[abusedtoy]

I have been seeing my therapist for 34 sessions now, over 8.5 months. I want to know how many years does it take for me towards complete healing and how many sessions approximately? Every time I asked my T about how will she, in what way she would help me, but it was not clear to me and only said that I am being put on a Trauma Model.

I have been diagnosed with Complex-PTSD and major depression on a background of chronic dysthymia. I have suicidal tendencies on a daily basis. I am still wondering why my T is not very definite in telling me her methods of helping me and I am finding the therapy really slow, but with my T, I have never had such a compassionate, understanding, warm and caring psychologist. She even helps me outside of session. I have no complaints on her gentleness and patience, just that I have heard someone who had trauma and abuse will last for years of therapy, if so, how many years? I heard someone had 4 years, some had 6 years and still continuing and some had over 10...?

Anyway, I wonder for those who have been through 4 or 6 years or beyond with therapy, how often, is it weekly basis and, is it each session does a little step, it is like each session one little step each time? What have you done throughout those 4-6 years of therapy or several years of therapy? I wonder with mine, is it doing something, just that the process is just quite complex, so it is slow?

I have been through 7 types of trauma, including chronic bullying for over a decade, sexual abuse, early childhood negligence, family separation, domestic violence, frequent displacements and system-induced re-traumatisation (seclusion and restraints in hospital were very traumatising).

Don't see PC as a representative group, 'cause we're not: especially on the psychotherapy forum, because people discuss psychotherapy issues. You don't generally have issues with therapy or your therapist if you're done after 6 or 10 sessions.

Myself: 6,5 year. Frequency varies from once a week to twice a week (pdoc + therapist) to inpatient/residential stays.

Our insurance system has 4 groups:
Short: up to 5 sessions a year
Medium: 6-11 a year
Long/chronic: 12-16 or 12-19 sessions (I forgot which one) a year
Specialistic: more sessions a year

So while most of this forum's occupants are in long-term therapy, most of the population that is, or has been, in therapy is/was not.

[abusedtoy]

You don't generally have issues with therapy or your therapist if you're done after 6 or 10 sessions.

Breadfish, I want to clarify, do you mean if going by 6-10 sessions, beyond 10 sessions, for instance and I am still with this same therapist, it means that she is okay? Or do you mean, something else?

[Amyjay]

Healing from developmental trauma is often a long term venture. Trauma during the developmental years doesn't only cause direct harm in and of itself but also prevents normal social and emotional development from taking place. There is a ton of stuff to heal.
I have been in therapy this time around for just over a year. (I had previous treatment for anorexia). The treatment plan suggested by my psychiatrist for funding purposes is for long term therapy of weekly sessions for at least several years. It is slow going. There is a lot to wade through. I don't anticipate going anywhere soon - my T and I are only just getting started.

Originally Posted by abusedtoy

Breadfish, I want to clarify, do you mean if going by 6-10 sessions, beyond 10 sessions, for instance and I am still with this same therapist, it means that she is okay? Or do you mean, something else?

I mean something else.

It's sort of two ways. On one hand, if you have enough problems to need long-term treatment, these problems are more likely to interfere with treatment. For example: I have chronic/complex PTSD mostly caused by doctors/medical professionals. So it's bad enough to need long term therapy, but it also means I get scared of my pdoc sometimes, which is one of the reasons I'm here.
It's similar with transference, feeling rejected by T because of the past, and legio other issues.
And if you're 'vulnerable' because of something requiring long-term treatment, you're more likely to come to PC if something bothers you. If your T is the first person you open up to or trust or feel heard by, of course those vulnerabilities show.

And if you're in long term therapy, I think problems in therapy sort of develop sometimes: there's a fair number of threads here about people who have trouble with the therapist changing something and being inconsistent, or worrying, or getting attached, developing transference.. if you only see a T for 6 sessions, those issues will generally be less because you don't know them as well (less attachment, transference, worrying about them - and in 6 sessions inconsistency isn't usually an issue I think, because it's a bit short for there to actually be consistency in the first place).

