Patients deserve a real answer to this, not a vague 'it varies'. Here is what I tell mine.

Week 1–2

Most patients notice something shift in sleep onset, breath quality and the volume of the internal critic. The crisis recedes a step. This is the regulation work landing; it is not the cure.

Week 4–6

Symptom-level change becomes visible — fewer panic episodes, lifted mood, restored interest, appetite normalising. This is when the cognitive and meaning work starts compounding.

Session 6–12

Lasting change. Not the absence of difficulty, but the reliable ability to come back to baseline when difficulty hits. That is the actual goal.

Red flag

If by session 4 you cannot point to one specific thing that has changed, raise it with your therapist. Either the approach needs adjustment or the fit is not right. In either case, the responsibility is on the clinician to act on that signal.