Brief psychotherapy usually refers to 3 - 12 treatment sessions. Research has shown that major therapeutic strides are usually made within the first 12 sessions of therapy. Brief psychotherapy is usually aimed at the relief of symptoms and the resolution of immediate crisis. Pre-marital counseling is an example of brief or "short-term" therapy. Depending on the presenting problems, treatment goals and resources, brief psychotherapy is the treatment of choice for some individuals, couples and families.