And the 3rd - if you're 'done' in those 6 sessions, the treatment probably worked. If you've been in therapy for 6 years, you might end up here to try and get more out of your treatment - e.g. by analysing sessions and T relationships - because you feel you're not "improving" as much as you want to.

So I think that statistically, people in long-term therapy are more likely to come here.

[abusedtoy]

Originally Posted by Amyjay

Healing from developmental trauma is often a long term venture. Trauma during the developmental years doesn't only cause direct harm in and of itself but also prevents normal social and emotional development from taking place. There is a ton of stuff to heal.
I have been in therapy this time around for just over a year. (I had previous treatment for anorexia). The treatment plan suggested by my psychiatrist for funding purposes is for long term therapy of weekly sessions for at least several years. It is slow going. There is a lot to wade through. I don't anticipate going anywhere soon - my T and I are only just getting started.

Thanks Amy. Can I know what did you mean by being harmed of social and emotional development? Also, with funding purpose, do you mean you are being funded or donated to help your therapy, if I am understanding it correctly? If so, how do you get funded? I do know that taking therapy for several years is very expensive. Can I know what trauma you have been through?

[junkDNA]

Originally Posted by abusedtoy

I have been seeing my therapist for 34 sessions now, over 8.5 months. I want to know how many years does it take for me towards complete healing and how many sessions approximately? Every time I asked my T about how will she, in what way she would help me, but it was not clear to me and only said that I am being put on a Trauma Model.

I have been diagnosed with Complex-PTSD and major depression on a background of chronic dysthymia. I have suicidal tendencies on a daily basis. I am still wondering why my T is not very definite in telling me her methods of helping me and I am finding the therapy really slow, but with my T, I have never had such a compassionate, understanding, warm and caring psychologist. She even helps me outside of session. I have no complaints on her gentleness and patience, just that I have heard someone who had trauma and abuse will last for years of therapy, if so, how many years? I heard someone had 4 years, some had 6 years and still continuing and some had over 10...?

Anyway, I wonder for those who have been through 4 or 6 years or beyond with therapy, how often, is it weekly basis and, is it each session does a little step, it is like each session one little step each time? What have you done throughout those 4-6 years of therapy or several years of therapy? I wonder with mine, is it doing something, just that the process is just quite complex, so it is slow?

I have been through 7 types of trauma, including chronic bullying for over a decade, sexual abuse, early childhood negligence, family separation, domestic violence, frequent displacements and system-induced re-traumatisation (seclusion and restraints in hospital were very traumatising).

There is no timeline or deadline. It is very individual. And recovery is not linear , there are many ups and downs. I don't stress about how long it will take. I set goals and reach them, then set more. I've been seeing my therapist for going on 8 years now.

[abusedtoy]

Originally Posted by Breadfish

I mean something else.

It's sort of two ways. On one hand, if you have enough problems to need long-term treatment, these problems are more likely to interfere with treatment. For example: I have chronic/complex PTSD mostly caused by doctors/medical professionals. So it's bad enough to need long term therapy, but it also means I get scared of my pdoc sometimes, which is one of the reasons I'm here.
It's similar with transference, feeling rejected by T because of the past, and legio other issues.
And if you're 'vulnerable' because of something requiring long-term treatment, you're more likely to come to PC if something bothers you. If your T is the first person you open up to or trust or feel heard by, of course those vulnerabilities show.

And if you're in long term therapy, I think problems in therapy sort of develop sometimes: there's a fair number of threads here about people who have trouble with the therapist changing something and being inconsistent, or worrying, or getting attached, developing transference.. if you only see a T for 6 sessions, those issues will generally be less because you don't know them as well (less attachment, transference, worrying about them - and in 6 sessions inconsistency isn't usually an issue I think, because it's a bit short for there to actually be consistency in the first place).

And the 3rd - if you're 'done' in those 6 sessions, the treatment probably worked. If you've been in therapy for 6 years, you might end up here to try and get more out of your treatment - e.g. by analysing sessions and T relationships - because you feel you're not "improving" as much as you want to.

