A member asked:

How long is the average time for seeing results in psychotherapy? (not necessarily in my condition)

12 doctors weighed in across 5 answers
Dr. Pamela Pappas answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

It depends: This depends on the condition being treated, the type of psychotherapeutic work being done, the commitment of the patient, and the training ; skill of the therapist. For specific questions about your own situation, please discuss with your psychotherapist.

Answered 1/26/2016

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No standard answer: There's no standard answer-- it really depends on what the difficulty is and what you are hoping to get out of therapy. For common conditions like depression or anxiety, there is a pretty good chance that you will start to feel better within weeks. To address longstanding, underlying issues-- causes, not just the symptoms-- 6-12 months would not be unusual.

Answered 12/23/2015

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It depends: The most repsonsible answer I can give you is it depends on the patient, the issues, and the psychotherapist. I have had patients come for just a handful of sessions (10-15) and I have had patients who have been with me for years. Those who undergo analytic training (as I have) see their analysts multiple times a week for years on end. It also depends on what you want to get out of the experience.

Answered 1/26/2016

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Dr. Barbara Lavi answered

Specializes in Clinical Psychology

Within six to: 8 weeks of psychotherapy, U should notice some improvement, but it could take longer depending on the issues U R dealing with and your diagnosis. Remember, the hour in psychotherapy is simply the catalyst 4 work U need to be doing throughout the week between therapy sessions. If U R not thinking about and acting on what you have discussed in therapy outside of sessions things won't change.

Answered 6/11/2017

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Length of therapy: There is great variety on treatment length across diagnosis and therapeutic approaches.

Answered 1/26/2016

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