On this page I’ve taken an FAQ-style approach to outlining what single-session therapy is. I’m happy to send you an information sheet with fuller details, just drop me an email if you would like me to do this.
What is Single-Session Therapy? It is quite literally therapy that is intended to last for just one appointment/session. It isn’t a magic wand or special technique capable of condensing therapy into an hour, rather it’s an opportunity to get help and support with an issue without any expectation that therapy will continue past that first appointment. The single-session option honours the possibility that sometimes, one session may be enough – but further sessions are a possibility as well: sometimes Single-Session Therapy is called ‘One-at-a-Time’ therapy, meaning one session at-a-time is planned.
How does it work? In terms of the therapeutic process, it works by focussing on a priority, talking through the problem, identifying options and opportunities, and formulating a plan of action. It is still talking therapy, so it may be helpful in terms of improving clarity, awareness, or gaining a different perspective on things. I will use whatever approaches, ideas or exercises seem best-suited to the issue.
In terms of the timeframe, being able to cover an issue inside of one session tends to require some preparation before the session. To this end, I ask people to complete a questionnaire before the appointment, this is so we both go into the session with some of the work already done, an understanding of what the issue is and what we want to achieve by the end of the session. Likewise I encourage people to spend some time after the appointment
Is Single-Session Therapy suitable for my issue? There isn’t an easy answer there. My mindset is that I work first and foremost with people rather than diagnoses, so to me the question is not so much about the issue, problem or diagnosis, but more about the goal, i.e. what you hope to get out of the session.
Is it possible to switch from Single-Session Therapy to longer-term therapy? In principle yes, but I cannot guarantee I would have a space in my diary to accommodate this as soon as you might like. If you’d like to understand more about the different possible options and eventualities, you’re welcome to get in touch.
What happens in a session? I don’t work to a set structure; in keeping with my humanistic mindset I would encourage you to think about how best to use the hour. As you might already know, an hour in therapy can pass pretty quickly, so it may help to think about the time in terms of beginnings, middles and endings. The beginning part may involve explaining your issue, situation and/or goals; the middle may involve exploring options and looking at decisions; the ending may include some action planning, consolidation, summary and evaluation.
Can you offer coping strategies? If you are looking for coping strategies, I’d suggest firstly you search online or check out some of the links on my links page. Talking therapy isn’t primarily about coping strategies, but if you’re hoping for some guidance on what strategies to try, or how to do them, you are welcome to get in touch and I will help if I can.
Why do you offer two options? Experience has shown me that whilst some people do want the time and depth of exploration that longer-term therapy can offer, for other people the prospect of longer-term therapy may feel overwhelming or disproportionate. This difference is not necessarily down to how complex or long-standing a person’s issues are, it’s more about what sort of benefit people want from therapy. So offering clients a choice is about giving people more freedom to choose.
Is Single-Session Therapy suitable for everyone? No, it’s difficult to come up with any criteria which would apply across the board, but for Single Session Therapy to be appropriate there does need to be a goal which might realistically be dealt with inside of an hour.
Is Single-Session Therapy a new thing? No, Single-Session Therapy is as old as talking therapy; Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler, Milton Erikson and others are known to have done single-session therapy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; there’s also the relatively famous ‘Gloria’ sessions (available on YouTube) where Fritz Perls, Albert Ellis and Carl Rogers demonstrate their different theoretical approaches (Gestalt, RET and Person-Centered respectively) in single-session format.
Is it face-to-face? I offer sessions in-person on Wednesday afternoons, or sessions via Zoom or telephone on Tuesdays and Saturdays, if you have a particular preference I will try to accommodate this.
Do I have to do the preparation? I do very much encourage people to do the pre-appointment questionnaire as this maximises our chances of using the session time in a focussed and efficient manner. If you have any difficulty with the preparation, you’re welcome to let me know and we can see if there’s a solution.
What happens if we run out of time? Ideally this won’t happen, as we both prepare for the session, work to a realistic goal and try to manage the time appropriately. However if we did really run out of time, we can discuss and agree the options – which might include finishing the conversation during another appointment, but this depends on what work remains to be done. I do have to keep to time limits out of respect for other clients I may have booked in, so I wouldn’t usually extend the session to more than an hour unless this has been agreed in advance.
Can I book a longer session? I am willing to consider booking a longer session, for example 1.5 hours, but this is subject to me being able to fit this into my diary. You’re welcome to ask me about this.
How soon could I get an appointment? I work flexibly, in that I try as much as possible to accommodate people who work shifts, prefer fortnightly (rather than weekly) appointments and so on: this means I tend to have spaces in my diary most weeks, so I’m usually able to offer a single session within a week or so – there will be exceptions to this, for example if I’m unusually busy or on holiday etc, and it is dependent on us being able to find a mutually convenient time.
Can I bring a notepad and make notes during the session? I don’t require or expect this, but you’re very welcome to do this if it helps you.
How much does it cost? Please see my practicalities page for current fees. I do charge more for the initial single session, to take account of the additional preparation / admin time.
Any other questions? If the above hasn’t covered off all your questions, you’re welcome to contact me for an information sheet or to suggest an addition to the above. You might also wish to look at some useful resources online;
Windy Dryden blog post describing Single-Session Therapy
Counselling Directory article about Single-Session Therapy
Wendy Neil Counselling 