[emmaleemochizuki]

So I have been in therapy for nearly 6 years now on and off since I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa when I was 15. I have been working with my current T for about two and a half years.

Even after that long we are still in very early stages of therapy, there is still a lot that's unspoken, and a lot unprocessed, and I have only just starting to open up a bit more. But I suppose I want to have a rough idea how long this is going to be, I know it's different for everyone.

2 years more? 3 years more?

If I am honest I never imagined to be in therapy with the same person for that long, but it's been over 2 years already.

[SlumberKitty]

As my former T used to say, "It takes as long as it takes." The only reason I stopped seeing her is because she got MS and was too sick to see clients. I saw her for 10 years. I've been with current T for 2 almost 2 and a half years. Before that I was with another T for 3 years. Plus I saw Pastor T for 9 months. And another T for 2 months. So altogether that's like 16 years of therapy. Sheesh.

[Miss Laura]

As you say therapy is a very personal thing. I have a therapist who i pay privately for. Its been I think 2 ish years. But technically I have been in therapy for 9 years as that is when the CMHT (community mental health team) gave me a CPN (community psychiatric nurse), I also have a peer support worker and a community support worker through the CMHT. Oh and also my Psychiatrist too from CMHT.

I never in a million years thought 10 years ago therapy would be my life. But it is. I talk about different things specifically with them all in my support team. Yes they all know the same info but sometimes cause I go out into the community with my peer support worker and community support worker things arise more so more info is said.

It's a journey, we are all on our own journey. I'm guessing there isn't really a time frame for therapy.... since we all grow at different rates. But you and your therapist will know when you no longer need them and can be discharged. They will give you the tools to use and the methods that work with and for you

[ArtleyWilkins]

My last round of therapy was about 10 years.

I knew it was time to stop because I realized I was managing the issues that came up in my life on my own whereas previously I needed the help of my therapist to get through those issues. I reached a place where I knew how to manage in healthy ways completely without prompting from my therapist. Our sessions reached a place where I really didn't have much more to talk about because by the time I got to his office, I had worked things out on my own.

We toyed with the idea of spacing out appointments a bit at a time, but I didn't even really need to do that as we discovered.

[MissUdy]

When you don’t feel any benefit from seeing them anymore? When they get rid of you. When you know everything is pointless. When you realise they will never love you. When you realise you could have therapy for 1000 years and still be broken.

[ArtieTheSequal]

My t always says that I'll know. Well, I've tried to force that "knowing" and have attempted to stop therapy several times over, and always end up going back! When I first started, I remember thinking "Oh, this will probably take like 6 months or something. I can handle that." Wasn't I cute.... t and I will reach the 9 year mark in 2 weeks.

[NP_Complete]

When things end with my therapist at the end of the year, we'll have been working together for almost 4 1/2 years. I'm honestly not ready. I think I would need at least a few more years to feel ready to leave. It's breaking my heart.

[guy1111]

I went until I felt ALMOST certain that I could make it on my own, but left it open ended. My therapist told me, if you get overwhelmed, just call and make another appointment. I think I went about 6 months until I had a breakdown and went back.

My point is, if you feel fairly confident, stop going but leave the door open. Just like anything else in life, you could go years without needing help maintaining until something breaks again. Or you just may get lucky and never need to go back.

Consider it a blessing you can see a therapist, but be grateful if you get to live life without one.

[just2b]

When you start to write a long email or text to T and realize what is the ****ing point!?!? When you are dissociated and numb about how you really feel about therapy and it hurts to much to think or imagine talking again.

[BarefootBeach]

I was just thinking about this subject. Great question for everyone to think about, especially when you have been in therapy for a significant time. I struggled with 'quitting' all the time for various reasons. However, in hindsight, I truly wish I followed my instincts and intuition, which was scrambled and the therapist knew this and further scrambled my instincts to where I did not trust myself at all. He said "You will know when you know." So, he created a very dependent bond and the manipulation began. When I brought up my concerns, he would always minimize or excuse them away, and I believed him. "Trust The Process", he would always say and when I balked, he blamed me for every thing. After about nine months of getting absolutely nowhere, I knew that was a message from my gut....that I ignored....ten years later, I began to wake from the stupor and pay attention to my guidance system that always whispered in my ear, yet I made excuses for. I was his 'project', as he called me; and I sat there like a complete fool. I was a cash cow for him. He created needs and re-traumatized me several times, sitting back knowing these issues would take a long time to 'work through', which kept the cash coming. Classic co-dependent/narcissistic dynamic; a damaging trauma bond was intentionally constructed. If people really struggle with this issue, talk to a trusted other or learn more online, via you tube, etc. Most importantly, really trust those feelings that keep hitting your antenna, they don't lie and are happening to protect you. I knew when I knew and finally left this dangerous person, which was really traumatic and sad.