Single Session Therapy in Blackheath and Online
Single Session Therapy is a single, focused meeting with a therapist to explore a specific issue without any requirement to continue into ongoing sessions. It is designed for those moments when something feels urgent, overwhelming, or in need of clear thinking, but long term therapy does not feel necessary or possible.
This approach works because it meets you at the exact point you recognise you need support, for the particular difficulty you want to address. Studies show that between 58 and 88 percent of clients experience significant benefit from a single therapeutic conversation, with outcomes often comparable to several-session brief therapy. When the session is intentional and well structured, it becomes possible to gain clarity, recognise patterns you had not noticed, and find perspective on situations that have felt stuck, all within one session.
Single Session Therapy is particularly helpful when there is a clear question or dilemma, when you are at a decision point and want to think aloud with someone outside the situation, or when you want therapeutic support without committing to weekly appointments. It respects that you know what kind of help you need and when you need it, offering a space that is responsive, contained, and practical.
Single Session Therapy for Individuals
Single Session Therapy is a one-off session with a therapist, lasting between 60 and 90 minutes. It gives you dedicated time to talk through something specific that's on your mind, without committing to weeks or months of ongoing sessions.
People often come with a particular issue they want to untangle: a difficult conversation they need to have, a decision they're stuck on, a relationship that's confusing them, or a situation at work that's become overwhelming. You might be wondering whether to end a relationship, how to handle a conflict with a family member, or why you keep repeating the same unhelpful patterns.
The session focuses on identifying two or three goals you want to achieve about a specific issue, then working with the therapist to explore potential ways or steps to meet those goals. The therapist helps you see things you might have missed, understand what's really bothering you, get clearer on what you actually want or need, and identify practical next steps.
You might leave with concrete actions to take or a clearer sense of direction. Or you might leave with a better understanding of why something has been so difficult, or simply feeling less overwhelmed by it. Some people realise they want to continue with ongoing therapy, while others find that one focused conversation was exactly what they needed.
Single Session Therapy works well if you're at a crossroads or in a moment of pressure, feeling stuck on something specific, or simply wanting to think things through with an experienced, neutral listener. It's also useful if you've never tried therapy before and want to see what it's like without making a long-term commitment.
Single Session Therapy for Couples
Single Session Therapy for couples is a one-off longer and intensive session, where you, your partner, and the therapist work together on a specific issue that's causing tension or confusion in your relationship.
Many couples come when they're stuck in a recurring argument, avoiding a difficult conversation, or facing a decision they can't seem to make together. You might be struggling with the same disagreement that keeps coming up, feeling like one or both of you isn't being heard, or noticing that something has shifted in the relationship but you can't quite work out what it is.
The session focuses on identifying two or three specific goals you want to achieve as a couple, then working together to understand what's happening between you and reach some practical strategies to address it. The therapist helps you both see the pattern more clearly, understand how each of you experiences it differently, and find ways to communicate more effectively about what's actually going on.
By slowing down a conversation that usually moves too quickly or becomes too heated, the session can reveal what each of you is really trying to communicate beneath the surface of the argument. You'll often notice patterns that are hard to see when you're in the middle of them.
You might leave with practical steps to try, a better understanding of what's driving the conflict, or simply a clearer sense of whether you need more support. Some couples find one session gives them enough clarity to move forward on their own. Others realise that ongoing work could help. Either way, the decision about what happens next is yours.
How it works
Single Session Therapy is designed to make the most of one meaningful, structured conversation. The process is clear, collaborative, and shaped around your specific needs.
Before the session
You will receive a brief questionnaire inviting you to reflect on what feels most important to explore. This helps you clarify your focus and allows the therapist to come into the session with a good understanding of what you hope to gain from the time together.
During the session
Single Session Therapy lasts 75 minutes for individuals and 110 minutes for couples.
The first ten to fifteen minutes are spent clarifying your goals for the session. This helps create a shared understanding of what you want to leave with and ensures the time is used purposefully.
The remainder of the session is dedicated to exploring your chosen issue in depth. The therapist will support you through careful listening, reflective questions, and a pace that allows you to think clearly and openly. For couples, the therapist ensures both partners have space to speak and be heard, and that the conversation remains balanced, safe, and even handed.
Towards the end of the session
You and the therapist will review what has felt most helpful and work together to identify strategies, insights, and recommendations that feel meaningful and achievable. This might include shifts in communication, practical next steps, or new perspectives on the situation.
After the session
The therapist will send you a short written report outlining the agreed recommendations. Many clients find this helpful to return to over the following days or weeks as they reflect on the session.
There is no commitment to ongoing work, though you may choose to return for another single session in the future or transition into longer term therapy if that feels right. The focus is always on offering the support you need at the moment you need it.
SST at Heathwell
Single Session Therapy at Heathwell is offered by two experienced therapists, each with years of working in private practice and training in their respective therapeutic approaches. They offer single sessions for individuals facing specific decisions or challenges and couples working through recurring conflicts or communication difficulties.
Each therapist works independently, which means you can choose the clinician whose experience and approach feels most relevant to what you want to address. Whether you're looking for clarity on a particular situation, practical strategies to move forward, or simply space to think something through with an experienced listener, both therapists are equipped to support you in a single, focused conversation.
Elena Miari Elena works with relationships of all kinds, including couples navigating neurodiversity, communication difficulties, infidelity, betrayal trauma, and major life transitions.
She also specialises in supporting individuals with ADHD, narcissistic abuse, binge eating, relationship difficulties, and significant life changes.
Elena works in an existential way, inviting clients to pause, reflect, and see their situation with greater depth and clarity. Her style is warm, curious, and gently challenging, helping people recognise what truly matters to them. In SST, she focuses on supporting clients to live more intentionally, understand the choices available to them, and move forward in a way that aligns with their values.
Trish Riley is a registered Psychosexual and Relationship Psychotherapist who has been working in private practice for years.
She offers Single Session Therapy to both couples and individuals who want focused time to explore a specific concern around sexuality, intimacy, or relationship dynamics. Her work includes issues such as low or loss of sexual desire, sexual anxiety, and challenges that affect emotional or physical connection. With couples, she helps clarify communication patterns, understand mismatched desire, and make sense of how cultural or religious expectations may shape sexual wellbeing.
Trish provides culturally sensitive support to diverse communities and LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Getting started
To arrange a Single Session Therapy appointment, please get in touch through the contact page, WhatsApp, or by telephone.
Before booking, you will be offered an informal twenty minute conversation with the therapist of your choice to talk about what brings you to a single session and whether this approach feels like the right fit. It is also a chance to ask any questions and get a sense of how the session works.
Single Session Therapy is available in person from Blackheath Village, within easy reach of Greenwich, Lewisham, Bromley, Bexleyheath and Central London, as well as online throughout the UK.
