How long do you think you will be with your T?

I don't know. I've got lots of work I want to do. But anything could happen. I don't think I'd do well with timeframes.

I hope my therapist is open to me seeing her for as long as it helps.

None of my prior therapists discussed timelines. I feel like it might impose a certain rigidity or expectation that wouldn't be beneficial to me.

I don't know. Have been with her for 4.5 years so far. I fear that she is upset with me right now so who knows. Maybe she'll kick me out on Saturday and I probably deserve it.

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I just started year 8 and have no inclination to stop so I selected 10+.

My ex therapist always said "it takes as long as it takes" but he abandoned me after just a little over 7 years.

No idea. I've been with T almost 3 years, and I don't want to be in therapy forever, but I did just get a DID diagnosis. Not that I haven't had it forever and I've been working on the issues for a long time, but it's thrown me for a heck of a loop.

I'd guess a few more years, minimum. He's so not allowed to retire.

It bothers me that therapists pigeon-hole people. I think a person should be able to be in therapy as long as they want, as long as it takes, and as long as they are getting something out of it and focusing on issues. I have been in therapy with many therapists. The shortest one was about 1 year; the last 7 years.

The one I see now I don't know how long I will see her for. I only see her every two weeks or when I feel the need to. I have been down here since October and have seen her about 3 times. I used to go every week with my other therapists but don't feel the need to anymore.

My therapist is closing her practice and I have 3 weeks left with her. I have been seeing her for years though. I have started online therapy and I have no clue how long I will be with that therapist. I don't like having a timeline with therapy. I think you are done when you feel you are done.

I am sorry she put a timeline on things Scarlet. I don't get why T's do a lot of the stuff they do. I hope you can talk to her about this and express your concerns.

I said 5 years + because I've already been seeing for about 6 years. We're still working on some important issues in addition to my attachment issues, so I really don't know. I want to see her until one of us dies, or until she kicks me out! She may or may not agree to that, so I would compromise with sessions as needed at some point.

I think it will take at least two years to work through all the things I need to work through. In saying that though, I don't know how long my T will be sticking around for. My two previous Ts went on maternity leave and never returned so I'm convinced my current T is going to leave too. She has said she doesn't plan on going anywhere but who knows...

He has said we will continue until we both agree we are done or I decide it is too much. We just passed the one year mark. This surprised me. I expected a month or two, maybe three. We've been locked in my negative transference issue for about 6 months. I'm almost ready to quit each week. Somehow I can see though all the bad stuff and he is a nice guy and trying so hard. I am too. So we fight, it's our thing right now. I feel horrible, that's my thing. "It'll be uncomfortable until it's not" he says. I hope it's sooner than later.

I don't get the dependency thing with therapists. They say they don't want clients to get dependent on them but yet the whole relationship encourages it. You go in and there already is a power differentiation. They know everything about you but barely tell the client anything about themselves. They act like they got all the answers. They are always there with an open ear waiting for the client to talk about their issues. Who else in the real world has an hour of undivided attention where the total focus is on the other person to give? I hope I didn't derail your thread Scarlett but it bugs me also that your therapist says she doesn't want you to get dependent on her. Grrrr

T says we will always be part of each other's lives. We plan on talking when we are little old ladies.

I've been with T for almost 3 years (this summer makes three). Now that i'm about to start graduate school, and will have a different insurance, our sessions are going to have to start dwindling. We've agreed to stay in contact afterward but as far as t/client, I guesstimate maybe another 6 months top. As far as "allotted time" she leaves that up to the client. She has people she see's for a check up and people she knows have been going consistently for ten or more years (I don't think she's been officially a t (non intern) for that long yet, but she isn't objective to that being an option.)

OP quote: "...At least I won't be abandoned, right?"

I've thought about this the last couple of days, and for me, that would be abandonment. Because, I was not told this after the initial assessment, and choice has been taken away from me. It also says that my therapist does not see growth and change in my future. I can do "status quo " by myself. This is just my feelings.

It would upset me too, especially a year in and knowing I have trouble with abandonment.

5 and 1/ 2 years (3-4 sessions a week)which was 3 years too long. I had profound maternal erotic transference that I couldn't "work through" so I terminated.

I am better now. I really wish I'd stopped sooner.

I wish I had walked away sooner too. Or never started.

I don't really know what to think of having an approximate end date. I think what bothers me the most is that it's less than 2 years away. But it's longer than my Pdoc wanted at least (and no they still haven't talked...) I've spent a year with her already and have only really improved with the abandonment by ex-T. What if I don't improve much more? Guess I won't need a T then? Idk. The longest I've had a T for is 4 years. So 2-3 years isn't that bad, no?

For me, the amount of time was not an issue. It was the process of how the decision was arrived at, without my consent. I have difficulty with people making decisions for me, it's a parent/child thing from my past. You seem to be good with the process, and you need to go with it. A lot can happen and get done to stabilize and/or move forward in your life. You've posted on things you want to accomplish. Good luck to you.

I'm glad you won't be abandoned! I think a person's diagnosis sets the amount of time one sees a T...if insurance doesn't interfere. From what I've read about my "issues," I will likely be in therapy "quite a long while." I don't know what that means...