Single Therapy Session Can Make a Difference, Experts Say

Increasing number of people opt for targeted approach over traditional long-term therapy

Apr. 6, 2026 at 2:27pm

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Experts say an increasing number of people are choosing single-session counseling over traditional long-term therapy, finding that just one hour can help them get 'unstuck' and provide a toolbox of strategies to address specific problems. The therapy is becoming more common as a way to fill gaps in access to mental health care, with the cost and wait times of traditional therapy posing barriers for many.

Why it matters

The rise of single-session therapy highlights the growing need for accessible and affordable mental health support, as the cost and availability of traditional therapy has become out of reach for many. This approach provides a targeted solution for people struggling with specific issues, empowering them with practical steps they can take immediately.

The details

In a single-session, a counselor helps the client identify concrete steps toward relieving a specific problem, rather than doing a full assessment of the client's past and current circumstances. The intention is not to completely solve the problem, but to equip the client with a toolbox of strategies to approach it. Experts say this type of therapy attracts a different type of client, such as someone who may be skeptical about traditional therapy.

  • In late 2025, Julie Hart decided to try single-session counseling rather than committing to weekly therapy sessions.
  • The single-session therapy approach has become increasingly common in recent years as a way to fill gaps in access to mental health care.

The players

Julie Hart

A resident of Springfield, Virginia who tried single-session counseling and found it helpful in getting 'unstuck' from a nagging problem she had struggled with for years.

Jessica Schleider

A psychology professor at Northwestern University and the founding director of the Lab for Scalable Mental Health, who says research on single-session intervention has 'blossomed in the past five or 10 years'.

Sharon Thomas

A psychologist and director of single-session therapy at the Ross Center in Washington, D.C., who says both counselor and client enter the session with expectations of meaningful change.

Arnold Slive

A psychology professor at Our Lady of the Lake University in Texas who helped pioneer walk-in single-session therapy clinics in Canada in the 1990s.

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What they’re saying

“It helped me get unstuck, is how I would describe it, in a very positive, meaningful and effective way.”

— Julie Hart

“Even if we doubled miraculously the number of trained mental health professionals overnight, we still wouldn't come anywhere close to meeting the need for mental health support.”

— Jessica Schleider, psychology professor, Northwestern University

“That the client will be able to have meaningful change in their life, and that we'll see an improvement in both their self-efficacy and a decline in their symptoms in just one visit.”

— Sharon Thomas, psychologist, director of single-session therapy, Ross Center

“It's not meant to replace all those other things that mental health professionals do, but it can help people feel better.”

— Arnold Slive, psychology professor, Our Lady of the Lake University

What’s next

Experts say single-session therapy is not meant to replace traditional long-term therapy or medication for those with chronic mental health issues, but can provide a helpful first step for many people seeking mental health support.

The takeaway

The rise of single-session therapy highlights the growing need for accessible and affordable mental health care options. While not a replacement for comprehensive treatment, this targeted approach can empower people to take concrete steps towards addressing specific problems, filling an important gap in the mental health landscape.