How long should I stay in therapy?

People have counselling for various reasons, and to achieve many different aims.

Some use it only for a short period, to help them through a particularly difficult time in their lives like a relocation, divorce, or bereavement.

Short-term work typically lasts between ten and 20 sessions and is faster-paced and specifically solution-focused, as clearly there is not time for a more exploratory, broad-ranging approach.

People who need help to tackle self-destructive behaviours – like heavy drinking, over-eating, or porn, gambling or internet addictions – can benefit from longer-term counselling, lasting a year or more. This is because getting to the root of our distress eases the pressure to distract ourselves in old, unhelpful ways, and helps us develop new, healthier patterns of behaviour.

If you want short or medium-term therapy, DO discuss with your counsellor at the outset how many sessions you would like…