So I think that statistically, people in long-term therapy are more likely to come here.

I am intrigued when you say you have C-PTSD caused by medical professionals and the mental health system. Can I know in what way have you been harmed?

I think those who have longer history of trauma is not a quick fix and it makes sense to be done for at least several years, as Amy said above.

[abusedtoy]

Originally Posted by junkDNA

There is no timeline or deadline. It is very individual. And recovery is not linear , there are many ups and downs. I don't stress about how long it will take. I set goals and reach them, then set more. I've been seeing my therapist for going on 8 years now.

It makes sense that there is no timeline or deadline. Sometimes, I am questioning about the progress that me and my T make, maybe I am not patience enough? I have tried though.

8 years is a long time. Has it been a financial burden to you? How often do you visit your T? And, what do you both work on during sessions? Also, what progress have you made each year, if you describe the progress for each year that you had?

[junkDNA]

Originally Posted by abusedtoy

It makes sense that there is no timeline or deadline. Sometimes, I am questioning about the progress that me and my T make, maybe I am not patience enough? I have tried though.

8 years is a long time. Has it been a financial burden to you? How often do you visit your T? And, what do you both work on during sessions?

I saw him twice a week for 7 years, we've gone to once a week now. We work on traumas I've endured. One of them is about my former Therapist who sexually exploited me. So obviously I have trust issues with therapists and it took me years to finally trust my current therapist. I won a lawsuit settlement from the situation with my former Therapist and it pays for my therapy now. My t works with me on a sliding scale and charges me $25/session (50 min)

[abusedtoy]

Originally Posted by junkDNA

I saw him twice a week for 7 years, we've gone to once a week now. We work on traumas I've endured. One of them is about my former Therapist who sexually exploited me. So obviously I have trust issues with therapists and it took me years to finally trust my current therapist. I won a lawsuit settlement from the situation with my former Therapist and it pays for my therapy now. My t works with me on a sliding scale and charges me $25/session (50 min)

I am sorry to hear about this. I think being harmed by a therapist is more damaging, because you have placed your trust in this person to be your support. Was this person a male or female?

It is good to see your therapist twice per week to gain as much support as possible and $25 per session is excellent. I am paying $175 per session and I am seeing my therapist once per week, some other times in the past, when I was in crisis, I saw her twice per week, the sliding scale would be $150 per session.

I also want to ask about these 8 years, how do you describe the progress that you have made each year? I am keen to hear about it.

[junkDNA]

Originally Posted by abusedtoy

I am sorry to hear about this. I think being harmed by a therapist is more damaging, because you have placed your trust in this person to be your support. Was this person a male or female?

It is good to see your therapist twice per week to gain as much support as possible and $25 per session is excellent. I am paying $175 per session and I am seeing my therapist once per week, some other times in the past, when I was in crisis, I saw her twice per week, the sliding scale would be $150 per session.

I also want to ask about these 8 years, how do you describe the progress that you have made each year? I am keen to hear about it.

My former Therapist was male and 20 years older than me. He was my therapist for 7 years , starting when I was 16. The sexual relationship started 5 years into therapy, I was 21. It went on for almost 2 years before I broke down and told someone

As far as my progress, it's been slow and gradual but evident. I started off living in a mental health residential facility which I was in for 4 years. I had no job and had to go on disability. I was completely non functional and in psychotic states the majority of that time. I was non med compliant and had to be put on the injectable f0rm of my medication to get any relief from my symptoms. I discharged from the facility in November 2014. I started working in 2014 after a decade of being unemployed and dependent on SSDI and my mom for financial support. It was very hard for me to start working,mainly because of being around people. I stayed at that job for 3 years and was even promoted. I left that job last year and was terrified of going thru the whole process again of starting a new job and meeting new people again. My t kept telling me it will be easier this time. He was so right, I've been at my new job for 7 months now and have meshed very well with my co-workers and started feeling comfortable much faster than my old job [it took over a year to even talk to my co-workers at my previous job]. I am also up for a promotion to a full time position!!

