Single session treatment
Preventing burnout with one conversation, that's what Single Session Therapy (SST) entails. It is a relatively new form of therapy, where tools are given to you in one session by a professional of your choice, without in-depth psychological research. This could be a psychiatrist or therapist. Features: Quick access to a professional, no waiting list and no diagnosis.
The SST method assumes that each conversation is isolated. One session is often enough, but if this turns out to be not enough, you can take the initiative to book one more session. Research conducted by Harvard University shows that SST will also work against anxiety and behavioral problems as a twelve- to sixteen-week treatment program. However, psychologists and therapists are important. Not much research has been done yet, and in traditional psychology, single-session therapy is considered a failure. But there are fans too.
Psychologist Moshe Talmon, for example. In the 1980s, he contacted two hundred clients who did not schedule a new appointment after the first session. What happened? 78% indicated that they believe that one session is sufficient. Ten years later, Moshe and his colleagues investigated the matter again, and most clients booked one session. They concluded that this is clearly where the need lies.
Various treatment centers in Australia, Canada, England and America subsequently continued to develop the SST technique. English Self Space offers one-to-one sessions for companies such as Google and Netflix. Costs 175 euros for ninety minutes. The SST service is still quite new in the Netherlands. Last year, the company was founded: it will support employees of law firms and RTL. According to the Dutch Healthcare Institute, there were 84,000 Dutch people on the mental health waiting list in November 2023. This number is still growing. Could this new form of treatment be the answer?
Helen van Empel, psychologist, SST trainer, and founder of Yet
“Most people with psychological problems don't seek help because they want to solve a problem on their own. As minimal as one-session therapy meets this need. The great thing about this rapid availability is that people come in with something urgent. They are motivated to do something about it.” This means you can quickly dig in. We've also been trained to get to the core quickly.
As with all therapy and training, the effect is mainly on the client. This is why it is so important that people choose their own support as much as possible. My colleague and I have been providing training to other psychologists in the Netherlands for two years. I think we've now trained sixty people.
José Smits, happiness psychologist
“I don't think going on a supersonic plane is a good development. One session can help solve a problem with a friend or go swimming. Unfortunately, more often happens when people contact a coach or psychologist. Complaints about depression and stress are increasing, and there is a waiting list Huge in the field of mental health care.
I would also like to provide a quick solution, but this is not always possible. People must first realize that certain behaviors or thoughts underlie their complaints. This takes time, and only then can you change your behavior and thoughts. “Then you also need a number of tools, but a certain amount of time must pass first before you know what they are.”
Kirsten Huber, psychotherapist and president of the Dutch Psychotherapy Association
“If someone says they are depressed, you will only know what it means when you get a good picture of that person. It cannot be done in one session. SST is coaching, not therapy. It falls into the category of alternative forms of therapy, because it has been shown to Its effectiveness is limited, which is why the health insurance company will not reimburse the costs of SST.
Framing coaching as therapy is marketing and can be dangerous. Those who are not very confident may think: It's my fault that I can't solve my problems in one sitting. In psychotherapy, we do not see that many people stop after one session. It is very important that there is a click with the practitioner.
This report comes from Flair 7-2024. You can read more stories like this every week in Flair.
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