My counselling sessions typically last for 6o minutes. The frequency of the sessions is something that is negotiated. Traditionally, sessions would take place weekly and often at the same time on the same day. This is partly because regular meetings are important in building the relationship and establishing a rhythm to the therapy. However, I have found that this does not work for everyone. This may be for logistical reasons, such as childcare or shift patterns, but also because of the impact of the counselling experience. Sometimes it can take more than a week to process what comes up in a session and it is very important to pace ourselves so we do not become overwhelmed. 

Rather than commit to a series of sessions, the way I apply the Person-Centered Approach is to ask at the end of every session whether the client wishes to meet again. This allows us to schedule our next meeting in a way that recognises the benefits of keeping the therapeutic momentum going while also acknowledging the need to set a pace that works best for the client.  I also believe that this is in keeping with the collaborative nature of the process. 

Both the length of the contract and the frequency of the sessions are very flexible and depend entirely upon the client's circumstances.  The two deciding factors are the nature of the issue to be explored and the depth to which the client wishes to go.  In the case of someone experiencing a crisis, or with a specific issue to explore, it may be that a few meetings will be sufficient to help them find a way to manage their current situation. For people wishing to explore more deep rooted issues it may be that the work continues for a much longer period. Once any period of counselling is over there is always the possibility of continuing the work at a later date.