How Many Therapy Sessions Do I Need?

This detailed blog answers your question: how many therapy sessions do I need? To save you some more time, the answer is: it depends. The therapeutic process varies for everyone with their unique needs and situations. Many factors come into play for the effectiveness of therapy. 

 

It’s commonly thought that therapy can be used as a drop-in session. This is for individuals to come to one session, discuss their issue, and leave with a clear resolution. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Therapy is a personal commitment that involves building trust and confidence in your therapist. 

 

Starting therapy can be intimidating and confusing – you’re not really sure what to expect. You’re not keen on opening up off the bat, which is perfectly fine and always welcomed! Therapists go at your own pace and comfort level. Especially in situations where you are processing trauma – rushing to open up can do more harm than good.

 

Make sure to read our blog on How to Process Trauma. It details an introduction to trauma, the 3 stages of trauma processing, and who to work with. For trauma therapy in Simi Valley, CA, consider working with our trauma-informed therapists!

 

How Many Therapy Sessions Do I Need?: What to expect going starting therapy

For someone new to therapy, you may be unsure about what to expect. There is a lot to consider, including scheduling, availability, having the right fit, cost, and more. On top of that, you may be wondering what role your therapist will play for you. How does the therapeutic process work? We will get into all of that in the next sections.

 

For now, here’s some information on initial consultations, your first session, and consistency in therapy:

 

Initial Consultation

The initial consultation is the first step for starting therapy. In this, the therapist or intake coordinator will speak with you over the phone. This is a great opportunity for you to ask any specific questions and get clarification on what to expect. Within these initial consultations, you can expect that they’ll share their hourly session fee. They will disclose if they’re paneled with insurances, and explain how that works.

 

From there, they may share if their therapy services are offered in-person or virtually. This is also a chance to review availability to understand if it will work out for both of your schedules. Committing to the same time and day is standard, as therapists often don’t have much flexibility during their week. 

 

The therapist may also ask for a brief summary of what you’re wanting to address and the type of service. This includes sharing information about your mental health symptoms, situations, or goals. It’s important for therapists to know this, to determine whether they’re the appropriate fit for your needs. 

 

Intake Assessment

Here at New Leaf Marriage & Family Therapy, we go through a thorough intake assessment over the phone. Once it’s determined that you’re comfortable with fees, availability, and therapist, this is the next step. As mentioned before, we want to ensure that we’re the appropriate fit for your needs.

 

This is important in therapy. For specific issues needing specializations, such as OCD, it’s crucial that you receive the proper treatment. Therapists have their own niches and specializations. While they generally practice in a wide range of scope, there are some issues or populations that they are not specialized with. For that reason, we may refer you out to someone who can best support you!

 

Our intake gathers basic information, mental health & medical health history, and goes through screening questions. These questions are essential in determining that our level of care is a good fit. As we meet once per week, there may be times where you could use support more often than that.

 

After this intake is completed, you can expect to be scheduled for your first session. Looking for more information on contacting us for therapy? Head here to our contact page.

 

First Session

Welcome to your first ever session in therapy! Your therapist is excited to start working with you. After reviewing your intake assessment, they are equipped with important information to hit the ground running. The intake gives them a solid foundation in things they can address with you and gather more information about.

 

You can expect to have some new client paperwork to fill out before your session – similar to a doctor’s office. This includes reviewing the practice policies, privacy practices, and consent forms that require your signature. Additionally, you’ll enter in your payment or insurance information. 

 

This is all reviewed in the first session to make sure you agree with everything before moving forward. If these paperworks are not completed and reviewed, this may delay your first session starting. However, once that is all reviewed in the beginning, it’s time to introduce yourself. 

 

Prepare to give your therapist some background on what’s going on lately. How are you feeling today? What came up for you this week? What’s your schedule filled with? Who’s in your life? Plan to begin sharing some details about what you’re wanting to talk about or accomplish in therapy. 

 

Our therapists in Simi Valley, CA work from a trauma-informed approach. Make sure to read our blog on How Long Should I Be in Therapy?

