Why do I have to go to therapy every week?

One of the most common questions people ask when they begin therapy is, “Why do I have to go every week?”

It’s a good question, and an important one.

Therapy isn’t like a quick fix or a one-off chat. It’s more like learning a new language or strengthening a muscle. You need regular practice and consistency for it to take hold. Weekly sessions give the process space to breathe, deepen, and take root.

Here’s why that rhythm matters:

1. Building momentum
Change doesn’t happen overnight. Weekly sessions help keep things moving so you don’t lose the thread of what we’re exploring together. Each week builds on the last, allowing the work to evolve naturally.

2. Creating safety and trust
Therapy is about relationships, and relationships need time and consistency to feel safe. Having a regular, predictable space helps you feel grounded and supported, knowing there’s a place where you can show up exactly as you are.

3. Deepening the work
Emotions, memories, and patterns unfold in their own time. With weekly sessions, we can go deeper without needing to constantly “catch up.” There’s space to sit with things, to explore, to return, and that’s where lasting change happens.

4. Holding accountability
That weekly check-in helps you stay connected to your goals and your growth. It’s a gentle form of accountability, not centred on pressure, but presence.

Sessions are usually held at the same time and day each week for a reason, too. That predictability offers a sense of stability and security. No matter what else is happening in your life, you know that space will always be there. An anchor in your week, a steady rhythm you can rely on.

That said, therapy isn’t a “one size fits all.” Some people need weekly sessions, others may move to fortnightly or monthly as time goes on. The frequency will always depend on what best supports you and the stage you’re at.

Think of therapy less as an obligation and more as a commitment to yourself. A way of showing up, regularly and intentionally, so the process has the space it needs to work.