“How many sessions do I need?” is a common question that I get when someone is considering therapy. I mentioned in my FAQ that the duration of counseling is a nuanced aspect that varies widely depending on individual needs, goals, and the nature of the issues being addressed. For couples, there are more/different factors to consider as each partner brings different things to the table.
It's essential to view the counseling journey as a dynamic process. Initial sessions often involve building rapport, establishing goals, and gaining insights into the client's concerns. As therapy progresses, the client and therapist collaboratively assess the effectiveness of interventions and adjust the treatment plan accordingly.
Clients experiencing acute or situational challenges may find relief and achieve their goals within a relatively short timeframe. Others facing chronic or complex issues may benefit from an extended therapeutic relationship, allowing for a more profound exploration and resolution of underlying concerns.
The number of sessions that my clients needed to complete treatment ranged from 6 sessions to 38 sessions*. See below for additional information about this:
Individual therapy
6 to 38 sessions
Average of 18 sessions
Couples Therapy
6 to 26 sessions
Average of 13 sessions
*Updated as of October 1st, 2023
Please note that this estimate is based on the clients that have completed treatment and does not include clients with complex mental health issues. This estimate is also based on my own work and should not be generalized or considered the “universal average” for estimated number of sessions needed to complete treatment.
The next question that people tend to ask is “how many sessions did clients with similar issues need?”. It is important to remember that while individuals attend therapy for similar issues such as anxiety, depression, etc. or couples attend therapy for communication issues, each person’s definition and experience of the issue is unique. For example, one couple might be struggling to communicate about household responsibilities while another couple might be struggling to communicate about their emotions. Each partner will also bring different experiences to the conflict, which adds to the uniqueness of the situation. Therefore, it becomes difficult to determine what is considered a “similar” issue as both couples can be described as struggling with ‘communication issues’ but have very different experiences.
Open communication between the client and therapist is crucial in determining the optimal duration of therapy. Regular check-ins on progress, goal reassessment, and ongoing dialogue ensure that the therapeutic process aligns with the evolving needs of the client. If you have any thoughts, questions or concerns regarding your treatment (such as your treatment duration), please bring it up during session and we can discuss this further.
Cassandra