Mistress Ayn,

For me, it really depends on the nature of the session. If the play is lighter and more casual, a few minutes chatting seems to do the trick.

In the case of really sadistic, emotionally-deep sessions, the need for prolonged aftercare goes up substantially.

Intense whipping & judicial-style corporal scenes can leave me in a trance...and the need to come back down to earth slowly is a premium.

My fondest memory was about 20 years ago: after a rather intense session, the Domme took me in Her arms and gently laid me down, in an image reminiscent of the Pieta, and gently nurtured me back to the vanilla world.

Aftercare is vital.