was able to keep my appointments, I'd see my therapist about once a month. I know I need more than that and my new T seems to agree but I just couldn't do it last week. Felt bloody awful.

I see my t twice a week. If I could see him everyday I would!!

[ifst5]

Technically speaking i don't have one - most people from the UK don't. Individual psychotherapy has extremely long waiting lists so most make do with infrequent psychiatrist appointments and meetings with a CC. In fairness my CC is actually a registered therapist but we don't have therapeutic sessions if that makes sense. He just deals with the practical stuff like liaising treatment.

DBT is usually offered for BPD cases - that might be the intensive therapy you're looking for as they meet 2 to 3 times a week both in group sessions and individually. I'm not sure you can expect up to 3 individual sessions with a therapist each week - unless you're willing to pay for it. But most therapists worth their salt wouldn't advise it - I mean what would it achieve? Focus needs to be on the quality of care received rather than the amount...if you're seeing someone 3 times a week, what opportunity does that give you to actually go away and put your homework into practice etc?

I think you need a care team - a psychiatrist to advise on medicating and a key worker of sorts to oversee treatment. One thing is for sure, BPD requires intensive, longer term treatment so whatever you go in for, you've got to be able to commit to it and be aware that even the right kind of therapy still takes a hell of a lot of work both inside and out of sessions to become effective. Good luck.

[Crazy Hitch]

I've recently started with a new one a few weeks ago.

She's doing a different style of therapy with me.

I've been scheduled in to see her once a week. She's damn expensive though!

[HD7970GHZ]

Hey Childsupport,

You know yourself best.

All good therapists know this. They should always give you benefit of the doubt - especially when you have realized the necessity for therapy and dragged yourself in for some much needed help. In saying this - therapists DO consider the {intensity} and {specifics} of our psychological well-being, as well as any other {potentially harmful variables} when discussing the periodicity that therapy sessions can take place.

No therapist should ever overlook the request for more therapy. If anything - it should be both discussed and explored.

For instance: For me - being a borderline - I would want to see my therapist everyday if it were my choice... Obviously some therapists COULD do this - but they know they shouldn't. Primarily because part of becoming a healthy borderline: is in learning autonomy outside of the safety and nurture found in the therapy setting. Not only does it allow the therapist room to breath - it also allows the borderline to live life and utilize skills, so that when he/she returns to the next session - there is more to talk about.

In saying this - DO state your concerns. Ask for what you need - and don't sensor what you say - based on whether it may seem too demanding. Be as genuine as you can in what you feel you need - in terms of the regularity of therapy sessions - and just be you. There is value in asking for more therapy - and all therapists know this. Whether a therapist decides to increase or decrease the extent of sessions - will be based on what the two of you decide: most benefits you.

Ultimately - just ask for what you want, say what you feel - and be yourself. That is the best way to getting the most out of therapy. There is no shame in wanting more consistency in therapy. I just started DBT and I see my therapist once a week - and that is NOT enough. I go crazy between sessions.

Thanks,
HD7970ghz

[chasms]

I mean it is different for everyone. I see mine once a week, sometimes i freak out about not being able to see her enough. This was one of my prime worries when i started therapy but it has kind of gotten better. I am worrying less about the time between sessions because my therapist allows me to text or call her whenever i need, if i need help, which is really good for me. I see my pdoc once a month, it seems odd to see a therapist only one time a month...

[hellboy]

For general treatment I think once every other week is effective.

Hellboy

[jeremiahgirl]

I've been seeing my T for almost 4 or 5 years, in the beginning it was once a week but at some point he said he wanted to see more progress so I started seeing him twice a week one visit 50mins the second 1 1/2 hours using EMDR. For sometime it's been just 1 1/2 hr a week but I'm dealing with a heavy issue a wish I could see him more. When I started EMDR I was disassociating a lot that's why things were stepped up. I'd say I've been blessed to see him often I've made great progress. ��

[Trippin2.0]

Once a week.


I think that's pretty much standard, and Ts probably schedule clients according to this norm, so it may be hard to find a T who can accommodate you multiple times a week...


If you feel you require much more frequent or daily treatment, why not look into Intensive Out Patient as an option? I've heard some good reviews about IOP.


I agree that multiple one on one sessions per week could be detrimental to any kind of progress you're hoping to achieve.

But IOP programs only run for a set amount of time, so there's less chance of it backfiring as it probably would with a long term T.

[Achy Turtle Armor]

Once a month. Not at all happy with it but he thinks I don't need more and he worries about the fact that I don't have much money. When I have been really sick though, I saw him weekly and bi-weekly.