Single Session Therapy (SST) may, understandably, raise questions or concerns. If it can really ‘work’ in one session, why do people then go to therapy for months, or even years?! The difference is about scope, about the breadth of focus. Choosing SST means opting for an approach that stays completely focused on your current biggest challenge. It is validated by research evidence, and proves helpful for more than 70% of people that choose this approach. My short article here provides you with more concrete info.
Tell me in plain language, what to expect…
As its name suggests, this is one, single, client-focused therapy session. The focus of this session is on your greatest worry, challenge or difficulty. My aim, as your therapist, is for you to leave our time together with some ideas or strategies to try out. I offer SST in 90 minute sessions. Within one, I am likely to interrupt a little more than I normally might. This is to keep you resolutely focused on the specifics you identified for focus. Staying with the present, with possibilities for action, with the immediate effects of the problem on your day-to day-life, with skills and strengths you have that you haven’t thought of calling on… this is where the pragmatism of SST plays out.
Is this a unique style of therapy?
No, it is not. It is instead a way of structuring a therapy session. A CBT therapist, Gestalt therapist, or existential therapist could all run a SST session with you, with relevant professional development. They would each bring their own style and techniques to the session. Personally, I retain my pluralistic style and draw on what you need from my range of therapeutic methods and exercises.
Why might I choose this over longer therapy?
Firstly, there can be delays in accessing subsidised therapy in Denmark’s health system, through the NHS in the UK or other such health services. Opting for SST can provide you with just enough psychological support to get ‘unstuck’ without the wait. Therapists, like myself, that offer SST will keep a portion of our hours clear for immediate availability, as part of our practice.
Secondly, therapy is a significant undertaking, and can be both time- and cost-prohibitive for some people. Opting for an SST session might provide you with enough of a therapeutic experience to address your most pressing problem. The door also remains open to return for more therapeutic support, if you need to. Research shows that about 50% of those that make use of SST don’t return for that problem again.
Another reason for choosing SST might be that you don’t want to open aspects of your life to a deeper therapeutic process. For example, some conflicts from your past might feel irrelevant to a current problem, something you don’t want to touch. Perhaps you want to focus on the work environment, or a specific recreational community, without getting into anything about home life. SST provides a form of psychological support that meets the right depth for you.
Is it just for minor issues?
The various therapists that developed the SST approach have used it with life problems such as separation and divorce, mental health issues, life transitions, bereavement, dealing with emotions, parenting stresses, managing work stress, and more. It does not work on the promise of helping you to completely ‘fix’ a problem, magically, within 90 minutes. (Beware anyone promising such a thing.) However, it may help you break through those loops we can get bogged down in, within our thoughts, feelings, or behaviour.
How do I prepare?
Before we hold our session, I will send you a brief digital questionnaire. This is to help you arrive at the session with a reasonable degree of clarity around your biggest problem. It is an important part of the process, which will really help you get the most out of the time. It allows me to plan ahead with a set of possible therapeutic exercises we can draw on, depending on the direction your session takes.
Is that it?
At your choosing, I can arrange follow-up contact with you, to check how things are for you. We can discuss your preferences on this together.
In closing
If SST sounds like something that would meet your needs, I welcome you to be in touch or select an appointment on my calendar.
