Single Session Therapy (SST): Why One Conversation Can Be Enough
Not every problem needs a five-season drama. Single Session Therapy is more like a mini-series: short, focused, and just enough to help you get back on track.
We’ve all been there, a problem buzzing around in your head like an annoyingly persistent wasp. You don’t necessarily want to commit to ongoing therapy right now, but you also don’t want to keep replaying the same mental loop at three in the morning. That’s where Single Session Therapy (SST), sometimes also called ad hoc therapy can be surprisingly powerful.
If long-term therapy is like a beautifully crafted TV series that unfolds across several seasons, Single Session Therapy is the one-off story that still packs a punch. Both have their place, sometimes you want the long arc, and sometimes one self-contained episode is exactly right.
What is Single Session Therapy?
One session, three options, and no cliffhangers
As the name suggests, Single Session Therapy is built around one focused meeting at a time. It could be 50, 75, or 90 minutes, you choose what feels right. The idea is simple: we focus on what matters most to you in the here and now.
In that one conversation, you get a confidential, supportive space to untangle your thoughts, look at things from a fresh perspective, and leave feeling lighter, clearer, or just more “you” again.
Some people find a single session is really helpful; others come back now and then on an ad-hoc therapy basis, when life throws up a new challenge and they’d like a sounding board. And for clients I’ve worked with before, SST can be a great way to drop in for a one-off check-in, a chance to take stock, reset, and head back out with renewed clarity.
If it becomes clear during our work together that what you really need is longer-term or open-ended therapy, we can discuss this. And if I don’t currently have space that fits your needs, I’ll be glad to help you think about onward referral options.
Everyday Situations Where SST Can Help
Not just for crises: the small stuff matters too
You don’t need a life crisis to benefit from therapy. In fact, many clients use Single Session Therapy for everyday worries and decisions that just feel too heavy to handle alone. For example:
- Feeling wobbly about a work change, interview, or promotion
- Untangling a knotty relationship issue (family, partner, colleague, or friend)
- Deciding whether to say “yes” or “no” to a new opportunity
- Coping with the Sunday-night blues or a burst of self-doubt
- Struggling with perfectionism, procrastination, or that nagging inner critic
- Wanting a sounding board before making an important choice
- Simply needing a confidential space to let off steam without worrying about judgement
Think of ad-hoc therapy as pressing “pause” on life for an hour or so, a chance to get your
thoughts in order and breathe again.
A Gentle Way to Try Out Therapy
Test the waters without diving into five seasons at once
If you’ve never had therapy before, starting with a Single Session Therapy appointment can be a really useful way to “try it out.” There’s no pressure to commit to a weekly sessions, you get to see what the experience is like, how you feel working with me, and whether the style of support suits you.
SST is different from deeper, psychodynamic therapy, which often explores your past in detail to understand patterns over time. Instead, ad hoc therapy keeps the focus on the present: what’s happening right now, what’s bothering you, and how you’d like to approach it differently.
It’s ideal if you want to sound out an idea, explore a worry, or simply get a clearer view of something that’s been nagging at you. Think of it as dipping your toe into therapy, rather than committing to a whole five-season box set straight away.
Why One Session Can Work
Big relief, small time frame
People often ask, “Can one session really help?” The answer is: yes, more than you might think. Therapy isn’t always about uncovering every layer of your life story. Sometimes, it’s about giving your thoughts and feelings the space they need to breathe, with someone there to listen, reflect, and gently challenge where needed.
By the end of an SST session, many clients walk away with a renewed sense of clarity, relief at having voiced what’s been stuck inside, and often a fresh angle on the very thing that’s been keeping them awake at night. It doesn’t always need months or years, sometimes just one good conversation makes all the difference.
Quicker Access, More Flexibility
No waiting room marathons required
Because my longer-term therapy sessions often have a waiting list, Single Session Therapy can also be a flexible way to access my diary more quickly. If your own availability is limited, or you’d like support sooner rather than later, SST makes it easier to find a slot without the wait.
A Final Word
Therapy in just the right dose
Single Session Therapy, is there for when you need it: not too much, not too little, just the right amount of support at the right time. No long-term commitment, no sense of “failing” if you don’t keep going. Just one focused, confidential conversation to help you find your footing again.
And of course, if you ever do decide you want the full “series”, the longer-term, deeper therapeutic work that’s always an option too.
About Me
I’m a therapist based in Bromley, South East London, offering both long term psychotherapy and counselling and Single Session Therapy. My approach is warm, collaborative, and occasionally laced with a gentle sense of humour (because sometimes laughter is the best perspective-shifter). Whether you’re new to therapy or a previous client popping back for a check-in, I’d be glad to offer a safe, supportive space for you to think things through.
