Just to add. In my opinion, 2 years is an outer limit for length of a therapeutic relationship.
My rules of thumb:
3 months is a reasonable length for adjustment-type issues, relationship conflicts, uncomplicated grief, phobias, etc
6-12 months for substantial problems such as major depression, complicated grief, anxiety disorders
12-24 months for serious psychopathology, dissociative id
Forum:
Clergy and Therapy Abuse