Published April 23, 2025
Written by Jennifer Ramirez, Medically Reviewed by Damla Ricks
One question we often get at the beginning of a counseling journey is how many sessions or length of time will counseling consist of. This question is understandably important as it can affect time commitments and budget. There are so many factors to consider when estimating the length of treatment, including the type of treatment and the severity of a client’s issues.
According to the American Psychological Association 2017 research shows an average of 50 percent of clients require 15 to 20 sessions to recover from symptoms. Clients who start individual therapy, often start off at once a week. So how can you determine how long your therapy will be and what are factors to look at? Keep in mind, every person’s situation is different and you may require more or less than the average person. One thing we can agree on is therapy is NOT a one time fix it all solution.
The Circumstances That Brought You to Counseling
The nature of your reasons plays a significant role in the amount of treatments. It is important for the therapist and client to determine goals together. ‘Graduation’ from therapy can be viewed as when set goals have been accomplished. Length of treatment can also change as new issues may arise or setbacks may occur. Therapist and client will want to make sure they often review how progress is going and if they are still on track in meeting their goals.
For anxiety or depression, it can average 10 to 20 sessions. The goal of sessions is to understand triggers, the reasoning behind behaviors, and tools to use in addressing such behaviors. Once you start utilizing tools, you will want to continue to meet to discuss how the tools are working, what changes need to be made, and what has been effective or not effective. The ultimate goal is can one learn to control their emotional behaviors through self reflection and tools.
Mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or severe abuse will likely need more intensive and more over all treatments.
The Type of Therapy
There are several types of psychotherapy used in counseling, and therapists can often utilize one or combine several, depending on presenting symptoms. The type of therapy used can also determine the number of treatments given before results are seen.
Types of therapy can include, but not limited to, Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), Interpersonal therapy, Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), Psychodynamic therapy, and Supportive Therapy.
For some, CBT can be seen as a short term approach that uses behavioral therapy in addition to studying patterns. It is structured and goal oriented. This is often the most common type of therapy and involves self reflection of ones owns beliefs and feeling of themselves. Sessions can average between 8 to 20 sessions and can be used with issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress. It can also be used with some substance or eating disorders.
DBT is often used for people with intense emotional patterns and works on improving emotional regulation. This form of therapy can often be effective with clients diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and those with other conditions including PTSD, bipolar, or substance disorders. It can also be used in clients with suicidal ideation and self harming behaviors. DBT can average 6 months to year, including individual and group therapy.
It is important to discuss with your therapists the type of therapy they incorporate and what the plan looks like.
Your Commitment to “Doing the Work” in Therapy
As with learning and becoming skilled at any new task, counseling results are correlated with how much effort and commitment you put in. This can include ‘homework’ or tasks to complete outside of sessions. As the saying goes, “nothing changes if nothing changes”. You have to work hard to see results which go hand in hand with wanting to change. If you are only doing sessions to appease others and truly aren’t wanting to improve oneself, then results will be harder to achieve.
In conclusion, there is no one right answer for any client. While our clients may average 10-12 sessions, it is important to understand counseling expectations from the start. Have these discussions with your therapists based on your needs, symptoms, and diagnosis. Your mental health journey plan should be made just for you. Remember, change doesn’t happen over night.
Healing First Counseling services teens, adults, couples and families in Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, and surrounding areas. We offer both in-person and telehealth sessions and can incorporate the types of therapy to meet your needs.
Damla Ricks is a Licensed Professional Counselor working on her Ph.D. in Family and Marriage Counseling. She is trained in trauma and system based therapy. She works with adults, couples, and families. On the side, she is also a full time college instructor in Communication Studies with 17 years of experience in higher education.