How often to see therapist?

This is my first post. I'm glad I've found this site. I was wondering how often most people see their therapist?

I'm sure it varies a lot, but it is something I'm having a hard time with. I was previously seeing this therapist for marriage counceling. I think because there were 2 of us she was more directive and always sort of suggested when we should make our next appointment. Now I am seeing her alone for depression/anxiety. Sometimes at the end of my session she'll ask me if I want to come again to which I always say yes. But, then she'll ask when and I freeze up. I really want to say the following week, but that seems to dependent so I said "in two weeks" and regretted it. Do other people choose how often to see their therapist or do their therapists tell them how often to come?

hey. we had a long thread not so long ago about how often people see their therapists:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/showf...5&o=31&fpart=1

(i'm giving you a link just in case people don't feel up to repeating their answer).

i've seen therapists who agreed to see me for a certain number of sessions... and i've seen therapists who were open ended with respect to how many sessions... and i've seen therapists who asked me every time i went whether i wanted to go back and if so then when would i like to go back.

i guess that you could ask her... otherwise it sounds like she is envisaging a kind of 'brief supportive' therapy rather than anything in depth.

Thanks for posting the link!

Marie,

I have varied with how often I see my T. Mostly it is weekly. The last week or two - he has upped it to 2x a week and I have had several phone calls in between. I have had a lot going on and have been really struggling the last few weeks. I imagine that going forward we will go back to once a week. When I first started with him it was every other week but my life has spiraled out of control and we have been doing a lot of crisis management. Hope that helps.

Well, we had a similar topic not so long ago.

But based on what I've been writing about lately, I'll say...
not enough.

((((({Pinksoil)))))) I'm sorry - I know that feeling all to well. Hang in there sweetie.

I am once a week at this point but am always afraid he will say okay see you in 2-3 weeks...it'll kill me.

Welcome, I'm new too by the way!

Hi Marie!

Welcome! I see my therapist once a week. The first time I went there he told me he wanted to see me at least once a week. I remember being very shocked because I had no idea people went to therapy that often! (I knew exactly zip about therapy when I started.)

Of course within a couple of weeks I realized I wanted to be there every week. Now I hate it if I have to wait 2 weeks for some reason. Luckily that's not often....

I don't think it'd be at all unusual or overly dependent for you to say you wanted to come once a week. Go if it helps! I don't know how I ever got by without it!

Sidony

Thanks Sidony (& everyone else too) for your response. I think I'm just like you. I didn't realize how much I'd want to go to therapy every week. I still have this thing where I tell myself that I could just snap out of this if I put my mind to it. Part of that is because I went to a psych doctor once about 2 months ago. She gave me samples of Lexipro to try and I haven't taken any. I don't have any problems with medicine, but for some reason I can't convince myself I want to get rid of the depression and anxiety. I know that sounds weird. Anyway, since I'm not taking active steps to get better it makes me feel like I shouldn't take up a lot of my therapist time. I don't have another appointment until next Tuesday which seems soooooo far away!

Hey Marie,

I saw my therapist today and now it seems like it'll be a dreadfully long wait until next Tuesday!

The therapy may help you as much as medicine! (Just my opinion, I'm not telling you what to do!) But I understand what you're saying about not wanting to get rid of the anxiety. After a while I think it becomes part of your (or someone's) identity. Y'know, like I have to wonder "who would I be if I weren't troubled by these particular issues?" Y'know?

But go enjoy therapy! It's been such a major thing in my life. I find lots of little ways that I do things have been affected by therapy. Just talking about how I interact has helped me to do it in more healthy ways. It is amazing. I wish I'd tried it long ago!

Sidony

Wow! I really know what you meant when you said "who would I be if I weren't troubled by these particular issues?" I think that is something I need to think about some more. Or maybe a therapy topic for next week.

We'll both have to hang in there until next Tuesday. Good luck!

I see my T every other week except if her schedule doesn't fit mine. Then it becomes longer. My T tends to leave it up to the client as to the frequency of visits. Another T in my agency's office ask a person while returning to the waiting room when he wanted to see him next. So it seems to be common to leave the frequency of visits to the client.
My T keeps making comments about concerns about the cost of co-pays. I sometimes wondering if she is trying to get me to cut back on appointments.

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Marie31 said:
Wow! I really know what you meant when you said "who would I be if I weren't troubled by these particular issues?" I think that is something I need to think about some more. Or maybe a therapy topic for next week.

We'll both have to hang in there until next Tuesday. Good luck!

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So can you tell I was talking about identity crises in therapy today?

Yeah good luck hanging in there too....

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Marie31 said:
Anyway, since I'm not taking active steps to get better it makes me feel like I shouldn't take up a lot of my therapist time.

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Marie, I think you're being hard on yourself. (((hugs))) Going to therapy is an active step to deal with your depression. Good for you to stick with therapy. Not everyone who is clinically depressed takes drugs to help themselves. Hang in there.

My T mentioned to me today that I was one of his only clients who had a regular, weekly appointment (same time each week). That was interesting to me. With my former counselor, I didn't have a regular time or go every week. I kind of like how it is "same time, same place" each week with my current T. It gives me a feeling of security and makes me feel that I am "important" enough to him that he carves out this regular space for me in his schedule each week. Grasping at straws that I am important to him...

Bi-monthly unless suicidal or self injuring and then its weekly so thaat we can discuss how to get them back into control. When I am on weekly we dont work on any new things just on the stuff that we have been working on that has triggered the increase in suicidal thoughts and self injury thoughts