How long does therapy take? Short-term and longer-term work

There is no single answer to how long therapy takes, because it depends on what you are bringing, the type of therapy and how it is provided. On the NHS, courses are usually a set number of sessions: the NHS says CBT usually involves between 5 and 15 sessions, and NHS counselling between 8 and 16. Private therapy can be shorter or longer, and its length is agreed between you and your therapist and reviewed as you go.

Key points

• Most therapy takes place in regular sessions of around 50 minutes, according to the BACP.
• The NHS says CBT usually involves 5 to 15 sessions, and NHS counselling usually 8 to 16.
• Some approaches, such as CBT, are designed to be short-term; others, such as psychodynamic therapy, can be open-ended.
• In private therapy, how often and how long you meet is agreed between you and your therapist.
• Reviewing progress together helps you decide whether to continue, change focus or end.

How long is a therapy session?

The BACP says most therapy takes place in planned, regular sessions lasting around 50 minutes, and the NHS says counselling sessions usually last 50 to 60 minutes. Many people meet weekly, and NICE, for example, describes CBT for generalised anxiety disorder as weekly sessions. A regular rhythm can help the work build from one week to the next.

How many sessions does the NHS offer?

In England, NHS Talking Therapies offers free therapy for anxiety and depression, and you can refer yourself if you are registered with a GP. The NHS says the type of therapy depends on what you need and what is available locally, and you may be offered guided self-help first. Some typical figures from NHS and NICE sources:

• CBT: the NHS says you will usually have between 5 and 15 sessions, depending on what you are having it for.
• Counselling: the NHS says counselling on the NHS usually involves between 8 and 16 sessions.
• Guided self-help for depression: NICE says this usually consists of 6 to 8 structured sessions, with support from a trained practitioner.
• Therapy for depression: in its guideline on depression, NICE gives typical ranges of around 8 to 16 sessions for therapies such as CBT, interpersonal therapy, counselling and short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy, depending on severity, and says more may be needed for some people.
• CBT for generalised anxiety disorder: NICE says this usually consists of 12 to 15 weekly sessions of about an hour, fewer if the person recovers sooner and more if clinically required.

These are typical figures for structured NHS treatments, not limits on what any one person needs. Waiting times and what is offered vary from area to area.

How long does private therapy last?

Private therapy has no standard length. The BACP says how often you see your therapist and how many appointments you have depend on your individual circumstances and are agreed between you and your therapist. Some people come for a handful of sessions to work through a specific difficulty. Others stay for many months, or longer, because they want to explore patterns that have built up over a long time.

It can help to think about therapy in two broad ways.

Short-term or focused work

Short-term work usually has a clear focus, such as a particular worry, a recent loss, a decision or a change in your life. The BACP describes CBT as a short-term model, usually over weeks or a few months rather than years, and says the number of sessions is often discussed at the first appointment. Short-term work can be a good fit if you know what you want help with and would like to stay focused on it.

Longer-term or open-ended work

Longer-term work leaves more room to explore. The BACP describes psychodynamic therapy as often slow and gradual, with change that can spread into many areas of life, such as relationships and work. Open-ended therapy does not mean therapy forever: it means you do not fix an end date at the start, and you keep reviewing together whether it is still helpful.

Neither is better in every case. Some people start with a focus and find that something deeper opens up. Others begin with open-ended work and find they are ready to stop sooner than expected.

What affects how long therapy takes?

• What you are bringing. A single recent difficulty may need less time than patterns that go back many years or affect several areas of life.
• The type of therapy. Structured approaches such as CBT are usually designed to be time-limited; exploratory approaches often take longer.
• What you want from therapy. Some people want relief from a specific problem; others want to understand themselves more fully.
• How therapy is funded. The BACP notes that the number of sessions may depend on the setting or on how sessions are funded.
• Life outside therapy. Stress, support, health and practical circumstances all play a part.
• Pace. If difficult experiences are involved, going at a manageable speed can matter more than going quickly.

How do I know when to stop therapy?

The BACP describes regular reviews as part of integrative work: looking together at what is helping, what is not and what has changed. Reviews like this can help you decide whether to continue, change focus or begin to end. Signs that you might be ready to finish include feeling more able to manage on your own, noticing that what brought you to therapy has eased, or simply feeling that the work has reached a natural pause.

Ending is often worth planning rather than stopping suddenly. A few final sessions can give you space to look back at what has changed and think about what you will take forward. If you want to stop, or to change how often you meet, it is fine to say so. A good therapist will want to talk it through with you.

If you are wondering whether a long wait or cost will affect how long you can have therapy, my guide on how much therapy costs in London covers NHS, charity and private options.

How I work

I am an integrative psychotherapist registered with the BACP. My sessions are 50 minutes and usually weekly, online by secure video or in person in Farringdon, Central London. As with private therapy generally, how long we work together is agreed between us, based on what you want from therapy, and I cannot tell you in advance how many sessions you will need. My fees are listed openly, and you can read about what happens in a first session.

If you are in crisis, call 999, go to A&E, call NHS 111, or contact Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24/7).

If you would like to talk about what you are hoping for from therapy, you are welcome to get in touch to arrange an initial consultation. You can ask any questions you have about how the work might look.