I am no longer on the injectable medicine and take my medications every day on my own. I live in my own home and pay my rent and bills. I am in the ticket to work program to get off of disability . I also graduated college with a degree in medical coding last year . My symptoms have lessened in intensity and duration but I still struggle with them at times. However when I look back to the 2010 me, I see a huge amount of change . Almost a whole different person . And I am proud of myself

[abusedtoy]

Originally Posted by junkDNA

My former Therapist was male and 20 years older than me. He was my therapist for 7 years , starting when I was 16. The sexual relationship started 5 years into therapy, I was 21. It went on for almost 2 years before I broke down and told someone

As far as my progress, it's been slow and gradual but evident. I started off living in a mental health residential facility which I was in for 4 years. I had no job and had to go on disability. I was completely non functional and in psychotic states the majority of that time. I was non med compliant and had to be put on the injectable f0rm of my medication to get any relief from my symptoms. I discharged from the facility in November 2014. I started working in 2014 after a decade of being unemployed and dependent on SSDI and my mom for financial support. It was very hard for me to start working,mainly because of being around people. I stayed at that job for 3 years and was even promoted. I left that job last year and was terrified of going thru the whole process again of starting a new job and meeting new people again. My t kept telling me it will be easier this time. He was so right, I've been at my new job for 7 months now and have meshed very well with my co-workers and started feeling comfortable much faster than my old job [it took over a year to even talk to my co-workers at my previous job]. I am also up for a promotion to a full time position!!

I am no longer on the injectable medicine and take my medications every day on my own. I live in my own home and pay my rent and bills. I am in the ticket to work program to get off of disability . I also graduated college with a degree in medical coding last year . My symptoms have lessened in intensity and duration but I still struggle with them at times. However when I look back to the 2010 me, I see a huge amount of change . Almost a whole different person . And I am proud of myself

Thank you for sharing this with me. I have been on disability support as well and this is the main source of financial support for my therapy sessions. I also have government funded rebates for 6 sessions initially, then the second phase is another 4 sessions, then for EPC (enhanced primary care) or chronic health support would be another 5 sessions. Then I get private health funding eventually, on top with this disability pension that I have right now, since living in complex trauma has completely crippled me down. I initially have finished my degree in architecture (3 years course) 2 years ago when I was 21. But due to how traumatised that I am, at the age near 23 currently, I am still postponing my uni for masters degree that will last for another 2 years.

Some of you might find this interesting: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog...trauma-victims

"Psychotherapy takes time. Psychotherapy follows a “dose-response” curve. It takes more than 20 sessions, or about six months of weekly therapy, before 50 percent of patients show clinically meaningful improvement. It takes more than 40 sessions before 75 percent of patients show meaningful improvement.1 These findings, based on the scientific study of more than 10,000 therapy cases, dovetail with what therapists report about successful treatments2 and what patients report about their own therapy experiences.3,4"

I suspect the more complex and prolonged the traumas, the longer the "dose" of good therapy required. Once I blamed myself to my T saying I had heard a case study of someone who recovered from depression from 3 sessions. And one who recovered from 17 years of OCD in 6 months weekly therapy.

She told me that I grew up being abused since young (started before I was 5, the violence only stopped when I reached 24) so it would make sense I would need a longer therapy.

And I know I had it way better than many of you, I escaped with "just social anxiety disorder and generalised disorder" and it's 60+ sessions and Im still going...

