Bringing Single Session Thinking Into Everyday Practice
As Single Session Therapy (SST) continues to influence the way we think about accessible, compassionate care, many health professionals are now asking a natural follow-up question: How do we bring single session thinking into everyday practice? SST is more than a service delivery model; it is a way of approaching clinical conversations, whether the session is the first, the only, or part of a longer journey. This perspective can strengthen our work with children, young people, families, and adults across community, school, and public health settings.
Seeing Each Conversation as an Opportunity
Embedding single-session thinking begins with a shift in mindset. When practitioners view each encounter as potentially the one session a client may have, the work becomes more intentional and focused. It invites us to consider:
- What matters most for this person right now?
- What strengths or resources can we highlight today?
- What small shift could support their well-being after they leave?
This approach aligns with the principles taught in SST training, including those developed at the Bouverie Centre, and echoes ideas from brief therapy, co-design, and solution-oriented practice. Even within longer-term therapy, bringing SST ideas into everyday practice helps practitioners maintain clarity and momentum.
The Practical Side of Single Session Work
In day-to-day work, practitioners can bring SST principles to life through small but meaningful changes. These might include:
- Opening the session with a clear, negotiated focus
- Inviting clients to identify their own goals, ideas, and preferred next steps
- Using experiential activities or reflective questions to build insight
- Noticing strengths and amplifying what is already working
- Offering one practical tool or strategy that the client can use immediately
These practices are well-suited to walk in services, school wellbeing teams, youth workers, community settings, and outpatient mental health programs. They help reduce potential barriers to access by ensuring even brief encounters feel purposeful and supportive.
Building Confidence Through Skills Practice
Many clinicians find that skills practice, reflection, and ongoing learning are essential in bringing single-session thinking into their own practice. A self-paced online course or workshop can help practitioners revisit key points, try new techniques, and explore real examples of how SST principles can be adapted across contexts.
Courses that integrate experiential activities, demonstrations, and opportunities for practice allow participants to deepen their understanding of what single-session thinking looks like with adolescents, children, adults, and families. This blending of knowledge and practice enhances confidence, outcomes, and overall effectiveness.
Making SST a Sustainable Part of Everyday Work
As with any new approach, implementing SST involves curiosity and gentleness with ourselves. It is helpful to reflect on potential barriers, service structures, time pressures, or our own habits, and consider how we can introduce small changes that align with compassionate care. Embedding SST is not about rushing or simplifying complex stories; rather, it is about holding each conversation with intention, presence, and a belief in clients’ capacity to move forward.
Bringing single-session thinking into everyday practice offers practitioners further opportunities to support meaningful change across mental health services, education, and community settings. When we focus on what can be achieved today, we strengthen collaboration, honour the strengths of our clients, and create accessible, high-quality care for those who may only have one moment with us.