How Long Is Therapy? Session Length And Treatment Duration Explained

A typical therapy session may last anywhere between 40 and 60 minutes, while overall treatment can range from a few weeks to several months or longer. The length that works best for you can depend on your goals, the type of therapy you choose, and the concerns you're navigating. Because therapy is a personal experience, it can help to pay attention to your own progress rather than focusing only on averages. Understanding what influences the length of therapy can help you understand the general range of expected treatment.

How long is a typical therapy session?

Why are many sessions 50 minutes instead of an hour?

A "50-minute hour" is a common length for therapy sessions. This length allows therapists a brief break between clients, and it's typically the length of time that insurers cover for eligible members. It's long enough for clients to get settled during a session but short enough to allow for focus and productive work.

Session length by therapy type

Different formats of therapy may run for different amounts of time. Individual sessions are often 45 to 60 minutes, while couples or family sessions may run 60 to 90 minutes. Group sessions frequently last 90 to 120 minutes. Understanding session length is only part of the picture, though, since overall treatment can extend well beyond a single appointment.

How long does therapy treatment last overall?

Treatment can range from just a few sessions to ongoing care over months or years. The type and length of the treatment plan may depend on your goals, your needs, and the severity of your concerns.

For example, treatment via dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) may take between six months and a year, though this can vary by individual circumstances. It's also possible for a person to enter short-term therapy to address an immediate concern but then decide to stay in treatment longer to get ongoing support in various areas.

Short-term therapy

Goal-focused approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy often fall into the short-term category, which generally involves fewer than 20 sessions. For many people addressing specific, focused concerns, this shorter timeframe can be enough to make meaningful progress.

Long-term therapy

Some conditions can require longer periods of ongoing care, such as chronic or complex mental health conditions. For example, the following conditions may require long-term, ongoing therapy:

• Eating disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Recurrent and severe major depressive disorder
• Dissociative disorders

That said, it's not uncommon for a person to choose to stay in therapy for several months or even years, whether they have a diagnosable condition or not. Many people find it helpful to receive ongoing guidance on life's challenges.

How long does therapy take to work?

There's no one answer to this question because each person is different. For example, those experiencing more severe conditions or working through deep-rooted emotional challenges may need more time to see results, and that's a normal part of the process. If you're ready to explore what progress could look like for you, you can connect with a licensed therapist through BetterHelp.

Factors that can affect how long therapy lasts

Several factors can affect how long you participate in therapy. Some of these may be at the discretion of your care provider, while others can be based on your personal preferences.

Type of therapy

The approach you receive can affect how many sessions you might attend. Consider the following types of therapy:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), one of the most common types of treatment, can help people identify and change harmful or ineffective behavior patterns. It may last for six to twenty sessions, with each session averaging 30 to 60 minutes.
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a type of talk therapy based on CBT but with a focus on managing emotions. According to the Cleveland Clinic, this treatment often lasts longer than other types, usually requiring at least six months to a year.
• Prolonged exposure therapy can help individuals confront fears and trauma-related feelings. The American Psychological Association recommends its use in treating PTSD. It can consist of roughly eight to 15 sessions over about three months, often lasting 60 to 120 minutes each.
• Emotionally focused therapy can help couples create a more secure attachment by shaping and expressing their emotions. It can be a short-term therapy that often lasts between eight and 20 sessions.

Severity and complexity of concerns

More than one in five US adults lives with a mental illness. About one in twenty-five live with a serious mental illness such as major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. People navigating a more severe condition may benefit from consistent, ongoing support from a mental health professional.

Depending on individual needs and a full clinical evaluation, some people may also find it helpful to explore psychiatry services alongside therapy. BetterHelp now offers psychiatry services through Uplift, which provides access to licensed psychiatric providers who can offer psychiatric consultation and, when clinically appropriate, medication management. Not everyone needs or benefits from medication, and any treatment decisions are made by a licensed psychiatric provider.

*Based on finalized paid psychiatry visits with a copay. Insurance availability, coverage, and costs vary by state, plan, provider network, and provider availability.

Your goals and preferences

Different people may approach therapy differently. Some may prefer a more preventative method that follows the wellness model of therapy. In this model, therapy might be akin to consistent exercise or nourishing eating choices, offering a way to maintain your mental health so you don't reach a point of feeling overwhelmed.

Others may prefer the illness model, in which therapy resembles a visit to your primary care provider. In this approach, you might seek therapy to ease the symptoms of a mental health concern, then discontinue treatment once you're feeling better. There's no single right or wrong way to view or engage in therapy.

Session frequency

Most people in therapy see their provider once per week, though some prefer meeting every other week or as needed. The best session frequency for you can depend on factors such as your schedule, budget, mental health concerns, and goals. More frequent sessions may support faster progress, but they aren't always necessary or possible.

Family and couples therapy vs. individual therapy

Relational forms of therapy often run a bit longer than individual sessions, frequently lasting 60 to 90 minutes. For example, family therapy sessions typically involve two or more participants plus the therapist, so sessions tend to be longer than individual therapy sessions to allow enough time for everyone to have input.

How online therapy can fit your schedule

Making time for therapy, regardless of the potential duration of treatment, can be challenging for many people. With busy schedules, lots of responsibilities, and long commutes, seeking help in person might be difficult.

Online therapy through BetterHelp, which connects you with one of the world's largest networks of more than 30,000 qualified therapists, may offer more scheduling flexibility, since you can attend a session wherever you have an internet connection. This can make it easier to book appointments and make time for treatment as it fits into your life.

Online therapy as an affordable option for care

Depending on where you live, some providers on BetterHelp may be in-network with certain health plans, and with insurance, many members pay $15 or less. Some pay $0. Coverage varies by plan, provider, and therapist availability, so it can help to check your in-network status on the BetterHelp site.

BetterHelp currently works with select insurance carriers in the following states: VA, DC, MD, FL, NY, AR, IN, KY, TX, PA, IL, NC, MT, MI, CO, OK, CT, MO, NV, OH, NJ, TN, AZ, MA, NE, DE, WV, VT, NH, NM, AL, UT, and GA. Don't see your state? We are currently working with insurance carriers to expand coverage across the United States.

In the meantime, our flexible subscription model continues to be an option to receive quality care from our extensive therapist network, with the cost of online therapy via BetterHelp ranging from $70 to $100 per week, billed weekly or monthly, based on your location, referral source, preferences, any applicable discounts, and therapist availability.

Exploring online psychiatry services

For those who may benefit from additional support, BetterHelp also now offers psychiatry services through Uplift as an option alongside therapy, with access to licensed psychiatric providers who can provide psychiatric consultation and, when clinically appropriate, ongoing medication management. You can learn more or get started with psychiatry.

Medication availability and coverage may vary by member location, clinical appropriateness, and individual pharmacy/insurance benefits. Prescribing decisions are made by the treating clinicians. We do not guarantee that any specific medication will be prescribed or covered by a member's insurance plan.

How effective is online therapy over the course of treatment?

Many researchers have studied the impacts of therapy that's conducted online, and the results generally support this method of treatment. For example, a study from 2024 suggests that internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy "can generally reduce symptoms of a wide range of conditions, including both psychiatric and somatic conditions" as well as other mental health challenges.

Research findings like these are also reflected in platform-specific outcomes, such as the finding that 72% of BetterHelp users experienced a reduction in symptoms in 12 weeks, according to BetterHelp surveys from 2024. If you're curious about whether online therapy could work for you, you can get started with BetterHelp and be matched with a licensed therapist.