Single-Session Therapy
Single Session Therapy (SST), or ‘One-At-A-Time Therapy’, isn’t a theoretical model or modality (CBT, Psychodynamic etc), but rather a way of giving or delivering a therapy session that removes the assumption that a client will need more than one session to gain what they need, and it’s backed up by evidence to suggest that more people than you’d think would benefit from just one session if it was an option!
It’s perfect if you have no previous experience of counselling to give you an idea about how the counselling process works, with no obligation to have further sessions. Equally, it’s helpful for anyone who has a good understanding of how therapy works and what they want out of the process and just needs a bit of support on a specific issue. The aim is to maximise the time spent in sessions to equip the person with the insights, knowledge and tools they might find useful to take their next steps. Having said that, it isn’t appropriate in every situation. Below i have given a quick breakdown into what SST is (and isn’t) to help you decide if it’s the right support for you.
The kind of goals SST is incredibly effective for:
Helping become unstuck
Helping to formulate (or even take) first steps on an onward journey
Anxiety or concerns before an event or change
Highlighting your potential and strength so that you can achieve your goals
Exploring a few possible choices using therapeutic interventions, for example role play, empty-chair dialogue, narratives, or psycho-education
Help creating an action plan
This might look like:
“i don’t know what to do or what i need”
“I’ve seen doctors/spoken to family or friends and they didn’t understand”
“I have multiple options and i don’t know what to do”
“I cant stop thinking about what’s happened and it’s stopping me sleeping”
With all of these statements there’s a conversation to be had to unpick how the upcoming session will help and what this person would like to achieve. A big part of the SST mindset is that this should be established considering the timeframe you have. “I don’t know what to do or what i need” could be responded to with infinite space to process - “what does that feel like” - or we can support by facilitating problem solving - “what have you tried before? What do you think we can do in our 90 minutes to help you work that out?”. By giving someone space to ask for what they need, making the assumption that they know what they need, even if they don’t know it yet.
Utilises the space between first contact and appointment, and keeps this as short as possible.
You contact a counsellor, they get back to you in a few days, then there’s a week or two in-between your first session - what do you do in that time? SST aims to utilise the space in-between too. We can focus on asking important questions like:
What have you learned so far? How best can i help you right now that will support you going forward? What do i need to know so i can can get ready to help you in our session?
A great example of how this can make a huge difference is psycho-education and anxiety. I have had great results with clients from reframing the physical symptoms of anxiety and spending time exploring with them why anxiety presents, what it’s there for, how we can respond to it. Approaching this with a SST mindset may mean in the lead-up to the session the client could map all the ways anxiety presents in their body and bring it to the session, or write down 3 examples of when it was at its worst.
Firstly, the client has done a great job in revisiting these sensations and situations by themselves and supported themselves through this reflection, an important first step in reducing the power of anxiety and increasing self-awareness. They have also provided me with important information so i can prepare for the session so we understand the levels of anxiety we’re dealing with.
After exploring and reframing anxiety the client feels equipped to implement change. SST mindset will leave the client space at this stage to reflect, digest and act. The power is always with them to re-engage if they’d like more support.
SST is client focused and goal-oriented.
SST goal-oriented, focusing on specific issues or challenges. and keeps the focus on you collaborating with your therapist to set clear goals for the session, this means the session is focused on problem-solving a specific concern. For example, if the focus is low-mood and you start to talk about something else, then i am likely to interrupt and check “We agreed our goal is to explore your low-mood, this doesn’t feel like we’re focused on that right now”.
“SST focuses on the here and now as that’s all the counsellor and client have together to work on the problem.”
SST is focused on your strengths and the here and now.
There is power in focusing on the past to inform our present, but with SST the focus is on the here and now as that’s all the counsellor and client have together to work on the problem. After that the responsibility is with the client to move forward towards their goal by implementing and reflecting. You may get asked a lot during the session “and what does that look like in practice?” or “ How will that help you right now?”, to utilise the time and honour the agreement to focus on the goal during the session. We will also spend a lot more time on the things you can do, like to do and your strengths.
Foregoing the usual practicalities of therapy is how SST is so effective and facilitating change. I am still listening with the same care but with SST the focus is always on making the time matter, coming to actionable insights and creating an outcome that will support you.
SST doesn’t have to be one session.
Yes, that is confusing. The idea is that, rather than assume what the client needs and when they will get it, SST looks to maximise the time the therapist and client have together to work on an issue. The focus is on reflecting, digesting, acting, waiting and deciding then if another meeting is needed. This may mean that the client returns to continue the work further, either for a single-session or a course of sessions. The reason SST is so effective is not because it’s one interaction and you never see that therapist again, its the understanding and urgency that comes with treating each session as if it’s the only time you have.
If you think that you might benefit from Single-Session Therapy with me, you can book an introductory call to explore what your needs are and create a personalised, supportive and meaningful experience together.
