I used to think of therapy as nothing more than having a "paid ear" to listen to my problems. (I'd gone to a few--3 or 4--when I was much younger, teens and early 20's).
Now I'm grateful that there are people who are willing to be such a thing. I've noticed a big difference in me, not only in improvement but also by a willingness to open myself up and to hear what the therapist has asked, rather than trying to guess "why did he ask that? What sort of answer does he want from me?"
But, I can see the potential for self-interest on the part of the therapist as well. They have no incentive to see their patient healed...other than pride in a job well done. As for lack of patients to replace the healed, there's no shortage of them, either.
The length of time in therapy depends on the condition, and how quickly the person allows himself to be healed. Mental health is different than physical health...one cannot simply change bandages and apply ointments to prevent infections. Sometimes the particular aspect that one needs in order to be healed (such as trust, forgiveness for self, etc) is simply not there. I've found a couple things (such as trust) that I needed to have learned as a child...but never did, due to family/social circumstances. Can I learn it as an adult? Perhaps the mechanics of it, but it will always be as an adult, without the emotional innocence of a child.
Some things are simply lost, or shattered beyond recognition. It takes time to learn a skill, then shoe-horn into a damaged mind.
My apologies...I have rambled.
