How long does CBT therapy last?
Written by the clinical team at The Lyceum Clinic. Clinically reviewed by Sanah Younis, Clinical Director, BABCP-accredited (no. 1000792). Published 28 October 2026. Last reviewed 28 October 2026.
It depends which of two kinds of work you need. Short-term CBT for a specific, well-defined problem such as panic, a phobia, health anxiety or OCD is 6 to 12 sessions. Longer-term work on the beliefs and relational patterns underneath is open-ended, reviewed every six sessions, and only moves towards 20 or more for complex schema work.
Two kinds of work
The short-term arm targets a cyclical problem with a clear maintaining loop. The long-term arm is for when the coping mechanism, severe perfectionism, people-pleasing, a harsh inner standard, is woven into your actual identity and relationships. We decide which arm you are in at assessment, and we can move between them.
A short course that was enough
A young professional came with a specific fear of public speaking. Six sessions of video feedback and graded exposure, and they were presenting to the board.
For more detail, read about how CBT works.
A short course that found something deeper
Another client came in for "stress". At the six-session review it was clear the stress was driven by a profound sense of defectiveness tied to early emotional neglect. We moved into the longer-term, schema-informed arm to rebuild the foundation, rather than keep treating the surface.
How many sessions of CBT are normal?
For the short-term arm, 6 to 12. Sessions are fifty minutes, usually weekly at the start. Published fees are £110 online and £140 face to face.
Is two months of therapy enough?
For some people, yes; a focused course for a single problem often fits inside two months. For others it is the beginning. We start with the exit plan in session one, so you know from the start what the end looks like and this is a targeted intervention rather than a permanent arrangement.
How we decide
The formulation sets the plan, not a fixed number. Reviews every six sessions use outcome measures, and the decision to continue, pause or stop is made together.