Breakthrough moments: Adopting Single Session Therapy to tackle the delays in getting mental health support | Tuesday, 14 January 2025 Full day (9.30am – 4.00pm) live online training

Alternatives to the current approach to mental health support are needed in the light of escalating mental health problems, which have left services in many areas unable to meet demand. This training examines Single Session Therapy as a practical and cost-effective alternative approach for both adults and children.

At the end of November 2023, there were 1.2 million adults in contact with NHS mental health services (1). In 2022/23, approximately 950,000, or 8%, of England’s children and young people were referred to mental health services, with an estimated 40,000 still waiting after two years (2). A report by the National Audit Office estimated that a further 8 million people with mental health needs were not currently in any contact with services at all (3).

Waiting times for accessing mental health services are leaving both adults and children & young people without the support they need in many parts of the UK. These delays can result in deteriorating conditions, absences from work and education, and an increasing risk of self-harm.

Single Session Therapy (SST) is a researched-backed, practical and effective option for tackling the backlog. Based upon evidence which has shown that a single session of therapy can be effective in helping the service user feel able to continue without further support, this approach is widely used in Canada, where waiting lists for mental health support are extremely low and ‘walk in’ services are widespread.

SST does not preclude further therapy sessions where these are desired or needed.

It can be used in conjunction with alternative therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, NLP, EFT and Hypnotherapy.

The training explains in detail what Single Session Therapy is, the evidence behind it, and how it works in services which have adopted this approach. The trainers adopt a Solution Focused approach which focuses on identifying and amplifying the client’s existing strengths and resources, setting clear goals, and fostering a collaborative dialogue that leads to actionable steps and immediate improvements.

The combination of a Solution-Focused approach with Single Session Therapy is particularly effective where time is limited and immediate support is needed. A step by step explanation of how to conduct a single session of therapy is provided using interactive sessions and role play (see Agenda).

This training is CPD accredited and is suitable for:

• Professionals who work in mental health services, and want to look at SST as an option for providing services to both adults and children & young people
• Professionals who work in other services and have clients with mental health problems, who may benefit from adopting some of the principles within the Solution-Focused approach (eg helping young people identify and build on their strengths)
• Commissioners of mental health services

References

1. https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mental-health-services-monthly-statistics/performance-november-2023-needs-not-seeking-nhs-help-watchdog-says

2. Children’s Mental Health Services 2022-23 published on 15th March 2024 by the Children’s Commissioner
3. National Audit Office report referred to in this article: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/feb/09/millions-with-mental-health-

Format of the training

• This training takes place live online
• Details of the sessions, with timings, are given in the Agenda section

What you will get from us

• Once you have booked, you will be emailed a brief confirmation.
• Joining instructions will be emailed 1-2 weeks before the date of the training
• PowerPoint slides will be emailed the day before the training
• After you have completed the training, we will email a Certificate of Attendance for your CPD records (6 CPD points)

Technical heads up

• If you are part of a large organisation, please check with your IT department that there are no firewalls which will prevent you from accessing the training.
• We’re here to help, so if you have any problems, just call us on 0115 916 3104 or email us on conferences@ccclimited.org.uk

10:25am – 10:45am

Break out room activity 1

Participants to discuss what they have heard from the video

10:45am – 11:05am

The evidence base for SST

• Video clip
• Research papers on SST

11.05am – 11.15am

Mid-morning break

11:15am – 11:45am

SST using the SFBT approach

• Client contact and prior information gathering prior to the SST session
• Practice session in break-out rooms
• Finding client strengths and resources
• Use of coping questions to find strengths, resources and motivation to change
• Looking for exceptions to the problem

11:45am – 12.05pm

Practice session in break-out rooms

• Identifying clients strengths and resources
• Identifying other sources of support for the client

12:05pm – 12:35pm

Exploring the clients best hopes from the SST session

• FBS Chat Evan George and best hopes question
• Practice exercise – best hopes

12.35pm – 1.05pm

Lunch break

1.05pm – 1.35pm

Introducing scaling questions

• Scaling the client’s best hopes
• Scaling follow up questions
• Next step on the scale

1:35pm-2.15pm

Introducing the miracle question

• The use of the miracle question in session
• Getting a detailed description of the clients best hopes
• Facilitator demonstration of the miracle question with a volunteer delegate
• Practice exercise

2.15pm – 2.25pm

Mid-afternoon break

2.25pm-2:55pm

Ending the SST session

• Check in with client if everything has been covered
• Clarify with client what next steps have been identified
• Overcoming any obstacles they may encounter towards their best hopes
• Decide on the timescale for a feedback phone call

2:55pm-3.15pm

Practice exercise

• Delegates go to break-out rooms to practice complimenting

3.15pm-3:35pm

Brief overview of a follow-up session in SFBT

• Being ready if the client requests a further session.

3:35pm-4.00pm

Structured group reflection on the workshop

• NHS mental health professionals
• Mental health professionals working in other organisations
• GP services
• Other mental health and counselling services, including help lines or online services
• Schools – staff with safeguarding and welfare responsibilities, school nurses, mentors, attendance services
• Education support services – education psychologists, support services for children on the edge of exclusion
• Virtual school staff
• Further education and university counselling and welfare services
• Youth services
• Organisations supporting children and young people
• Youth offending services
• Children and family social workers
• Other services supporting families
• Adults’ social workers
• Homeless services
• Criminal justice system

The training is led by Joe Lettieri, one of the founders of Family Based Solutions.

Established in 2012, Family Based Solutions addresses the needs of families experiencing numerous challenges. Over the years, they have expanded their services to aid families recovering from domestic abuse, adults exhibiting harmful behaviours, and introduced Building On Strengths and Solutions (B.O.S.S), a well-being service for students and staff in schools. FBS expertise include providing training to both statutory and non-statutory organisations, including the Metropolitan Police, NSPCC, Educators, and Social Care. As a strength-based organisation, their training workshops emphasise solution-focused approaches to enhance both individual and organisational development.