Single-Session Therapy (SST)
100 Key Points and Techniques
1st Edition
Published on 24. October 2018
Book
Paperback/Softback
334 pages
978-1-138-59312-1 (ISBN)
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.
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.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Postgraduate, Professional, and Professional Practice & Development
Illustrations
1 s/w Zeichnung
1 Line drawings, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Weight
560 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-138-59312-1 (9781138593121)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Book
08/2023
2nd Edition
Routledge
€34.10
Shipment within 10-20 days
Additional editions
Book
10/2018
1st Edition
Routledge
€186.01
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Person
Windy Dryden is in part-time clinical and consultative practice and is an international authority on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. He is Emeritus Professor of Psychotherapeutic Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London. He has worked in psychotherapy for more than 40 years and is the author of over 225 books.
Content
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
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