Feeling Stuck in Therapy? Exploring Extended Therapy Sessions in Toronto
- Kristin Kurian
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
Most people assume therapy works best when it happens weekly, in neat 50-minute blocks. And for many clients, that structure is supportive, grounding, and effective.
But there are times when that format can feel limiting. Especially when someone is trying to understand deeper patterns, navigate a meaningful transition, or sit with something that feels complex, emotionally layered, or hard to put into words.
When this happens, it doesn’t mean therapy isn’t working. Often, it means the structure of therapy deserves to be part of the conversation.
Psychotherapy isn’t just about what we talk about. It’s also about time, continuity, and pacing, and whether there is enough space to stay with an experience long enough for insight to emerge.
In a standard 50-minute session, a meaningful portion of time is often spent:
settling in
orienting to the present moment
noticing what feels most alive or urgent
deciding where to focus
For many people, weekly 50-minute sessions remain the most supportive and appropriate format, and longer sessions are not necessary or desired.
For others, particularly those who are reflective, emotionally aware, or working through long-standing relational or trauma-informed patterns, this structure can sometimes feel limiting or leave little room to move beyond the surface.
When Clients Say They Feel “Stuck” in Therapy
Feeling stuck in therapy is more common than people realize. And it doesn’t usually mean a lack of effort, insight, or motivation.
It often shows up when:
insights are forming but not fully integrated
emotional material feels rushed or contained too tightly
there isn’t enough time to slow down safely
sessions end just as something important begins to unfold
From a clinical perspective, this is often a pacing issue, not a problem with the client or the therapy itself.
The Role of Time in Psychotherapy
Meaningful psychological change often requires:
sustained attention
emotional safety
continuity
the ability to stay with an experience long enough for the nervous system to settle
Research and clinical experience both support the idea that depth work doesn’t come from pushing harder. It often comes from moving more slowly, with enough time to listen to what emerges beneath the first layer.
For some clients, longer sessions can provide a different kind of therapeutic container. One where there is space to explore, pause, regulate, reflect, and return to difficult material without feeling cut off by the clock.
Exploring Different Therapy Formats
There is no single “right” way to do therapy.
Some clients benefit from steady, weekly sessions over time. Others choose to work in extended formats, often referred to as therapy intensives, where more time is set aside to focus on a specific concern, pattern, or life transition.
Extended therapy sessions are one option to consider when someone wants to:
gain clarity around a recurring issue
work through something that feels emotionally dense
make sense of past experiences that continue to show up in the present
create momentum when weekly sessions feel too fragmented
Whether an extended format is appropriate depends on the individual, their goals, and what feels clinically and emotionally supportive at that point in time.
Neither approach is better than the other.
The real question is:
What feels most supportive for you right now?
If you’re curious about different therapy formats, you’re always welcome to reach out to talk through options and fit in a way that feels thoughtful and collaborative.
Kristin Kurian is a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) and the founder of A New Perspective Psychotherapy. She works with teens, young adults, and parents across Ontario, offering both in-person therapy in Toronto and virtual sessions across Ontario. Kristin takes a trauma-informed, relational approach, integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS), parts work, and somatic awareness to help clients slow down, make sense of what they’re experiencing, and feel more connected to themselves. She offers both weekly psychotherapy and extended therapy formats, including therapy intensives, based on client needs, goals, and readiness.
