How long does counselling take?

How long counseling takes can vary depending on the individual, the type of therapy, and the nature of the issues being addressed. That said, there are general trends and findings in the research literature that suggest, with the right service and connection with their therapist, clients should expect to experience benefit in 6-12 sessions. Using the Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) in our sessions, we will monitor what effect the counselling is having on you and make changes as necessary to maximize the quality of your care. If the ORS and your own experience show limited benefit, we’ll use that information early to clarify your needs further and develop a plan the connects you to a different service that matches your needs.

Ultimately, to get the most out of counselling early on, I encourage everyone to ask themselves the following questions and, should any be an issue, please bring them up with their counsellor;

• Is this therapy helping me make changes or are things more or less the same?
• Does my therapist ask questions about my experiences and whether their changing?
• Do I have a goal for myself and am I moving towards it?
• Does my therapist understand me and my needs?
• Do I have hope that I or my concern will, in some way, improve?

For further reading on the subject, I have included some references below;

Lambert, M. J., & Ogles, B. M. (2004). The Efficacy and Effectiveness of Psychotherapy. In M. J. Lambert (Ed.), Bergin and Garfield’s Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change (5th ed., pp. 139–193). John Wiley & Sons.

Howard, K. I., Kopta, S. M., Krause, M. S., & Orlinsky, D. E. (1986). The dose–effect relationship in psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 41(2), 159–164.

Wampold, B. E., & Imel, Z. E. (2015). The Great Psychotherapy Debate: The Evidence for What Makes Psychotherapy Work. Routledge.

Norcross, J. C., & Lambert, M. J. (Eds.). (2018). Psychotherapy relationships that work III. Oxford University Press.

Swift, J. K., & Greenberg, R. P. (2012). Premature discontinuation in adult psychotherapy: A meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 80(4), 547–559.

It’s important to note that the effectiveness of counseling depends on various factors, including the client’s specific concerns, the therapeutic approach used, the quality of the therapeutic relationship, and the individual’s readiness for change. It’s advisable to consult multiple sources and consider the nuances of each study when exploring this topic.