What is single session therapy?

 

Single session therapy (SST) is a goal orientated, structured form of therapy in which the therapist and client work on the understanding that this may be the only session they have together.

 

Together, they try to make the most effective use of the session by gaining insights, developing coping strategies or take actionable steps towards change.

 

SST integrates elements of solution focused brief therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, narrative therapy and humanistic approaches.

 

It is an approach pioneered by Moshe Talmon, Michael F. Hoyt and Robert Rosenbaum in the USA  and Windy Dryden in the UK.  I hold a certificate in SST which was taught by Windy Dryden.  SST is offered in therapy clinics and in the NHS across the UK and is widely considered very effective in helping clients become highly focused, goal orientated and practical in addressing their specific issue.  There is lots of evidence showing that there are meaningful outcomes after only one session of therapy.

 

It is important to note that if you want to continue therapy, you can either do that with me, or elsewhere.  SST does not necessarily mean the therapy has to stop after the stand alone session.  Some clients, but not all, decide they would like more sessions.

 

 

Who is it for?

 

It is for anyone with a specific focused issues they would like to address.  For example, managing a work situation, making a decision  or coping with a recent challenge.

 

It is also good for clients who do not want to commit to longer term therapy and prefer an intensive approach, as well as those people who are not in crisis but would like one good conversation and reflective space to gain new perspective.  It is also a cost-effective intervention.

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How does it work?

 

Prior to the session, I will ask you to complete a short questionnaire that asks you the following questions.

 

• What issue do you want to focus on in the session?

• Why is this significant?

• What is your goal is addressing this here in the session?

• Why now?

• How have you dealt with the issue up to this point?

• What are the strengths and inner resources you can draw on in order to address this issue?

• Who are the people in your life who can help you?

• What help you do hope I can best provide you with in the session to deal with this issue?

 

As you can see, the questions are designed to provide us with a specific focus to work on in the session.  When you arrive for your session, we start working immediately on the issue at hand.

 

 

When is SST contraindicated?

 

SST is not suitable for people in acute crisis, or with complex or long term mental health conditions.  Similarly, if you are seeking deep trauma processing or similar, SST is not appropriate.