Single-session therapy as a counselling waitlist management strategy in a public health service: A brief quality improvement evaluation

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the feasibility and perceived helpfulness of Single Session Therapy (SST) as a counselling waitlist management strategy in an Australian public health service.

Method

This quality improvement project used a single-group post-intervention design, drawing on routine service data and brief patient feedback from a small SST pilot embedded within a counselling waitlist management initiative at a community health counselling service within Monash Health, Victoria, Australia, between October 2024 and January 2025. Of 51 referrals processed, 13 patients were allocated to SST and 9 completed the intervention. Follow-up feedback was obtained from 5 patients.

Results

Patient-reported helpfulness ratings were positive, with a mean rating of 4.4/5, and all five respondents reported some perceived benefit. Of the nine patients who completed SST, only one required further counselling input from the service. Qualitative feedback suggested that SST was perceived as helpful in increasing awareness, providing practical strategies, and offering an opportunity to speak with a psychologist.

Conclusion

SST may be a feasible and acceptable brief intervention within counselling waitlist management in an Australian public health setting. Findings should be interpreted within the limits of a small local quality improvement evaluation and warrant further service-level investigation.

Keywords

single-session therapy waitlist management counselling quality improvement brief intervention public health service

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