Single Session Therapy

Workshop Description:

Single session therapy or counselling is an idea which is growing in popularity in the U.K. and U.S. This workshop will consider the long history of the idea (dating back to Freud) as well as an overview of the evidence for its effectiveness - including very high rates of client satisfaction. Via two simple case studies, the workshop will draw out implications for practice. We will also consider the idea of disruptive and abrupt change in the natural world as a model for the same in mental health and psychological change. The workshop will consider some objections to the idea, and will acknowledge where it is less likely to be useful.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Trace the history of the idea of single session work.
2. Understand the range of evidence which supports the idea of single session work (as well as identify the gaps in that evidence base).
3. Recognise and apply some of the principles of single session work to their own work, as well as recognising its limits and where it is less likely to be helpful.