Clients’ Perspective on Predetermined Time Limits for Therapy in the Context of the Norwegian Welfare System

Limited capacity and high demand for mental health care drive efforts to improve the efficiency of treatment and increasingly result in predetermined time limits for treatment, even in government-covered treatment in welfare systems. How do clients experience having predetermined time limits for psychotherapy? We analyzed the transcripts of interviews with 18 participants who had completed a return to work (RTW) intervention based on emotion-focused therapy (EFT) that had predetermined time limits. The analysis identified four experiential trajectories through therapy with predetermined time limits, representing four narrative themes: Trajectory A: It is ok to stop here—Not wanting more therapy; Trajectory B: Seeing the benefits of continued therapy, but ready to give life a go without treatment; Trajectory C: Being on one’s own too early—Economic obstacles hindering the continuation of therapy; and Trajectory D: I need more than this—Securing continued therapy. Having the therapist communicate the timeframes for therapy clearly, while leaving room for individual tailoring of therapy, was experienced as very important by clients receiving psychotherapy with predetermined time limits.