During my first couple of years of practice I came to prefer brief to long term therapy as the most effective use of time. Particularly at times of crisis when people are aroused, focused and motivated. Valuable moments if spent mindfully.
time span
Someone incapacitated by trauma may take a couple of years to re-orientate. Someone who has worked through a problem but not quite pulled the threads together may just need a few minutes to collect their thoughts and notice what has not quite become obvious.
Intervals
I encourage clients to work out how many sessions and the intervals between them so we can meet when they can best use me and as few times as necessary. Some schedule regular times, others arrange them when they are needed.
Most of the work occurs outside the sessions so clients are usually able to work out the most effective way to space them out.
Someone whose memory and concentration has been disrupted by trauma may forget the work unless there is a structure of regular appointments so to start with I may book regular sessions in advance to maintain focus and continuity.
Extreme distress might need frequent time together to begin with and possibly also on demand at moments of crisis. And then perhaps weekly sessions until there is hope for the future and safe comfortable experiences to build on. And then perhaps monthly until they can progress by themselves with perhaps a yearly or half yearly catch-up.
This approach leaves a client in the driver's seat to do the work which fits well with the core principles.
episodes of care
People usually finish when their distress is no longer disabling or they feel more comfortable or have overcome an obstacle that brought them to me.
If they encounter difficulties or want to go further they can return to me or someone else from the more advanced starting point of knowing how to use us.
Each episode of care is a step up the ladder as are other healing events like eliminating lifestyle obstacles described on the top menu.