How Often Do You See A Therapist?

[Padfoot]

For me it's been a bit random. I had the first session then the next available was 2 weeks later, the next is 4 weeks after that and a further 2 have been made, one a week later and one 2 weeks later. I'm meant to see a psychiatrist for a review but the next available is December at $750 for the session which I can't afford and we're leaving town at that time, probably end of November anyway. All others are booked out until next year.

Just wondering if anyone else is a little all over the place and random or at set intervals? I'm doing a lot myself as well of course.

 

[Abstract]

Personally I think random is not helpful unless you are far into your journey and especially as I believe you said you want to heal fast. Most places would have a standing appointment once weekly.

Almost all the therapy I have had has been done like that.

 

[rightkindofme]

I'm 27 years in to therapy. I have had periods where I went twice a week for six months or more. At this point I see my therapist 2-3 times per month because that is what I want to pay for and the level of support I feel I NEED. I can't only see a therapist 1-2 times per month. I don't stay stable enough.

 

[Saule]

For me it's been a mixture of more sporadic and set intervals. E.g. last year I saw my current T weekly for about 6 weeks, then more sporadically say every two weeks and then I stopped for many many months. Neither of us had quite worked out what was going on then though, and she was treating depression more than anything else.

This year it's been pretty much weekly for many months now. There was a six week break at one point though because I had to go away for study and I really fell apart at the end of that time. Now anything less than weekly seems daunting, but I do have to consider the cost as I'm now paying totally out of pocket. We recently talked about going to fortnightly and I was going to try to this week ... I caved though and made an appointment. So we're back to weekly for now.

The psychiatrist I see about once a month and that's free through a university health service.

 

[Padfoot]

We live in a rural area of North Qld so not much choice and everyone is booked out well in advance.

 

[Saule]

We live in a rural area of North Qld so not much choice and everyone is booked out well in advance.

Ah, there is so much difference in service provision depending on your area. I'm in a capital city so diff situation.

 

[Abstract]

Sorry to hear that Padfoot. I definitely think we can always work with what we can if we need to. Have you thought of booking up appointments the whole way through until you leave? Getting in there before anyone else.

 

[Seasounds]

Generally, I go once a week, unless I am in a crisis.
And I do have other supports, that I fit in, that assist my equilibrium: massage, Craniosacral Therapy, and the Alexander Technique.

If you want to go more frequently than your provider has availability, book ahead or find someone who makes weekly appointments. You are not too needy, if you want to go multiple times a week. Ideally, your needs would determine scheduling. Practitioners can have limited availability, if they let their practice get too large.

From what I know, the frequency that people attend therapy has to do with their condition, the style of therapy, their frequency preference, as well as their therapist's, their finances and/or insurance, and their mutual availability.
Your needs can be met,with the right person.

 

[franciemarnie]

I've been in therapy on and off for over 30 years. Sometimes it was every day. Not often but in emergencies. Standard was once a week, but more if needed.

In my 20's and early 30's, I just couldn't afford it but my doctor was okay with me paying $35 a month (can you imagine?) off what the total was for a while although I ultimately paid off the entire bill when I made more money.

Sometimes it was only possible to see him every two months.

I had to just work with the situations I had and do the best I could when I couldn't see him regularly sometimes. Sometimes the options weren't ideal, but things would change.

Change sometimes appears to be the only constant!

 

[DMerish]

Initially, I saw a therapist (T) weekly - a few times twice a week - for about two years. I diligently worked with tools that were introduced and it was extremely helpful. Several years later, I saw a T weekly for about six months. The third time (my current T) I saw for a little more than a year. That was in 2008-2009. I've seen her since a couple of times, and would have no reservation of seeing her again when needed, or for regular therapy, if I felt the need.

Everyone is different in what their needs are, but I'd think regular appointments during the initial year or so might be more helpful than seeing a therapist (T) sporadically - and liked Abstract's suggestion, i.e. making those appointments regular in advance. However, you mentioned the person you were seeing cost $750 a pop! Yikes!!!! That is an awful lot of money - is that the going rate for therapists in Australia?

 

[Nebulustrix]

My trauma was an abusive relationship, and I started seeing a therapist almost immediately after I left that relationship. My visits were very consistent - once a week and I could call if something came up and I needed to see her again outside my usual time. At this time my PTSD was pretty much controlling every aspect of my life - keeping me from sleeping, causing me to lash out at my family, leaving me tense and anxious every moment of every day, etc.

My therapist focused heavily on self-help skills, so that I could come up with good techniques and a support network that would help me regulate my PTSD on my own once I got past the worst of it with her. My frequency didn't change until I'd been seeing her for about a year and I was just about back to "normal". Then we went down to every other week, once a month, and then not at all - but in our last visit she said if anything ever came up and I thought I needed to meet with her again, I could always call.

I haven't been to a therapist in about three years, but I've also had very little difficulty with my PTSD in that time. I found this site now because it's cropping up again with this guy who's showing interest in pursuing a relationship with me- and I'm considering setting up appointments to start going back to therapy again.

 

[Saule]

@DMerish, there's a huge variance in cost in Australia depending on whether they're a psychiatrist, psychologist etc, level of experience, location, and whether they work for a public health service or in private practice. So some services might be totally free, some partially funded, and some completely out of pocket.