Many people assume that they should attend therapy once per week. In fact, that’s kind of seen as the “standard” way of doing counseling. But where does this come from? Is it an assumption insurance makes? Something that’s just “always how it’s been done?” What is easy to fit into a person’s schedule? Or what’s truly best for getting you the help you need. 

The truth is that once a week therapy isn’t always the answer to getting mental health results. And if you’re reading this blog post, you probably already know that on some level. Maybe your therapist suggested you come to counseling twice a week. Or you read about a specific type of therapy like Exposure & Response Prevention or Cognitive Processing Therapy that typically asks you to attend counseling sessions twice a week. And you were surprised.  You wondered, Is therapy 2x a week too much?

Deciding how often to attend therapy is an important choice, and the number of sessions you have can affect how well therapy works for you. While many people think once a week is the norm, the reality is that the best frequency depends on your individual needs, and the kind of therapy you’re getting. You might be wondering if therapy two times a week is too much? For some types of counseling, such as standard cognitive behavioral therapy, once a week is perfectly fine. However, for more intensive types of treatment two times per week may be needed. Our therapists both offering counseling near Blue Springs, Missouri and in our Columbia counseling office, understand the value of individualizing your counseling experience. Furthermore, we follow evidence based care models that suggest different frequencies of counseling appointments based on the type of help you are needing. Follow us in this blog post as we further answer your questions about if therapy two times a week is too much, how often is it normal to see a therapist, why your therapist would want to see you more often, and if there’s too often to come to therapy. 

Is therapy two times a week too much?

It is absolutely OK to see a therapist twice a week! It can not only be acceptable, but highly beneficial to see a therapist twice a week for some clinical issues. At Aspire Counseling, we firmly believe that tailoring the frequency of therapy sessions to your individual needs is essential for a successful therapeutic journey. Our therapists recognize that a one-size-fits-all approach to mental health counseling doesn’t meet everyone’s unique needs, and we embrace the flexibility needed to optimize your mental health!

Certain therapeutic interventions, such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), or Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), often require a more intensive treatment plan. In these cases, attending therapy twice a week can provide a more focused and comprehensive approach, allowing for a deeper exploration of your concerns, and a total focus on your unique and individualized treatment plan. 

For instance, in ERP for OCD, the goal is to face and manage obsessive thoughts and behaviors associated with OCD. Having therapy twice a week for a few months can offer a more concentrated and targeted approach to overcoming these challenges, and fosters quicker and more effective results rather than the traditional once a week therapy. 

How often is it normal to see a therapist? 

As we stated above, I think people often hear about once a week therapy and start to think that’s “normal.” But as a field, psychology started many years ago to ask the question, “Does therapy have to be weekly?”Or maybe more accurately, we started asking, “Is weekly therapy truly the most effective way to improve mental health?”

What we’ve found is that it depends on the issue and the type of counseling that a person is needing.

The spacing between therapy sessions is not a one-size-fits-all model, and the spacing between therapy sessions varies based on individual needs and the specific therapeutic approach you are undergoing. At Aspire Counseling, we recognize the importance of customization to ensure the most effective and personalized treatment for your mental health goals. 

The decision on how far apart your therapy sessions should be is a collaborative effort between you and your therapist. For certain therapeutic interventions like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), the frequency of sessions plays a key role in achieving results. In cases where more intensity is beneficial, having sessions twice a week may be recommended. This increased frequency allows for a deeper exploration of issues, fostering a more concentrated and impactful therapeutic experience. 

Why does my therapist want to see me twice a week?

Certain therapeutic interventions, like ERP for OCD and CPT for PTSD, may require more sessions per week. In other situations, attending therapy more than twice a week might be helpful, for example, our trauma intensive program is designed to hold two therapy sessions a day for up to a week, and is focused on intense therapy to reduce the symptoms of PTSD in a quicker time frame. 

Other times, clients may want to feel relief sooner, rather than the “traditional” once a week therapy, and may want to start off at more frequent appointments to feel relief sooner. 

How often is too often to see a therapist? 

Wondering if too much therapy is a thing? While generally beneficial, it’s important to find a balance. Too much therapy can potentially feel overwhelming, and, there can be a lot of work in between therapy sessions. Working with your therapist to find the right frequency that supports your mental health without causing stress or exhaustion is essential. 

At Aspire Counseling, we emphasize the importance of finding a balance for each client to ensure a therapeutic journey that fosters growth and healing without causing stress. Therapy is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and the optimal frequency varies from person to person. The amount of therapy that is beneficial for one person, might not be so great for another. It is important to acknowledge that your mental health needs may change over time, and may require an adjustment to the frequency of your sessions!

The potential downside of “too” much therapy is the risk of overwhelming yourself. Therapy involves introspection, emotional processing, and sometimes even homework, all of which can be emotionally taxing. Too frequent sessions might lead to mental tiredness, and may hinder the therapeutic process rather than helping. 

Collaborating with your therapist

Open communication with your therapist is key to finding the right therapy frequency. Your therapist is there to guide you, and together, you can discuss what amount of therapy aligns best with your needs and goals. 

So, if you’ve been seeing your therapist for awhile, you like your therapist and you think it’s working but you’ve had the thought, “I want to see my therapist more often”, it is ok to say that in your next session. Therapy is a collaboration between the client and the therapist. Yes, they are the professional. And your therapist will likely suggest some sort of specific therapy frequency when you start working together. However, YOU are the expert on YOU. So, if you have feedback it’s important to talk to your therapist about that.  Tell them if you’d like to attend therapy more or less often. They may have a clinical explanation for why they would suggest you continue with the therapy frequency they recommended. But at least it becomes a collaborative conversation where you decide together.

At Aspire Counseling, our top priority is your well-being. We understand the importance of fostering a therapeutic environment that encourages growth and healing without overwhelming you!

Counseling Near Blue Springs Missouri

When therapy is complete, you’ll find that every person has a different average number of therapy sessions attended to reach their goals.  The specific number of times you attended therapy or the number of sessions you attended per week is less important than if you are feeling better, right? Your therapist is there to act as a professional guide. They’ve done the research, taken the training and seen how their techniques work with clients who have similar pains to yours.  Then, you are the expert on you. Together, you and your therapist can work together to figure out how to best meet your needs, so you reach your goals. If you’re looking for effective therapy anywhere in Missouri, our clinicians can help.

At Aspire Counseling, our therapists value therapeutic relationships, along with creating individualized treatment plans with evidence-based practice and treatment. We work with preteens, teens and adults experiencing trauma, depression, grief, anxiety, and much more. We provide evidence- based treatment through methods like ERP for OCD, CPT for trauma, and even EMDR for trauma, and more! 

We offer both in person services at our Lee’s Summit MO office, or Columbia MO, and can work with any teen or adult virtually in the state of Missouri. Reach out today via our contact form, or at 573-328-2288 ext. 1, and let one of our Client Care Team members get you matched up with a fantastic therapist. Start your mental health journey with Aspire Counseling today!