Since every course of therapy is attuned to the individual patient, based on their unique reasons for seeking out therapy, this is a question that it is hard to give a concrete answer too. Some experience an improvement within 5-6 sessions. A large portion experience an improvement in their 6-18 session, while long-term, permanent changes are usually expected to appear after a minimum of half a year in therapy. For some types of difficulties - difficulties which have been a part of the patients life for many years, if not all their life, or where the patient experiences a lot of reluctance to delve into the topic with the therapist, or anyone else - can take a long time to treat, in some cases, years.
It is usual to discontinue your treatment when you experience reduced symptoms or that your symptoms have stabilized themselves in a way you are comfortable with, or if you do not feel like attending therapy any more. Personal finances is also a perfectly honest reason for discontinuing therapy, in which case seeking a new therapist through the public health care system to continue working with, can be considered.
It can also be added, that even though you discontinue your therapy, that doesn't mean you cant return to therapy at some later point. You can always send a request to start second treatment period, you can take a break from the therapy if you don't feel the therapy is working for you, or I will help you find another therapist if you feel another therapist can help you better than I can. Seeing a therapist is voluntary.
