Are there any therapists or psychotherapists around? I have a question about analysis

[FoxyFoxOnTheRun]

Not sure if this is the right home for my question, but here goes.

I’m interested in hearing from practising psychotherapists or therapists about psychoanalysis. Specifically, how long should a patient typically remain in analysis? Is it common for it to last several years—or even continue indefinitely if the patient is still benefiting—or do you find that, after a certain point, the returns begin to diminish?

I’m also curious about who tends to benefit most from this type of therapy. Is it particularly suited to individuals with early-life trauma, or is that too narrow a view? More broadly, what usually leads someone to seek psychoanalysis in the first place?

Unfortunately, the thing that leads people to psychoanalysis, usually, is that they've tried everything else. A good conversation with someone about their difficulties and self-perception would usually have pointed the people who would benefit the most at the beginning, but that's not how it works in practice, unfortunately, especially in private practice.

I work with children, and the average is probably two to three years in therapy, but I have also seen older adolescents two or three times a week for about five years. My understanding is that the therapy takes longer for adults, because there is more defence against change (everyone prefers the status quo)

The intention is always to end therapy. It's about helping you to live a normal life without getting in your way. There will always be something to stay in therapy for, but you should get to a 'good enough' point and be able to leave. Sometimes it can be useful to end and start again later with a different therapist... we all have our blind spots, and nobody is perfect, but for most people, a few years, three to five times a week should be expected.

Thank you for your reply that's very interesting.

The intention is always to end therapy. It's about helping you to live a normal life without getting in your way.

This is what I was wondering about. It seems to me people can become too over reliant on therapy, sometimes, and are afraid to wind it down or ease back on it a bit. Perhaps it becomes a security blanket.

To be frank, the reason for my questions is, I have a partner who is in analysis five days a week (sometimes it is done over the phone) and it feels like it dominate our lives. We have a 2 year old DC together, and I don't feel like I have much time to myself. At all. I work three days a week and it's childcare and cleaning / laundry the rest of the time. I feel resentful I have zero time for me. No gym, no yoga, no book groups or anything like that. No social life. I can't afford any extra curricular stuff , so I guess it's all academic anyway.

I'm thinking after three years of analysis, almost (he was doing straight therapy before then - three sessions a week) it might be time to return to a more manageable, equitable balance. I feel worn out and sad.

All I can say, is have you spoken to him about it? My analysis was five years, and then I had a break for a while and did another two with someone else. My DP would say that I'm a much better person, parent, and partner because of it... that's the aim, but it's also your journey too.