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There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to how long to stay in therapy. Some people feel better after just a few sessions and are ready to move on. Others need more time, and may require long-term care based on the seriousness of their mental health condition.

Individual psychotherapy sessions typically last between 45 and 50 minutes. The frequency and duration of therapy will depend largely on your needs, treatment goals, and progress.

If you've found ways to budget for and make room for therapy for 2-3 weeks, it's likely that you can find ways to continue on for at least 3 months. So, for almost anyone who is considering therapy or who has made the decision to start, we'd encourage you to stick it out for 12 weeks minimum. Real change takes time.

People come to therapy to alleviate a disorder or symptoms and treatment lasts as long as those unpleasant symptoms exist, from a few weeks to a few years. If you are symptom free and that's all you wanted out of therapy, you're all done. In the wellness model, going to therapy is like going to the gym.

If you're going for individual counseling, then your session will last approximately 50-55 minutes. This 50-55 minutes is referred to as a "therapeutic hour." This is standard practice, although some clinicians will offer 45-minute sessions or 60-minute sessions.

The number of recommended sessions varies by condition and treatment type, however, the majority of psychotherapy clients report feeling better after 3 months; those with depression and anxiety experience significant improvement after short and longer time frames, 1-2 months & 3-4.