How Long Does Therapy Last? What to Know Before You Start

When you're thinking about starting therapy, one of the most common questions is: How long is this going to take? It's a fair and honest question. Therapy is an investment of time, money, and emotional energy—and you deserve some clarity about what to expect.

The short answer? It depends. But let’s break down what influences the length of therapy, how to know if it’s working, and why “progress” looks different for everyone.

There’s No Standard Timeline—and That’s Okay

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how long therapy lasts. Some people work through a specific issue in a few months. Others stay in therapy for years as part of ongoing personal growth. Both are valid.

Here are a few things that shape the timeline:

• Your goals: Are you looking for support with a specific life event (like a breakup or career transition)? Or are you working through long-standing patterns, trauma, or relational dynamics?

• The severity and complexity of what you’re carrying: Chronic stress, early childhood trauma, or deeply ingrained coping patterns often take more time to untangle.

• How often you go: Weekly therapy is the standard—and at our practice, it’s what we recommend starting with. Meeting weekly helps build momentum, trust, and continuity, especially in the early stages. Some people later shift to biweekly or monthly sessions as they feel more resourced or begin transitioning out.

• Your level of readiness: Therapy moves at your pace. Sometimes clients need to build trust, establish safety, or navigate life changes that affect the process.

Short-Term vs. Long-Term Therapy

Some therapy models are designed to be short-term, focusing on a specific issue with a limited number of sessions. For example:

• Short-term therapy (like solution-focused therapy or brief CBT) typically lasts 8–16 sessions and targets one specific concern.

• Long-term therapy offers space for deeper exploration of patterns, relationships, trauma, and identity over time.

At Highland Park Holistic Psychotherapy, we take a more relational and depth-oriented approach. That means we’re not just focused on symptom relief—we’re interested in helping you understand the “why” beneath your patterns, heal core wounds, and build lasting change. This kind of work tends to unfold gradually, and we welcome clients to take the time they need.

It’s also common for people to come to therapy with one goal in mind, and as trust develops, discover other areas they want to explore. Therapy evolves—because you do.

Signs Therapy is Working

Therapy progress can look different for everyone, and it is not always linear. Some weeks might feel full of insight and growth—others might feel slower or even stuck. But over time, many clients start to notice shifts, such as:

• Feeling more emotionally regulated

• Gaining clarity around long-standing patterns

• Communicating more clearly in relationships

• Reacting less intensely to triggering situations

• Feeling more self-aware and self-compassionate

These changes are often subtle but meaningful. If you’re not sure whether therapy is helping, it can be helpful to reflect on where you started. You can also talk directly with your therapist about your progress—they can offer insight into what’s shifting beneath the surface.

Want more guidance on how to evaluate your progress? Check out our blog post on how to know if therapy is working.

How Do I Know When I’m Ready to Stop

Deciding to take a break or end therapy is a personal decision—and one that should be made in conversation with your therapist. Some signs you might be ready:

You’ve met your initial goals

• You’re using the tools and insights you gained, outside of sessions

• You feel more grounded, resilient, or resourced

• There’s less urgency or distress in your day-to-day life

Ending therapy doesn’t mean you failed or graduated. It just means you’ve gotten what you needed—for now. Many people return to therapy later in life when something new arises.

Final Thoughts

So how long does therapy last? It lasts as long as it’s useful. Whether that’s three months or three years, therapy can be a place for support, insight, and transformation. You don’t have to commit to forever—you just have to start.

Therapy for Individuals in Los Angeles, CA

At Highland Park Holistic Psychotherapy, our team of relational, trauma-informed therapists helps clients at all stages of the journey—whether you’re starting therapy for the first time or coming back to it after a break. We’ll work collaboratively to set goals that matter to you and move at a pace that feels right.

You can begin your therapy journey with one of our therapists in Los Angeles by following these steps:

1. Schedule a free consultation here

2. Learn more about our team

3. Start exploring how therapy can help you heal and grow

Other Services Offered with Highland Park Therapy

At Highland Park Holistic Therapy, we provide a wide range of mental health services, including depression therapy, anxiety treatment, grief counseling, trauma therapy, and other services, including online therapy, in our Los Angeles, CA office. You can also read more by visiting our blog, FAQ page, or our groups page.