2 sessions a week?

After so long with my T, trying to bolt here and there, I think I am in for the long haul now. My T has always been there for me and I trust that they will not physically hurt me or suddenly leave.

I still find it hard to settle into the sessions and the 2 days after feel like there is so much more I could have shared with T in the last session. But by the time the next one comes around again, it feels like I need time to settle again.

I just wondered if anyone has experienced greater progress when going twice per week. I feel safe between sessions so don't feel I need to go more often from that perspective, but just I may feel a greater connection and be able to move on more easily.

However I am concerned that if I up it to 2 sessions, that I may then find it really difficult to drop to 1 again - I pay for myself and could not afford 2 sessions for more than a couple of months.

Yes, two sessions a week has meant much greater progress for me. Our situations are different since I don't need to pay for my therapy, so I am lucky enough not to have that element of stress; I've been going twice a week for over two years now.

This was how it was like for me before, and it still is to some extent, but much less so than when I went once a week. The seven-day week is just a convention anyway, as my T has pointed out. There is nothing magical about meeting exactly once a week, and if you need to go more often, I think it is a good idea to do so.

I have been going twice a week for several years and I pay out of pocket. I still find it very difficult to manage between sessions and am a little panicky how long I will need this as it is very expensive. It helps me cope on a day to day basis but I worry it's made my attachment worse

Yes twice a week really gets the stuff moving. Plus as the deeper wk begins, having the safety of book end sessions was vital for me.

Yes, it helped me with exactly what you describe - I didn't have to spend 20 minutes settling in and 10 minutes closing up.

That said, it also intensifies things a lot. So, it's kind of a double edged sword. For me, I have a hard time "closing up" now between sessions, so things between sessions are actually more difficult, but I still have trouble starting...

Also, my T made an arrangement so that it wasn't paying double the cost. Nooo way I could've afforded that. It was kind of more prorated and then split into two. I pay out of pocket.

PS - if you could only do it for a brief amount of time, you might consider some specific, difficult work and kind of use the time toward that.

Thanks for all your replies. I think if I wasn't at this point with T, I wouldn't want to consider paying for an extra session to sit and say nothing (that used to be how the sessions were), but as there feels like some movement in my "disclosures" maybe it might help keep the momentum going, as long as I focus using the sessions for that purpose and not just shut down again.

Yes I still worry a bit about the dependency, but reassure myself that actually I have come a long way in managing my feelings, so even if I feel more dependent, I can deal with that (maybe )

I'll try and discuss with my T at the next session and see what their view is too.

Thanks again - Soup

My T. has said several times that I need to just come once a week. My brother is a clinical psychologist and said the same. My T. explained that we do most of the processing outside of our sessions and our brains need the time for the processing to occur. For example, I usually go on Mondays. I went yesterday instead and will go again this Monday. While I LOVE that I will see her soon, I also am not near as motivated to think/work on stuff knowing I'm getting ready to see her.

The absense, the intense longings, missing her, etc makes the emotions come to the surface so I can journal them, think about them, etc. While I would JUMP at the chance for 2x week sessions, I think in the long run I may agree with my T. and brother. I did tell her we could do weekly sessions and then she could come to my house the other time for wine.

I also don't have email or text contact in between. But, I know that if I was absolutely miserable and unable to function, she would give me extra time.

Honestly, I can't believe I just wrote all of that since deep down I could live with her. I guess my adult self was writing and not my inner child.

That's an interesting perspective Soccer Mom and maybe a few years ago I would have agreed. T was all I could think about and I used to journal and draw a lot - but now the feelings just don't last. It's like I switch off after a couple of days and I am not conscious that I am processing anything.

Different people, different needs. There are good reasons sometimes to have more than 1 session every week.

I've done twice a week on occasion when t felt we needed to "turn up the heat" on something. I found it very helpful in keeping the momentum going from session to session.

2 sessions a week has helped me tremendously to feel continuity and stay connected, as well as for stable support in hard times. i switched from 1 to 2 sessions a week about 8 months ago. My T actually suggested it which surprised and pleased me. Some weeks (like this week), I wish I had the guts to ask for 3 sessions...

I go twice a week, just not to the same therapist. I find it more useful than when I just saw one once a week.

I started seeing my present therapist about 10 months ago and after three weeks, she suggested twice weekly sessions. I have made progress that I have never made before in years of therapy and the maternal attachment issues that I seem to usually develop quickly are nonexistent. I feel like I have enough support to really do the work that I need to do at home. I never have more than 5 nights between sessions (except for vacations-ugh), and I am more motivated to complete any assignments and do the deep thinking I need to do if I know another session is coming up soon...either to help process what I've done or calm me down if those things have gotten me riled. The other good thing about two sessions in a week is that it makes me less anxious if I happen to spend a session crying or some jokester inner child shows up and hijacks the session with silly things.