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Psychotherapy
for an anxiety disorder usually involves weekly sessions and can often be completed
within a few months. Some therapies are shorter still, and others may take a
year or more. The length is dependent on the type of therapy and the type of
anxiety disorder, as well as the presence of complicating factors. Here are
some factors that affect therapy length:
1. The cognitive-behavioral therapies
are typically shorter than the psychodynamic ones. This is because
cognitive-behavioral approaches focus on direct changes in thinking and
behavior, whereas psychodynamic approaches take a broader approach and help
resolve conflicts leading to problems.
2. The more longstanding the anxiety
disorder, the longer it may take to have success.
3. If a patient
has medical or additional psychiatric disorders, the therapy may take longer.
When the anxiety co-occurs with a personality disorder, treatment might be more
complicated and require a longer duration.
4. If consistent
attendance at therapy sessions is a problem due to financial limitations,
social or professional obligations, or the illness itself, the therapy may take
longer.
One good
predictor of therapy duration is how well the patient and the therapist get
along with one another after two or three meetings. If they are comfortable
with one another, the therapy is often more efficient and successful. It is also
very important to develop a goal list with your therapist in the beginning
stages of your meetings. What are you expecting to accomplish by attending
therapy? The more specific your answer to this question, the better. A concrete
goal list can serve as a roadmap for showing you what your targets are in
therapy. Monitoring progress as you attend your therapy sessions is also vital.
Source: The Anxiety Answer Book by: Laurie A. Helgoe, PhD, Laura R. Wilhelm, PhD, Martin J. Kommor, MD
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