"Questions regarding the length of therapy are so common and understandable! When we are talking about depth work of the sort described above I believe it is important to prepare for a marathon rather than a sprint. I know that “it takes as long as it takes” is a very unsatisfying answer, and yet I know it to be true."

https://drkathleenyoung.wordpress.co...ptsd-be-cured/

[abusedtoy]

Originally Posted by QuietMind

Some of you might find this interesting: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog...trauma-victims

"Psychotherapy takes time. Psychotherapy follows a “dose-response” curve. It takes more than 20 sessions, or about six months of weekly therapy, before 50 percent of patients show clinically meaningful improvement. It takes more than 40 sessions before 75 percent of patients show meaningful improvement.1 These findings, based on the scientific study of more than 10,000 therapy cases, dovetail with what therapists report about successful treatments2 and what patients report about their own therapy experiences.3,4"

I suspect the more complex and prolonged the traumas, the longer the "dose" of good therapy required. Once I blamed myself to my T saying I had heard a case study of someone who recovered from depression from 3 sessions. And one who recovered from 17 years of OCD in 6 months weekly therapy.

She told me that I grew up being abused since young (started before I was 5, the violence only stopped when I reached 24) so it would make sense I would need a longer therapy.

And I know I had it way better than many of you, I escaped with "just social anxiety disorder and generalised disorder" and it's 60+ sessions and Im still going...

Thanks QuietMind. By recovering depression in 3 sessions, I wonder will the depression returns back with this patient eventually and whether it was mild depression other than dysthymia or major depression. About the 17 years of OCD in 6 months therapy being healed is a wonderful result. But, if a person has more symptoms or disorders, more than just OCD, then it is reasonable to last over 6 months of therapy. I do agree with you the longer the trauma and abuse, the longer the dose that good therapy requires.

It does make sense that you need 60+ sessions and continuing, due to the abuse that you had over many years. So with each session, is it a baby step each and every time? I am still trying to understand about the progress of my therapy, because it seems to be really slow, but then my therapist is really warm and understanding though. She never hurt me at once.

[abusedtoy]

Originally Posted by QuietMind

"Questions regarding the length of therapy are so common and understandable! When we are talking about depth work of the sort described above I believe it is important to prepare for a marathon rather than a sprint. I know that “it takes as long as it takes” is a very unsatisfying answer, and yet I know it to be true."

https://drkathleenyoung.wordpress.co...ptsd-be-cured/

I have read the articles you have provided here. Thanks. My therapist always remain positive and reassures me that being healed is possible.

I like your analogy about preparing for a marathon than a sprint. My therapist says that the work both of us are doing right now is a "hard work" and it is an "exhausting work" to endure. She is understanding of me as the patient's point of view of how working on the trauma is no easy thing, especially working back on traumatic memories would be really heavy and sometimes, re-traumatising even. You do make sense that it is a personal and individual progress and that there is no definite timeline or deadline. But in a general sense, as you have said, which makes sense, is that the longer the abuse, the longer it will be the dose.

Originally Posted by abusedtoy

I am intrigued when you say you have C-PTSD caused by medical professionals and the mental health system. Can I know in what way have you been harmed?

I think those who have longer history of trauma is not a quick fix and it makes sense to be done for at least several years, as Amy said above.

It wasn't by mental health professionals, but by (somatic) doctors and stuff. Result is that I'm afraid of anyone who's earned their stethoscope or white coat or has a treatment table (that one is a biggy).

I am a survivor of medical torture. I spent almost 3 months in The Hell (as I call the place) where the doctors and physical therapists ruined my leg to the point of needing amputation.

I had prior "A-criterion" traumas but the torture is what kicked off the PTSD.

(A-criterion trauma is the 'technical' term used in my country for trauma the DSM lists in the A criterion of PTSD)

I walk with a prosthetic now. The physical disability is far less of a bother than the PTSD. After the amputation I wasn't able to go to school for a while (2 years) because of my mental problems. When I went again - Special Education - my classmates found it puzzling at first that I was in "mental" SpecEd and not in "physical" SpecEd. Took them less than two days to fix that puzzle.

Originally Posted by abusedtoy

. So with each session, is it a baby step each and every time? I am still trying to understand about the progress of my therapy, because it seems to be really slow, but then my therapist is really warm and understanding though. She never hurt me at once.

Thank you for your kind words.