 

Consistency in Therapy

Consistency in therapy is key. This helps for you and your therapist to work together and address both past and present issues. With consistent sessions, your therapist will continue to get to know you at a steady pace. They can more efficiently track your symptoms, progress, and assess your goals. 

 

Because of this, we do not recommend scheduling sessions on a monthly basis to begin. It’s understandable that issues like scheduling and finances can get in the way. However, this can cause your therapeutic process to move slowly. There will be too much time in between your sessions, and you will be playing catch-up.

 

When you start off on weekly sessions, therapy is more effective. You establish rapport, trust, and comfort with your therapist. With that, you can begin getting into more vulnerable areas. It can also help the therapist understand the best way to support you. From there, you can really work towards your established goals!

 

We hold therapy near Northridge, CA. We’re just at the end of the Santa Susana Valley. Make sure to read our blog on How is Therapy an Investment?

 

How Many Therapy Sessions Do I Need?: The role your therapist plays

What role does your therapist play for you? To start this section off, just know that the role is not telling you what you should do. Perhaps you are conflicted about some issues in your life, such as your relationship. You’re not sure if you want to stay in a relationship with someone. Therefore, you seek out a therapist to see if you should make-up or break-up.

 

While this is a valid and good reason to seek out counseling, your therapist will not flat out share their advice. Their role is to help guide you through your own thoughts and feelings. They will help you assess all areas of your relationship. Maybe there are things you haven’t discovered about yourself that contribute to this uncertainty. 

 

Your therapist is here to support you non-judgmentally. They are here to challenge your thinking, provide goals to work towards, and be a safe space. It’s understandable that you want some answers – and you want them now. However, there’s a lot more that ties into your daily behavior and thinking. This includes past experiences, current situations, and more.

 

Interested in couples therapy in Simi Valley, CA? Make sure to read our blog on Individual Therapy or Couples Counseling?

 

How Many Therapy Sessions Do I Need?: How the therapeutic process works

Essentially, you’re confiding who you are into your therapist. Some things take time to open up and share, especially if you harbor shame or guilt. It’s common to feel afraid of speaking about certain topics. If you struggle with suicidal ideation, you may be worried you’ll be hospitalized. It’s important to share these concerns with your therapist, for in-depth conversations. 

 

Your therapist is focused on protecting your confidentiality and making it feel okay to talk about difficult topics. To make progress in therapy, opening up about vulnerabilities goes a long way. Your therapist can prompt you questions to help you gain deeper insight and self-awareness.

 

Sessions consist of checking in about goals and discussing your mental, emotional, and physical health. Some sessions can feel incredibly productive, while others leave you feeling like you would have benefited more. That’s all a part of the ebb and flow of therapy. 

 

You and your therapist will build a close professional relationship. You are not casual friends outside of therapy, as it is a business service. However, this does not mean that your therapist does not genuinely care and want the best for you. They do! Your therapist wants to see you cope and achieve your goals outside of therapy.

 

The ultimate goal for therapy is for you to graduate sessions with an array of benefits. This includes greater coping, greater self-awareness, greater self-regulation, and more. Even after graduating therapy, you may want to continue check-ins as needed. Therefore, contact us today for more information on therapy in Simi Valley!

 

In-person therapy in Simi Valley is ideal for those seeking a separate, safe space from their home. Check out our blog on Online Therapy or In Office Therapy to understand what format is best for you. Another great blog to read is ours on if you need Therapy or Medication to address your issues.

 

By seeking out support, you can begin your journey to feeling relief. You don’t have to go through finding the right level of support alone, either. By clicking here, you’ll read our blog on Information About Simi Valley Therapists.

 

Consider calling our therapy group at (805) 774-1506 for a free consultation on how you or a loved one can get started today!

 

Seek out a validating, safe environment with us today. We will help you get to where you want to be. Our therapists provide trauma therapy, teen therapy, individual adult therapy, LGBTQIA+ therapy, anxiety therapy, depression therapy, family therapy, and more in-office in Simi Valley, CA.