How many sessions will I need?
The short answer:
You decide! However, as a guide I would suggest that clients anticipate working in blocks of around 5 sessions.
The longer answer:
How many sessions a client will need depends on a huge number of factors:
Therapy Issue
Some therapy issues are less clinically complex than others. For example, with loss, grief and bereavement no amount of therapy will ever change that part of a person who is missed. On the other hand, sometimes just a relatively small number of sessions - perhaps a 6 session block - can be enough to help a client explore their own way of processing and accepting their loss.
In comparison, complex childhood issues, for example, might require an open ended course of therapy as it may take longer for a client to feel able to get in touch with their earlier life experiences, let alone begin to find a way past them.
Therapeutic Alliance
Put simply, therapy is most effective when clients and their therapist work well together. If the therapeutic relationship is strong, it may be that clients find themselves feeling more comfortable faster and therefore ultimately need fewer sessions in total. I believe that the ability to choose the therapist who is right for you is a crucial advantage in choosing to work privately.
Previous Therapy Experience
As with most things in life, getting the most out of therapy takes practice. However, once you have had success in therapy you are better placed to access it successfully again in the future. Likewise, if you have worked with me before, it may be that you will require fewer sessions if you work with me again (on the same issue or a new one) - this is partly because of the therapeutic alliance and partly because you will already have developed your self awareness and become more attuned with your congruent self.
Life Circumstances
Sometimes we might have a particular timeframe in mind when we enter into therapy. You might choose to start therapy, achieve one goal then take a therapy break. Often life events are unplanned - I have worked with people who have become unemployed, who have become parents, or who have experienced illness or disability which has led them to take a break in their therapy. That doesn't mean clients can't return to therapy in the future, but it may not be possible to "pick up where you left off".
Cost
Not every client has the same means to pay for long term therapy. Even if your employer is paying for your therapy as part of an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) they will only usually agree to pay for a limited number of sessions. I understand that cost can be a barrier, and you can find out more about his thoughts here.
Therapy Issue
Some therapy issues are less clinically complex than others. For example, with loss, grief and bereavement no amount of therapy will ever change that part of a person who is missed. On the other hand, sometimes just a relatively small number of sessions - perhaps a 6 session block - can be enough to help a client explore their own way of processing and accepting their loss.
In comparison, complex childhood issues, for example, might require an open ended course of therapy as it may take longer for a client to feel able to get in touch with their earlier life experiences, let alone begin to find a way past them.
Therapeutic Alliance
Put simply, therapy is most effective when clients and their therapist work well together. If the therapeutic relationship is strong, it may be that clients find themselves feeling more comfortable faster and therefore ultimately need fewer sessions in total. I believe that the ability to choose the therapist who is right for you is a crucial advantage in choosing to work privately.
Previous Therapy Experience
As with most things in life, getting the most out of therapy takes practice. However, once you have had success in therapy you are better placed to access it successfully again in the future. Likewise, if you have worked with me before, it may be that you will require fewer sessions if you work with me again (on the same issue or a new one) - this is partly because of the therapeutic alliance and partly because you will already have developed your self awareness and become more attuned with your congruent self.
Life Circumstances
Sometimes we might have a particular timeframe in mind when we enter into therapy. You might choose to start therapy, achieve one goal then take a therapy break. Often life events are unplanned - I have worked with people who have become unemployed, who have become parents, or who have experienced illness or disability which has led them to take a break in their therapy. That doesn't mean clients can't return to therapy in the future, but it may not be possible to "pick up where you left off".
Cost
Not every client has the same means to pay for long term therapy. Even if your employer is paying for your therapy as part of an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) they will only usually agree to pay for a limited number of sessions. I understand that cost can be a barrier, and you can find out more about his thoughts here.
