Does therapy (or counselling) really have to happen weekly? Wouldn’t less frequent sessions be just as good?<\/h1>\n

One of the problems with going to therapy is that (in many cases) it’s a regular weekly commitment. Which can be a pain! A hassle. An inconvenience. A chunk of time out of your busy schedule. Not to mention a considerable expense.<\/p>\n

Yet it appears that a majority of counsellors and psychotherapists recommend weekly sessions, as opposed to less often.<\/p>\n

‘Use it or lose it’ – longer gaps can mean forgetting important themes and insights.<\/p>\n

You’re Honouring Your Growth Process<\/h3>\n

Making and keeping a weekly commitment allows you to show yourself that you are prioritising your healing and growth.<\/p>\n

Keep Open, Not Shut<\/h3>\n

It takes a lot to open up and get vulnerable; longer gaps between sessions mean you have more time to close up and harden inside, making your inner self less accessible for change and connection.<\/p>\n

Stronger Alliance<\/h3>\n

A strong therapy relationship is crucial for effective therapy, and this alliance is strengthened and deepened with a regular, predictable, frequent-enough connection.<\/p>\n

Less Catch-Up, More Deep-Dive<\/h3>\n

A longer gap between sessions means there’s more time for stuff to happen in your daily life, making therapy sessions more about catching up with recent events rather than focusing in depth on working on a particular issue.<\/p>\n

Keeping A LifeBelt Handy<\/h3>\n

Knowing that before too long you’ll have a session in which you can offload and discuss things, can help you manage your feelings better in day-to-day life.<\/p>\n

Mind the Gaps<\/h3>\n

Fortnightly (two-week) sessions can easily stretch to monthly if you or your therapist have to miss a session because of being sick or away.<\/p>\n

A Place to Land<\/h3>\n

Clients process feelings and insights after and between sessions, not just during the set therapy hour, and this can feel overwhelming if there isn’t the weekly session in which to ‘land’, unpack and express things.<\/p>\n

Avoiding Relapses<\/h3>\n

Longer gaps between sessions make it easier to fall back into familiar unwanted habits of thinking, feeling and behaviour.<\/p>\n

Practice and Repeat<\/h3>\n

Making changes involves repetition and practice, and weekly check-ins can support this.<\/p>\n

Holding in Mind<\/h3>\n

Weekly sessions can help the therapist and client to feel connected and to exist more clearly in one another’s mind.<\/p>\n

Building More Efficient Connection<\/h3>\n

A one-foot-in, one-foot-out pattern in therapy is more common with less frequent sessions; the consistency and commitment of weekly therapy builds connection and hastens healing and growth.<\/p>\n

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Weekly Sessions Mean Your Therapist is Supported to Help You Better<\/h2>\n

One last important point: Weekly therapy fits the financial model that many therapists rely upon.<\/p>\n

The average therapist has perhaps fifteen** client ‘slots’ per week. That’s how we earn our living and support ourselves and our family. That’s fifteen people’s inner worlds to hold with thoughtfulness, care, presence and emotional connection. But if each client only comes every two weeks, or every month, then that’s going to have to be 30 or 60 people’s inner worlds to attend to, to remember, and to deeply consider between sessions. (Because yes, we therapists do spend quite a lot of time between sessions considering you and your needs). Personally, I couldn’t do that and still be the kind of attentive, effective, emotionally-attuned therapist my clients deserve to have.<\/p>\n

If I want to pay my bills, and<\/em> look after my family and myself, and<\/em> strive to be an excellent therapist for every single one of my clients, I need to see each client regularly once a week for however long we decide to work together. (This is not to tie anyone into therapy for longer than necessary; it doesn’t matter whether their therapy lasts for a few weeks, a few months, or even a few years).<\/p>\n

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