Recovery is definitely not linear for me...there's progress and setbacks. Relapses happen, which is to be expected even among non traumatised patients. But T and I definitely feel I am a different person from when I first started. My home environment is still harmful to me (my parents are still emotionally abusive and I live with them and the sibling who traumatised me) so progress is slower than it could be if I were in a safe environment.

[abusedtoy]

Originally Posted by QuietMind

Thank you for your kind words.

Recovery is definitely not linear for me...there's progress and setbacks. Relapses happen, which is to be expected even among non traumatised patients. But T and I definitely feel I am a different person from when I first started. My home environment is still harmful to me (my parents are still emotionally abusive and I live with them and the sibling who traumatised me) so progress is slower than it could be if I were in a safe environment.

This makes sense. I am glad that you have made progress from the time you have started the trauma work with your T. I am sorry to hear about the persistent abuse that you are still suffering. Is it because you are underaged, as you say "your parents", so that is why you cannot live separately from them to avoid the continuous emotional and physical abuse from them?

Originally Posted by abusedtoy

This makes sense. I am glad that you have made progress from the time you have started the trauma work with your T. I am sorry to hear about the persistent abuse that you are still suffering. Is it because you are underaged, as you say "your parents", so that is why you cannot live separately from them to avoid the continuous emotional and physical abuse from them?

Sadly much to my shame, I am approaching 30 in a few years. In my Chinese culture and cost of living in my Asian country, adults live with their parents until they marry, sometimes even after marriage. Some live with their parents till their parents die. Multigenerational households are also common.

I no longer experience physical abuse and the emotional abuse is rare now. But they do like to threaten to kick me out or disown me. Fortunately I have friends now where I can land should I get kicked out (I would not qualify for shelters) but still I stay while I make longer term plans...partly because leaving would mean the entire dysfunctional extended family making trouble. Making plans more than a year is difficult due to the sense of foreshortened future.

T believes I will move out eventually, but respects my wish not to be pressured to leave (complicated). I know she wishes I'll leave though

You have a great T. While she has not yet hurt you, there may come a time when she unintentionally does. That has happened several times with my T and we talked about it and emerged stronger.

Also outside of therapy, I have found some solace with friends whom I slowly got to know through peer support groups. They too have had traumatic upbringings, some with DID diagnoses, some BPD etc.

I never had healthy and supportive friendships before until three or four years ago. Always had been bullied and harassed in school and in work.

[abusedtoy]

Originally Posted by QuietMind

Also outside of therapy, I have found some solace with friends whom I slowly got to know through peer support groups. They too have had traumatic upbringings, some with DID diagnoses, some BPD etc.

I never had healthy and supportive friendships before until three or four years ago. Always had been bullied and harassed in school and in work.

I understand about being bullied, because I have been bullied from year one, pretty much every single year throughout primary school to high school, even as a university student. This is just one out of seven types of trauma I have been through. I hope you will be able to leave the unsafe place with your family soon. I have DID, but my psychiatrist has diagnosed me with C-PTSD, which is a one-size-fits-all disorder as he said to me, which includes dissociative identities. I have BPD partly also, but my psychologist said C-PTSD is the umbrella term for it already.

[NP_Complete]

I agree with what everyone here has said. It will take as long as it takes and you can't really put a timeline on it. My therapist has said, and I think he's right, that we will probably be working together for years. He's told me that it may take over a year just to get past my latest trauma. It's not been easy. In fact, it's been really hard. I'm seeing him 3 times a week right now, just to feel I can cope with the hopelessness I feel.

[abusedtoy]

Originally Posted by NP_Complete

I agree with what everyone here has said. It will take as long as it takes and you can't really put a timeline on it. My therapist has said, and I think he's right, that we will probably be working together for years. He's told me that it may take over a year just to get past my latest trauma. It's not been easy. In fact, it's been really hard. I'm seeing him 3 times a week right now, just to feel I can cope with the hopelessness I feel.

3 times a week--how much do you need to pay per session and altogether for a week of 3 sessions? I find a single session is expensive, so I could not afford for 3 times, for instance. Thank you for sharing with me.

Also, what is your latest trauma about?