Improving Youth Mental Health Services Access Using a Single-Session Therapy Approach

Abstract

This article describes the implementation and evaluation of a single-session therapy (SST) pilot project in a youth community-based mental health clinic. The intent was to improve access to therapy services in order to reduce wait times, support youth's and their caregivers’ functioning, relieve immediate distress and connect youth to resources while waiting for ongoing therapy. Wait times were reduced by 90 days when SST was implemented following intake. Caregivers reported clinically significant improvement in adolescent well-being at one-month follow-up using the Outcome Rating Scale. Clinicians embraced the implementation of SST as a complementary service to multisession therapy in the clinic setting.