Single Session Therapy

Single Session Therapy (SST), also known as Single Session Thinking, is a focused and strengths-based approach designed to make each meeting count, even when only one session is offered. It provides a responsive, client-centred model suitable for high-demand, time-limited or single-session input settings, while still creating a pathway for ongoing work if the client requests it.

 

 

Single Session Therapy | Compass Seminars AUS
NEW EVENT

SINGLE SESSION THERAPY in PRACTICE

  • 9 Nov 2026
  • 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
  • The Glen Hotel, 24 Gaskell St, Eight Mile Plains, QLD, 4113
Single Session Therapy | Compass Seminars AUS
NEW EVENT

SINGLE SESSION THERAPY in PRACTICE

  • 20 Nov 2026
  • 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
  • Vibe Hotel North Sydney, 171 Pacific Highway, North Sydney, New South Wales, 2060, Australia
Single Session Therapy | Compass Seminars AUS
IN-HOUSE TRAINING

SINGLE SESSION THERAPY in PRACTICE | In-house Training

  • 1 Jan 2027
  • 1:02 am - 1:02 am
  • Your location

Single Session Therapy Training

SST has become a valued approach across mental health, community services and adult mental health programs because it supports meaningful change within a suitably short course of contact. Practitioners use SST in inpatient or community settings, private practice, brief intervention clinics and multidisciplinary teams where they may see ten or more others in a day.

The model is grounded in research and clinical observations and can be integrated with frameworks such as cognitive behavioural therapy. It also strengthens a practitioner’s clinical skill by helping them focus sessions, support client autonomy and work effectively when there may only be one session available. Many professionals choose single session therapy training to learn how to deliver single session therapy confidently in their own practice or within agency structures.

SST is used by counsellors, social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists, case managers and other professionals offering single session therapy as part of their role. The approach supports clear communication, strong collaboration and a significant degree of client engagement in the time available.

Commonly Asked Questions

Single Session Therapy (SST), also known as Single Session Thinking, is an approach that makes the most of each encounter with clients by treating each contact, but especially the first, as though it may be the only contact. This method works well in inpatient or community settings where practitioners may see ten or more others in a day and need to provide meaningful support quickly. The model draws on cognitive behavioural therapy, solution-focused ideas and research and clinical observations that show clients often benefit greatly, even from a single session input. It also provides a clear plan for follow-up work if the client chooses to return.

SST is suited to professionals working in mental health, social care and community services. This includes counsellors, therapists, case managers, social workers, occupational therapists, team leaders and managers who want a practical way to integrate single session work into their existing clinical practice. Because SST can be delivered as an individual intervention or as a treatment option within an agency, it is relevant to those in frontline support, child and family services, youth work, adult mental health, school-based counselling and related settings.

SST can be applied in both face-to-face and telehealth formats, and it complements therapeutic approaches already in use. Practitioners often comment that learning SST helps strengthen their confidence, refine their clinical skills, and enhance their own ability to help clients move towards change, even when the time available is short.

On completion of the single session therapy training, you will have an understanding of:

  • The history, development and theory of SST, including how single-session input works in high-demand services
  • How to translate SST into practice and deliver single-session therapy in different service contexts
  • The SST practice guidelines and how to adapt them for inpatient or community settings
  • How an SST session unfolds, including pre-session preparation, the session itself and post-session reflections
  • How to implement SST into your own practice or organisation, whether for adult mental health, child and family work or community-based support

Throughout the workshop, participants learn through demonstrations, reflection tasks and skill-building exercises designed to help you feel ready to offer SST confidently. You will explore how a single session model encourages focus, clarity and a significant degree of collaboration between practitioner and client. The training also introduces ways to build rapport quickly, how to support clients to identify their goals, and how to structure conversations so that even just one session can be impactful.

This workshop is also structured as a suitably short course, giving practitioners a clear, practical method for offering single-session therapy without overwhelming their current workload. Many participants find the framework refreshing because it honours both client autonomy and the reality of time-limited work.

Yes, we can send one of our trainers to your workplace. In-house delivery is often chosen by teams working in mental health, community settings, schools and multidisciplinary agencies. Training multiple staff at once helps create shared language and consistent practice across services, particularly when several team members are supporting ten or more others each day.

For more details, please contact us.

Payment can be made by:

  1. Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards (fee free)
  2. Bank transfer (invoice)

Group discounts are available.

Payment plans are available on request.

Yes, SST has been widely used in mental health services where clients benefit from fast access to support. Research and clinical observations show that clients can experience meaningful progress from one session, especially when the approach is structured and client-centred.

SST focuses on clarity, collaboration and making one session count. While ongoing therapy is valuable, SST recognises that clients often gain insight or change through brief, focused contact. It supports both immediate needs and ongoing choices.

Yes. SST is used by social workers, occupational therapists, counsellors, psychologists, case workers and many others. Its flexibility makes it suitable for a wide range of clinical practice areas.

Absolutely. Many practitioners integrate SST with cognitive behavioural therapy techniques, solution-focused methods and motivational work, making it adaptable to a variety of client presentations.