Going to therapy can be an incredibly beneficial experience, but it can be difficult to know how frequently you should go. It’s important to find the right balance between regular visits but also creating time and space to further process what you have learned/need to work on. It is almost like going to the gym, though going frequently is good, if you go and train something too often without allowing your muscles to recover you end up hurting yourself more and get burnt out. Therapy is similar, we want to go often enough to have consistency that encourages change, yet space for personal healing too.
This is why it is important to decide in advance what you are willing to put in. How much of your time, your energy, your raw emotions, your fears and so on are you truly going to put into each session? Therapy can only be as good as the participants willingness to find greater healing. Therefore, pre-determine what you are willing to sacrifice to insure you’re becoming the best version of yourself. In this article, we will explore some of the key factors to consider when deciding how often you personally should consider seeing your therapist.
Benefits of Weekly Therapy Visits
- A therapist can help provide guidance and support when facing personal struggles that are hard to navigate alone.
- A therapist can help you understand yourself better, and develop healthier coping mechanisms when difficult/challenging life moments occur.
- A weekly appointment can help you find consistency which help build healthy habits. Also, weekly appointments provide constant accountability, leading to more fruitful life change.
- A therapist can provide a safe and non-judgmental space to explore difficult topics and cultivate a plan to work through some of those challenges.
- A therapist can help you gain insight and perspective on your experiences and work towards personal healing and success.
Three Things to Consider
First, consider what your personal goals are. What are you hoping to get out of therapy? What do you need to internally work on to walk in greater healing and freedom? If you have a specific goal, such as resolving a particular problem or trying to develop a new habit, then more frequent visits could be a greater value to you. On the other hand, if you are just looking for support, then you may be able to take more time between visits.
Secondly, take time after you have tried out going to therapy (frequently or spaced out) and assess if you are making noticeable progress. If you are making progress, you may be able to decrease your session frequency or maintain the number of sessions you are currently doing. However, if you find that you are not making progress, then it may be beneficial to increase the frequency of your visits to help you reach your personal goals.
Third of all, think about the costs associated with therapy you are choosing to engage with. Depending on your financial situation, frequent visits may not be as feasible for you and your family. In this case, it may be beneficial to speak with your therapist about working together to create a plan that meets your needs while remaining within your budget; sometimes there are practices, skills, and homework you can work on throughout a week that you are not seeing a therapist to help keep integrate what you are learning in the forefront of your mind.
Finally, consider your availability and schedule. If you are able to make regular visits, then this may be beneficial in terms of consistency and continuity to aim for weekly sessions. However, if you have a busy schedule or financial limitations, then it may be difficult to commit to regular appointments and it is better to aim for bi weekly or even once a month. In this case, it may be worth discussing other options with your therapist so you can have enough sessions to see growth while honoring your life commitments.
Overall, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how often you should aim to talk with your therapist. It is important to consider your goals, assess your progress, consider the cost, and think about your availability before you commit to a plan. By doing so, you can create a schedule that works best for you and your therapist to insure the highest level of success. The true beauty of life is that if at the end of the day something isn’t working, take a step back, re-evaluate, and create a new plan. Your therapist is there to help walk with you and should be willing and able to make changes that fit your goals.
