For how long do people usually see a psychiatrist?

Some people just enjoy having an objective person to vent at.

Most recently I quit after a year. My insurance had just approved more time, as well.

Being bipolar, I’ll go the rest of my life.

My circumstances tend to be situational. I go for awhile til I’ve figured some stuff out, and learn a new coping skill or two, then I stop.

Psychiatrist? Or, therapist? Psychiatrists prescribe, and so if it is a problem that requires medication they probably see their psychiatrists for years if the problem is chronic. Either once or month, or maybe just once every 6 months, it depends on the situation. Sometimes people see psychiatrists for therapy on a weekly basis, but that happens less often. Psychologists and other counselors are a whole different story.

Gosh, I just assumed from the nature of the details that he meant therapists in general.

Therapists in general.

I went for a few sessions three times in my life. My oldest son went for a year or so during high school, and my youngest son went to about a dozen sessions when he got out of the Navy. Many people just need some direction in their life, while others need long term therapy.

Oh. In general it depends on the problem. Many things should resolve within a couple of months. Mild depression, sorting through major stressors, life changes, etc. Some people love therapy and stay in for years.

My therapist happened to be a psychiatrist who specialized in talk therapy. I saw him off and on for several years until it gradually became apparent that I was scheduling the sessions as an intellectual exercise and no longer needed them. We both agreed that the mysterious process had worked.

I’m going on about four years and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. It has kinda become preventative maintenance at this point. You get the oil changed in your car and I see a shrink.

I probably could have, and debatably should have for at least a year, 3 and a half months was all I could stand though.

It really depends on the problem. Is it situational and acute (like if you just got a divorce)? Situational, but chronic (like if you grew up in an abusive household)? More biologically based, though influenced by situations (like bipolar and schizophrenia)?

And, it’s important to remember that a lot of times, some of those years in therapy are with a therapist that doesn’t help you as much as a therapist possibly could help you, so you aren’t maybe going as quickly as you could, but they’re also way better than nothing. Finding a good therapist is actually quite a lot like dating, and many get in some “long term relationships” before finding “the one” or “the one for right now”.

@Imadethisupwithnoforethought We actually just asked our psychologist this question. My husband was anxious that he’d have to go forever as his parents seemingly have (they seek a psychiatrists help along with others). She stated that some people get stuck in one of the stages of psychological awareness and don’t do the work to keep moving forward.

To answer your question, some people use therapy as a crutch and never want to rid themselves of the crutch. Others seek therapy for assistance only and need to go only a few times. Others work throught the four stages at their own pace while seeking therapy on & off throughout their progression.

If one needs meds for life, then they’ll need their psychiatrist to prescribe the meds, but may not need him/her for therapy.

EDIT: My son will go to therapy for at least another decade and a half to learn and develop social skills. If he does well, he could actually alter his diagnosis. If he keeps his current diagnosis, weekly therapy will keep him pharm-free. If he develops further diagnosises, he may need some occassional meds versus permanent lifetime medicinal needs.

I wanted to add to my answer, as a teen I went for 6 months, and then a couple years later again for a few months. As an adult I usually go for a couple weeks to a couple months. As an adult I usually just need a little help to get through a rough patch, where as a teen I was really trying to figure why I was so sad, and who I was, and how to deal with dissappointments.