In some ways, therapy is one of the more structured and routine things that you’ll ever do; it’s always 50 minute sessions, in the same space, with the same therapist every time. But, other things aren’t so defined, like what you talk about, or how many sessions you and your therapist have together.

If you were going to physical therapy, you might stop seeing your physical therapist when you can return to your typical activities without pain. But, it doesn’t feel as clearly defined when seeing a therapist, and it can be hard to know when you’re ready to transition out of therapy.

I like to be transparent with my clients, and I’ll do the same here by telling you this: From the first time I meet with a client, I’m already hoping that they will one day say “I’m ready to not schedule any more sessions” and say goodbye.

Of course, they can always return at any time, but the goal is that they develop the perspective and coping skills they need to manage their lives without my help. I believe that the only ethical way to practice as a therapist is to promote the personal development of my clients rather than dependence on me.

So, to help in this process, here’s my perspective on when to consider transitioning out of therapy.

1.     1. If you’ve met your goals, you might be ready.

As someone who has counseled many people through this process, I believe it’s crucial to set clear goals when you begin therapy so that you will know when you’re ready to be finished with therapy. You can be more efficient with your time in therapy if you can say how you want your life to be different as a result of therapy.

So, when you’ve made significant progress on your therapeutic goal, you’ll probably take one of two paths. The first path is that you’ll recognize how you’ve dramatically improved your life, see that you’ve used your time in therapy well, and remember it fondly as you part ways with your counselor. The second path is that you’ll realize that there’s something else in your life that is really distressing and needs attention, and then therapy will start to focus on that instead.

2.     2. If your sessions are mostly relaxed, you might be ready.

Like any therapist, I’m always happy when one of my clients has had a really good week and they’re feeling pretty good. These sessions feel more friends hanging out than a therapist and client talking through the toughest parts of their life. These sessions are really enjoyable, and they’re a reminder that anyone can change their life through therapy. However, if our sessions are like that week after week, I know that they’re very close to graduating from therapy.

3.     3. Try spacing out your sessions first.

If you’re worried that life might become really hard without regular therapy sessions, try seeing your therapist every two or three weeks as a test run. I’m sure your therapist will have no problem working that out with you, and that always leaves the door open to do weekly sessions again as needed. But, when you give every-other-week sessions a try, you might be surprised at how well you do.

Whatever your situation is, I encourage you to talk it through with your therapist and see what they think. My fingers are crossed that if you do work with a therapist, you’ll one day exchange a heartfelt yet happy goodbye with each other.

 

Thank you for reading my practice’s blog, my library of all the random thoughts that would make a terrible book but make a halfway-decent blog. To request a session or contact me, head to my Scheduling page to get in touch with me today!