Single Session Therapy (SST)

It is understandable that in the moment of crisis one may want a quick and easy intervention to feel better instantly. There is an answer to that in psychology - Single Session Therapy (SST). While it sounds good and it definitely works, I would still say that it is 'a quick fix' since a much longer intervention is often required to overcome major life problems.

The aim of single SST is to meet the client’s need in one session, and in an effective and timely manner. It’s not about restricting clients to only one session or attempting to squash a multi-session therapy into a single appointment. SST has proved so successful that therapists trained in the model sometimes apply it to sessions within regular weekly therapies as well. Clients feel that they’ve got what they wanted from the session and they also know that more help is available should they need it. The space between sessions may be weeks, months, or longer.

First and foremost, SST is for people who just like the idea of having a single session of therapy. It puts the power in the hands of the client when they feel ready to take responsibility for actioning what they get from the session. However, I also have to acknowledge that in most cases the major reason why one would want to limit the help they receive by a singe session as opposed to longer therapy is financial restraint. Another reason is often a lack of understanding of how one benefits from longer intervention. Nonetheless, not all psychologists can offer the flexibility of offering SST or have the skills to help in just one session.

Why would you want only one session?

The classic situation is when you want a focused session on one issue, and you feel able to then put into action what you’ve gained from that session without needing to see a therapist regularly. However, there are many other reasons a person might consider SST. Here are just a few examples:

My approach to SST

• Help at the point of need: an appointment can usually be arranged within a few days.

• Three contacts: initial phone call, therapy session, follow-up call.

• Focused on what the client wants to address and the client’s goal.

• You leave the session with tailored resources and a plan of action.

• More help is available if needed.

• Person-centred, integrative, relational and non-judgmental.

• Major influences include: Windy Dryden, C.R. Rogers, C.G. Jung, psychodynamics, trauma theory, the evidence base from research and clinical practice.

What happens in single session therapy?

In SST there are usually two to three points of contact, not just one. These are the initial telephone call or a questionnaire assessment to ascertain if SST could meet the client’s need. Followed by the therapy session itself, and the follow-up call.

Initial phone call or questionnaire assessment (Optional)

In response to your initial contact, the therapist will arrange to call you for an informal chat or ask you to fill in a questionnaire. The basic background information you provide is going to help make the session focused and efficient. The questionnaire is also a part of the therapeutic process for the client. It helps you reflect on what you want from the session and on the context around your actual problem.

Therapy session

The therapy session itself will focus on what you want to address. Once the focus and the goal of the session have been agreed, the therapist will seek to keep the session on track and moving towards that goal. If you want to address more than one thing, then perhaps another single session in due course might be appropriate. It’s hoped that you will leave the session with a greater insight and understanding of the issue, feeling “met” and better resourced than when you arrived, and with a plan of action of some kind that you feel empowered to take forward in the days and weeks after the session.

Follow-up call (Optional)

The follow-up call may be arranged a few weeks or months later to check in with you about how you are and how things are progressing following your consultation. If you’d like some more input from the therapist, this is the time to discuss it and potentially book a second session. Alternatively, you’re welcome to return at a later date to book another session if you wish, which could be on the same or a different issue. You always know that more help is available if you need it.

More ways to use single session therapy

SST has been applied to just about everything in mental health at some time, but here are some more ideas to illustrate the scope of a single session:

• Difficulties with negative emotions or emotional dysregulation.

• Relationship problems at home or at work.

• Bringing more structure or organisation into your life.

• For personal development.

• Periodic preventative mental health care.

• Life crisis management when something unexpected has happened.

• Addressing something early so as to prevent more serious problems later.

• Adjusting to a new or changed situation, or some new information about something.

• Developing better self-discipline, e.g. with exercise, eating habits, study or work habits.

• Feeling stuck, procrastination, self-sabotage.

• Would you appreciate some professional input on an issue or situation, another pair of eyes on it, to talk something through?

• Life dilemmas, making an important decision.