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How Long Will I Need Therapy?

Whether it's online therapy for yourself or in-person family counseling, find out the factors that determine the length of treatment
How long will I need therapy

If you're considering therapy or seeing a therapist currently, you may be wondering how long the therapy process will take. To answer the question candidly, there is no certain answer to this question!

The therapeutic process has many elements that determine the length of treatment, including:

  • The goals identified in therapy, your background including your childhood issues

  • Any recent traumas or ones that are rooted deeply in your past

  • Existing mental health conditions

  • The treatment the therapist uses

  • The severity of your symptoms

It's very difficult to say how long you may need to talk to a therapist because therapy is not meant as a quick-fix. You may find during the course of treatment that some of your presenting issues go deeper than you initially thought. You may come into therapy for a specific issue or concern and solution-based therapy can make a significant positive impact on your life. You may find within 6-8 weeks with working with a therapist you can unravel your thoughts, emotions and be able to cope with the situation with more ease.

Usually, from the beginning, your therapist will ask your goals for therapy and during the time you spend together, they will offer you feedback so you can identify the transitions that you are going through.

If you have gone into therapy with complex childhood traumas you may find it takes time and during this time it is important to be gentle on yourself and work through the issues with your therapist.**** It is a time of patience and exploration. You may feel that it's not working for you, perhaps your therapist has left you feeling a little unsettled with the pace of therapy, maybe it's too fast or too slow


Posted: 11 February 2019
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Lisa Meighan, GMBPsS MSc Psych

Lisa is a licensed mental health counselor with an eclectic style of therapy to fit every client

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