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How Often and For How Long?

As with most emotional or behavioural problems, early intervention can reduce the risk of developing a chronic psychological condition. Also, participating in couples therapy and marital therapy before problems become entrenched can help to prevent relationship breakdown.

Frequency of sessions is dependent on a variety of issues including, motivation, level of distress, timing, and financial feasibility. These issues are discussed during the initial consultation session. People often attend psychotherapy on an "installment basis".
For example, they start with regular appointments for a stretch of time to work on certain issues, returning periodically when issues arise in their lives or they are going through major transitions.

Another common question about psychotherapy is when should sessions end? Although I explore this issue with patients, I generally leave the decision up to them. A useful guideline offered by Sigmund Freud, the great grandfather of psychotherapy, states therapy is over when the patient (one who suffers) becomes an agent in his or her life and is happy in work and love. That criterion doesn't sound too bad to me.