Therapy Sessions: Your Path to Mental Wellness

Therapy sessions involve meeting with a qualified therapist to discuss and work through personal or emotional challenges.

therapy sessions FAQ

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How are therapy sessions structured?

How sessions are structured can vary depending on depending on the type of therapy you're getting and the type of problem you want help with. Time-limited, meaning your therapy will come to an end after a set number of sessions. Most therapists through the NHS offer time-limited sessions.

What happens during a therapy session?

During a session, your therapist may take you through specific exercises designed to help with your problem, or you might have more general discussions about how you're feeling. What you talk about will vary depend on what you want help with and the therapist’s approach. It could include: Your therapist will be impartial but understanding.

What is a therapist's first session?

Some therapists might call your first session a 'taster session', a 'consultation' or an 'intake session'. But these generally involve the same thing. Your first session is for setting expectations and starting to build trust between you both. The type of therapy they provide, and how it could help you specifically

How long does a therapy session last?

Most therapists through the NHS offer time-limited sessions. Open-ended, meaning it can continue for as long as you need it. This is something that is more commonly offered by private therapists. One-to-one sessions typically last between 50 minutes and an hour, but group sessions can sometimes be longer.

How many sessions can a therapist offer?

Ask your therapist in advance how many sessions you’ll have as you may only be offered a limited number. Brief therapy or short-term therapy, for example, can be a maximum of six to 12 sessions. The length of a session can vary according to your therapist’s training and how the therapy is delivered.

How long is a therapy session?

Brief therapy or short-term therapy, for example, can be a maximum of six to 12 sessions. The length of a session can vary according to your therapist’s training and how the therapy is delivered. For one-to-one therapy a session generally lasts 50 minutes to an hour but for specialist therapy, such as trauma treatment, it can be longer.