Although Americans Feel Good About Counseling and going to therapy has shed much of its shameful reputation, many seeking mental health treatment express confusion about the therapeutic process itself.
Even before the first appointment is scheduled, you might ask us, “How long does therapy take?” Since we don’t yet know you, it’s impossible to provide an answer. You are so uniquely different from every other client your therapist has seen. What works for one client may not work for another. But there are a few factors that go into the length of your therapeutic treatment.
Therapy Is Tailored to the Individual
Some come to us with a specific challenge or goal in mind. Others may want to take a more general approach, seeking overall personal growth and increased self-awareness.
In your first therapy session, your therapist will ask about your therapy goals and expectations. If your child is being seen, the therapist will meet with a parent or parents and learn what their goals are for their child.
Some common therapy goals include:
Your unique circumstances and goals, often times changing along the course of therapy, will direct the type and length of treatment. Therapy could last just a few sessions, or it could take months to yield the results you’re looking for. There really is no one-size-fits-all approach.
What Factors Affect Therapy Timelines?
The length of treatment depends on several factors:
What’s the Bottom Line?
We know you’re eager to have an answer to specifically “how long does therapy take.” It’s helpful to think of therapy in the same context as working out at the gym.
We don’t decide to get fit, go to the gym 2 or 3 times, and expect to come out looking like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, right? Getting fit requires discipline, lifestyle changes, and working toward your goals, one day at a time.
Therapy is much the same. Reaching your therapy goals will take diligence, commitment, and integrating the tools and skills you learn in therapy. This right here is the greatest forecaster of how quickly you’re progress toward your therapy goals.
Are you ready to try therapy? Request a Free Phone Consultation by completing the brief form below. A member of our team will reach out to you. After speaking, we will be able to help you determine whether our practice and which “solution-focused” therapist would be the best fit for you. If our practice is not ideal for you or your loved one, we are happy to offer recommendations to possible providers in the Denver metro area.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Teri Karjala is a Licensed Professional Counselor & Marriage and Family Therapist. She is the founder and Executive Director of Creative Counseling Center, LLC. Working in the field since 1999, Teri and her team of therapists specializes in counseling for those who have experienced trauma. They work with children as young as age 2, as well as teens and adolescents, adults, seniors, families, and couples.
If you have questions about counseling, would like to find out if counseling could help you or a loved one, or are interested in learning more about our services, just complete the brief form below to request a Free Phone Consultation. A member of our team will contact you shortly. After a brief conversation, we'll determine together whether our practice is right for you and which therapist may be best suited for your specific circumstance.
Finding the right therapist, one you click with, is less about the therapist's experience and qualifications and more about the therapist's personality. So let's talk. Let us match you with a therapist you have a high likelihood of clicking with.
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