How Many Therapy Sessions Will I Need?
One of the first questions people ask when they reach out is:
“How many therapy sessions will I need to feel better?”
It’s a valid question.
You’re investing time, energy, and money and you want to know if therapy will actually work.
The truth? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
But there are patterns. In this post, I’ll share what many clients experience, and offer a real story to show how healing can unfold when we take a trauma-informed, holistic approach.
The Short Answer? Sometimes One Session Can Change Everything.
It’s entirely possible to experience a breakthrough or powerful shift in your very first session, especially if you’ve never felt truly seen, heard, or supported before.
As a trauma-informed holistic therapist, I’ve witnessed it again and again.
But most people don’t just want a single lightbulb moment.
They want real, lasting change that can be felt in their relationships, their body, and their day-to-day life.
The Real Answer? It Depends on Your Nervous System, History & Capacity TO INTEGRATE CHANGE.
Healing, especially from complex trauma, anxiety, relationship wounds, or burnout — isn’t a straight line.
To reach those deep, life-changing shifts, your nervous system needs to feel safe first.
You might be surprised to hear this, but sometimes the first few sessions or even months aren’t about “going into the trauma” at all.
They’re about building a foundation for healing.
This is called resourcing, and it’s what makes real transformation possible.
What Does “Resourcing” Mean in Therapy?
Before we explore trauma directly, we spend time helping your system:
Feel safe in your body and surroundings
Clarify and strengthen your boundaries and relationships
Find grounding and emotional regulation
Build capacity for joy, play, connection, and pleasure, without dysregulation
Without this groundwork, it’s easy to become overwhelmed or stuck in survival patterns.
A Real Story: One Client’s Journey Through Resourcing & Breakthrough
I once worked with a client weekly for over six months.
And for six months we didn’t go near her trauma background.
We started by helping her feel stronger, safer, and more connected to herself.
Together, we worked with:
Sensorimotor Art Therapy to process emotions through movement, colour, and symbols.
Gentle creative therapy and ritual, including tarot, crafting, and intuitive practices to build resources and inner strength.
Connecting her to her spirit allies, and anchoring her Soul into her being.
EFT tapping to process and metabolise stuck emotions whilst keeping her in a regulated state.
Strengthening her sense of self, her worth and values to facilitate stronger boundaries and improved relationships
And then, after months of consistent resourcing, something shifted. There was an opening to address the childhood abuse.
She was ready to reclaim her power and give back the shame and guilt that never belonged to her.
She felt — deeply, safely, fully — and came out the other side changed.
She brought back parts of her, that she was finally resourced enough to hold and integrate.
She later told me:
“You’re the first therapist who didn’t push me to process my trauma. Instead I actually leave sessions feeling better! Happier, more joyful…”
That strength became the bridge.
So… How Many Sessions Does Therapy Usually Take?
If you're asking:
“How many sessions will I need to start feeling better?”
→ Many clients begin to feel clearer, lighter, or more emotionally resourced by 3–5 sessions — especially when the focus is on building safety first.
“How long does therapy take to actually change deep patterns?”
→ For trauma, emotional dysregulation, or relationship healing, it’s common to work together for 10–20 sessions or more.
“Will I need therapy forever?”
→ Absolutely not. But some clients choose to continue because the space feels nourishing, expansive, and supportive — even after the initial “problem” is resolved.
There’s no fixed timeline.
Whether it’s three sessions or thirty, the goal is the same:
To build capacity.
Restore safety.
And help your whole self return.
Why Rushing Can Backfire (Especially With Trauma)
If you’ve lived through trauma and adversity, chances are:
Joy can feel unfamiliar
Play can feel unsafe
Connection can feel confusing
Your nervous system is wired for survival — not peace
That’s why I don’t rush the process.
And why “results” in therapy don’t always look like cracking open your deepest wounds right away.
Sometimes, the biggest breakthrough is:
Feeling safe in your own body
Laughing again
Saying no without guilt
Trusting someone enough to stay open
That’s the work. And that’s the healing.
Working With Me
I offer trauma-informed holistic counselling for sensitive, intuitive, and growth-oriented humans — in person on the Sunshine Coast, and online across Australia, including Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne and worldwide.
My sessions weave together:
Inner Child Healing
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Creative Therapy and Sensorimotor Art Therapy
Nervous system regulation and psychoeducation
EFT tapping and emotional processing
Shamanic ritual and energetic practices
A gentle, soul-led approach that honours your story, your pace, and your process
Ready to begin?
Book a free 60-minute Initial Consult
Let’s explore what healing could look like for you.
With Gratitude,
Rachel Rose | Holistic Counselling & Trauma-Informed Shamanic Psychotherapy, Sunshine Coast & Online
