Meant to write - How long have you been in therapy? What's the ideal length of time?

[growlycat]

Oh my

main T about 21 yrs (once every 2 weeks, 40 min)
CBT T a little over a year (1x week, 45 min)

I find it helpful. Not planning on stopping.

[healed84]

I have been with T about 2 1/2 years now. And I generally see him once a week.

[Depletion]

I think it depends on the person, really as long as it takes.

Your thread title question can't really be answered. How long a person should be in therapy will vary individual to individual.

I've been with my current therapist for almost 10 years. For much of that I saw him once a week or so, but for the last couple of years I see him only as needed mainly to just check in, every few months.

Just over two years for me. I saw him once a week for the first couple of months, and twice a week since then. (So I miss 20 sessions when there's a 10-week break. Yay.)

[UnderRugSwept]

There is no "should" answer...it's completely dependent upon the person and his or her situation.

I saw my childhood T from age 7-19. I took a break for awhile and then saw another T for 5 years or so. Then another T for about a year. Now I am seeing 2 Ts: one I have been seeing for almost 3 years and the other for a little over a year.

I agree there's no "should" answer, it takes however long it takes, depending on the person and situation and all that stuff.

I've been with current T for almost 3 years.

[junkDNA]

i saw my former T (who is a bad man) for 7 yrs. mostly when i was a teenager.

ive been seeing my T for 4 yrs now

[NowhereUSA]

i have chronic depression that is easily triggered (right now, ppd, in a few months SAD). so for me, therapy is helpful for just keeping me steady and not doing something that might harm myself. if we move, i'll get another t. when i'm doing better, i don't see t as often (maybe once every couple of months or longer), when i'm having a harder time, more frequently (right now weekly).

[tealBumblebee]

We reached a year last week. I don't see myself going once a week, like I have been, forever but at least for another year. And eventually perhaps, for a monthly maintenance until she retires or I move. *shrug* I think it can be beneficial to a person as long as the client is receptive.

[guilloche]

Well, shoot... I answered the question as posted first, and didn't see the correction in your first message... sorry about that. I've been with this new T for only a few weeks. I have been out of therapy for probably 5-6 years? Before that, I was in therapy for 4-5 years (approximately) with a couple different therapists, but made no progress, because nobody knew what to do with me. I'm not sure if new T is going to be able to figure out what to do with me either, but... I gotta try!

[CameraObscura]

Just shy of a year with my current therapist, many more years overall.

I'm probably a lifer, but not with the same therapist.

[JustShakey]

For me, I don't know. Been about a year and a half now, all told. I'll stay as long as I need to. Or as long as I want to. Or both.

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[Raindropvampire]

I have never been with a T more than I think about 6-12 months. I do think it takes years to make progress and get through your issues especially if you have past traumas. I just can't find a T to stick with. They all freaking move away.

[AllyIsHopeful]

About 18 months with my main Therapist and for most of the time it has been twice per week. Second T has been once a week for almost 3 months.

I'm not sure if I'll be with these same Therapists forever; But I do believe there is a high probability I will remain in therapy for the duration of my life, to maintain my well-being.

[Leah123]

Almost a year and a half. I have one therapist and see her twice a week. I can imagine continuing in some form for the next year and a half also, it's a very busy/stressful period, and tapering after that.