Main description:

Even in one session a therapist can make a difference. Single Session Therapy: 100 Key Points and Techniques presents the 100 main features of this way of working, providing an accessible, succinct overview of this way of working, based on the author's extensive work demonstrating the effectiveness of SST.

Divided into 9 sections, guiding you through every aspect of the therapy, the book covers topic such as:

The goals of SST

Characteristics of 'good' SST clients

Responding effectively to the client's very first contact

Creating and maintaining a working focus

Making an emotional impact

Both concise and practical, Single Session Therapy: 100 Key Points and Techniques will be invaluable to psychotherapists and counsellors in training and practice.

Contents:

Contents

Preface

Part 1: The Nature and Foundations of SST

What is SST?

The development of SST

What SST is not

Even a brief encounter can be therapeutic

The expandable nature of therapy length

The modal number of therapy sessions internationally is 'one', and the majority of people who attend for one session are satisfied

It is difficult to predict, with accuracy, how many therapy sessions a client will attend

What is a 'drop-out'?

Intermittent therapy through the life cycle

Sooner is better and less is more

Human beings can help themselves quickly under specific circumstances

The choice of SST is the client's, but sometimes such choice may be limited

Three key themes: Mindset, time and client empowerment

An SST-informed attitude to clinical work

The diverse nature of SST

The goals of SST

SST challenges established beliefs about therapy and change

The length of SST

Different approaches to SST
Part 2: The Assumptions of SST

Client-centred and client-driven

Reciprocity in openness and feedback

Future-oriented, but present and past sensitive

Readiness

Strengths-based

Resources-based

Complex problems do not always require complex solutions

A journey begins with the first few steps
Part 3: Facilitative Conditions for SST

Intentionality

Expect change

Clarity

Effective session structure

Effective goal-setting

The therapist's use of expertise rather than being the expert

Helpful attitudes for SST therapists

Characteristics of 'good' SST therapists

SST: The do's

SST: The don'ts

A conducive environment for SST

The pluralistic nature of SST

Characteristics of 'good' SST clients
Part 4: Criteria for SST

The client criteria question

Therapist indications and contra-indications for SST

Service indications and contra-indications for SST
Part 5: Getting SST Off on the Right Foot

Respond effectively to the person's very first contact

Prepare for the face-to-face session: I. Getting relevant information

Prepare for the face-to-face session: II. Tipping the balance towards change

Prepare for the face-to-face session III. How do you think I can best help you?

Suggest possible tasks between the pre-session contact and the session

Consider sending an email summary

Realise that the pre-session contact may be sufficient
Part 6: Getting the Most from the Session

Agree or review parameters

Be mindful of the working alliance in SST

Begin the session: I. Focus on tasks and activities carried out by the client between the pre-session contact and the face-to-face

Begin the session: II. When there has been no prior contact between therapist and client

Focus on a problem that can be solved, not one that can't be solved

Create and maintain a working focus

Help clients deal with adversity, if possible

Negotiate a goal

Understand how clients unwittingly maintain their problems and use this understanding to help them solve these problems

What to change: I. Individual-focused change

What to change: II. Environment-focused change

Focus on and use pivot chords

Agree markers for change

Notice and encourage change

Focus on the second response not the first

Look for exceptions

Look for instances of the goal already happening

Encourage the client to do more of what works or might work and less of what doesn't work

Make an emotional impact

Utilise the client's strengths and resources

Utilise the client's role model

Utilise topophilia in SST

The use of stories and parables

Use humour

Use paradox

Use the friend technique

The use of chairwork in SST

Convert meaning into a useful and memorable phrase

Educate when clients appear to lack information or have faulty information.

Agree on the solution

Encourage the client to practise the solution in the session

Summarise the process

Take-homes

End the session

After the session: Reflection, the recording and the transcript

Follow-up

Example of an SST structure: AUB
Part 7: Walk-in Therapy

Two pathways to help

The nature of walk-in therapy

The case for walk-in therapy

Foster an alliance with the service rather than with a specific therapist

How walk-in services are advertised

A guideline for walk-in session structure influenced by brief narrative therapy

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about walk-in therapy
Part 8: Other Forms of SST

Clinical demonstrations

Filmed training tapes

Second opinions

Part 9: SST: Personal Contributions and Learning

98. 'Single Session Integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy' (SSI-CBT)

99. 'Very Brief Therapeutic Conversations' (VBTCs)

100. Personal lessons learned from practising SST

Epilogue: The Future of SST - Interviews with Key Figures