“How often should you see a therapist for depression?”
I am a 29 year old male. I have depression and want to see a therapist. How often should you see a therapist?
8 Answers
The frequency of therapy is based on your level depression. It is individual based. Most frequently, you will engage in therapy once to twice a week.
As often as helps you cope with debilitating depression, anywhere from once a week to daily, and/or as often as will help you to gain insight in analytic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis. It is common to see your analyst more than once a week to work through and gain insight while achieving symptom reduction.
Dr. H
Dr. H
Typically patients see their therapists once a week; however, this can be altered depending on the severity of one's depression and the availability of the therapist.
The therapist may have an opinion on how often you might want to come in for outpatient sessions depending on how severe is your mood disorder and the type of therapy they do (some methods of psychotherapy are more effective once or twice a week, especially at initial stages, and other methods that does not matter as much). If I am working with someone who has suicidal thoughts or other more potentially risky symptoms, but they do not need hospitalization or day treatment, then I might suggest at least weekly sessions. Common rates for my clients are every other week, and at a minimum monthly, for less severe issues or more like maintenance check-ins.
Your therapist that you see will do what’s called an initial evaluation. Based the findings of the initial evaluation, you and your therapist will set a schedule for appointments afterwards. Typically, it can go weekly and more or less as the two of you determine.
Hi,
Depending on the severity of the depression, I would say no less than once a week. If it’s very severe, you may need a day program where you go to half day of therapy. Less severe, but still high up there - meet twice a week a week until you feel a bit better and then you can go down to once a week. When you are starting to terminate therapy - go down to once in two week.
Best Regards,
Eval Gal-Oz, PhD
Depending on the severity of the depression, I would say no less than once a week. If it’s very severe, you may need a day program where you go to half day of therapy. Less severe, but still high up there - meet twice a week a week until you feel a bit better and then you can go down to once a week. When you are starting to terminate therapy - go down to once in two week.
Best Regards,
Eval Gal-Oz, PhD
Hello. This would depend on several factors. An initial appointment with a therapist will assist the therapist in understanding your background and the severity of your depression. Once understood, the therapist will recommend a treatment plan, which would include the frequency of sessions. At a minimum, once weekly sessions are standard to make change. More may be recommended if the condition is acute or severe.
See this link. It should help you understand the Q you are asking.
https://www.webmd.com/depression/recovery-overview
https://www.webmd.com/depression/recovery-overview
