Guides
How long does therapy take?
The honest answer is that it depends—but “it depends” deserves an explanation, so here’s what it depends on.
Starting therapy
It’s one of the most reasonable questions to ask before starting therapy, and one of the hardest to answer in a sentence. Therapy isn’t a fixed procedure with a set number of steps. As I say on my FAQ, every person’s experience of therapy is different: you might come with one specific problem or feeling, or you might want long-term support, and either is welcome.
What shapes the length of therapy
A few things tend to make the biggest difference:
- What you’re bringing. A recent, specific stress is different from patterns that have been running for decades.
- What you want. You might want relief from one thing, or a deeper understanding of yourself.
- The approach. Depth-oriented work like Internal Family Systems and psychodynamic therapy tends to unfold over time.
- Your pace. Life, energy and readiness all affect how quickly the work can move, and that’s okay.
How often we’d meet
At least to begin with, we’d usually meet weekly. A regular weekly time gives the work room to build from one session to the next, rather than starting over each time. Later on, every other week can work well. Individual sessions are 45 minutes and couples sessions are 60, all by video.
Frequency is something we can revisit together. If life gets busy, or you feel ready to space things out, we’ll talk about what makes sense. It’s also common for the focus itself to shift once the work begins—sometimes the thing that brought you in turns out to be the doorway to something else.
Estimates, not promises
Before your first session I send a written Good Faith Estimate, which includes an estimated frequency and number of sessions for the coming twelve months. It’s required under the No Surprises Act, and it’s genuinely useful—but it’s an estimate rather than a commitment. If the plan for your care changes, I’ll update it and we’ll talk about it directly.
Because this is a private pay practice, decisions about the length of your therapy stay between us, rather than resting on an insurer’s view of whether your care is still medically necessary. My page on how fees work explains more about why I work that way.
Checking in along the way
It helps to know why you’re there. Every so often we’ll pause and look at how things are going: what’s shifted, what still feels stuck, and whether the focus or pace needs adjusting. You don’t have to wait for me to bring it up, either. If you’re wondering whether therapy is helping, say so—that conversation is part of the work.
Those check-ins aren’t a test you can pass or fail. They’re a chance to notice changes you might otherwise overlook—a conversation that once would have knocked you flat for a week now taking an afternoon to recover from, say—and to name honestly what still feels out of reach. Goals are allowed to change along the way, too.
Ending well
You may end therapy at any time. When it feels like the right moment, I’ll offer a closing session so we can look back at what’s changed and what you want to carry forward. If it would be useful, I can also suggest referrals to other clinicians. Ending on purpose, rather than drifting off, can be a meaningful part of therapy in its own right.
If you have questions about what therapy might look like for you, a free 15-minute consultation is a good place to ask them.
A few common questions
How many sessions does therapy usually take?
There isn’t a standard number. It depends on what you’re working on, what you want from therapy and the pace that suits you. We’ll talk about it openly, and your Good Faith Estimate gives a written starting point.
Can therapy be short-term?
It can be, if that’s what fits. Therapy can focus on one specific concern with a clear goal, or it can be longer-term support. We’ll figure out what makes sense for you rather than following a script.
Can we meet less often over time?
Often, yes. We usually start weekly, and later on every other week can be a good rhythm. It’s something we’d decide together based on how the work is going.