[HealingTimes]

I have just realised that i have been in therapy for 3 years!
Is it 'normal' to be in therapy for that long? I feel like it's forever, and when i think of how much it has cost so far, i can't believe it!
I dont want to be i n therapy this time next year i want to save some money and to have overcome my past.

How long do you think you'll be in therapy for? How long have you already been in therapy?

[tinyrabbit]

No idea what's normal as everyone has different issues and needs. Five months in and I'm only just getting started. I'm looking at 2-4 years minimum I think.

[unaluna]

I think I'm gonna die on the couch - or on the bus to or from! I'm just sorry I didn't see one for the first 20 years of my life, then I could have gone the full Monty, so to speak.

No idea at all, Only started therapy in February and I was told that I need long term therapy but what do they mean when the say long term? years, months? Lol.

[critterlady]

Well, my T is a couple of years older than I am and he tells me he doesn't plan to retire. He's just going to keep going until they carry him out. He's also said he's never going to die, though, so his promises on that are suspect.

In any event, I've been in therapy about a year and a half and I would expect to be there for several more years. It took 53 years for me to get this messed up, so I expect it to take several years to get unmessed.

[Anne2.0]

I have spent two years with this T, and had five years before that with two other T's, fifteen years ago.

I think I will soon go down to every other week, and then maybe once/month. I don't plan on ever quitting until my T retires, or until I retire from my stressful job. I consider it an act of self care to be in therapy.

[tooski]

I've been with this T for a little over 2 years. I'm definitely making progress, but it's slow. And I own the slowness. I'm stubborn and very slow to open up. I can't open up unless I trust and I'm very cautious with trust. I have to do a lot of testing to make sure anyone is trustworthy, and this makes for a lot of ruptures and repairing of ruptures. All this takes time. Luckily I have a patient T who doesn't push me much (maybe he should ....). If I was a different kind of person, maybe therapy would go quicker. But I yam who I yam. I expect another 2 years minimum.

Forever.
After I finish college I will be fully qaulified and therefore if I work as a t will be required to see a t as long as I am seeing clients.

I started therapy at 7 when my mother was sick with MS and my family sucked. I am now in my mid-30s. So I assume the answer is forever. I still have a bazillion things to work on.

[nessaea]

I've been in therapy on and off for about 8 years. I don't think I will ever be out of therapy, but I can see myself taking breaks of months or years.

[murray]

In my early 20's I saw a T for 1 year. When I began T again, I expected it to be for approximately 1 year. Well, I am now well into year 4 and don't see an end in sight at this point. My guess would be another year, but that is most likely a very optimistic guess.

My T once said it doesn't matter how long it takes, he'll still be sitting here in 30 years time. Which makes me laugh as I have visions of both us hobbling in on walking frames and having senior moments.

[suzzie]

years......

[1stepatatime]

It's hard to say...I started in January of this year..and we are at the tip of the ice berg so who knows? If I had to guess I would say ( and I could be wrong) maybe two or three years? My T says it is like a map...all of the little lines that lead to one place...a lot of territory to cover!

[confused and dazed]

I told myself that I would be in and out of therapy in 6mos..........that was 3.5 yrs ago....

[growlycat]

LOL I'm at around 20 myself. Is it working yet ? (mostly)

[refika]

I can't even take a guess. I've been in therapy since the 2nd week in January, 3-4 times a week and I've barely scratched the surface of my issues. Now we're down to 2x a week, so at that rate, I'm guessing I'll probably die of old age before I resolve my issues and voluntarily leave therapy.

In reality, I'm thinking at least 3-5 years...

[photostotake]

After a few months of therapy, I was told by my current T that it'll be years of work to deal with my diagnoses, but he'll be there with me every step of the way. He promises me I won't be there to see him retire. On Thursday, I meet with a new T at an eating disorders clinic, and was booked for a standing appt for the same time/day for the rest of the year. And that was just to start with. I guess I'll be with her for awhile too.

I saw one T for 2 years in college. I saw another T in my early 30's for about 2 years. I started seeing my current T 8 years ago and don't see this one ending completely until he retires. We go in spits and spurts as I need it. I have bipolar disorder, and therapy is an important aspect of maintaining stability and support.

[nicoleb2]

I've been in therapy for about 6 years... still have a long ways to go

[Sunne]

I think I'll be in therapy for a long time. Maybe forever. Hopefully not needed as frequent as it is now.. But I think I'll always need a therapist in my life to help me cope with major events. As sad as that is..

[stopdog]

I suppose until the frustration gets so much that I stop for more than just a week or two at a time.

[Tamster]

I was in therapy the first time for 10 years then one day I just had enough and didn't go back. I sure miss him, he was good for me, great bond, and amazing help.
The second time 6 months, not so good for me, no bond, no journey out of the past.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Forever. At least on and off. But for the past 5 years it's been mostly on so...yeah...

[Fuzzybear]

a long time...