Single Session Therapy

What a Single Session Is

Sometimes you don’t need months of therapy. You need one good conversation with someone trained to help you think straight.

A single session at Just Mind is a planned, one-time, 55-minute appointment with a therapist or psychologist trained in single sessions. You book ahead, you come once, and nobody expects you back. It’s private pay, $160 for one person or $175 for a couple or family, and we can’t bill it to insurance (see rates and insurance).

Loren Lomme, LPC, RPT, one of our therapists, calls it “sort of like a walk-in clinic with appointments.” In her words, it’s great “if you have just a couple of questions that you really want some more feedback about, or one or two things you’re not quite sure about.”

We won’t spend the session digging through your childhood. You’ll name the one thing you most want help with today, look at what’s already working for you, and leave with a next step you can try this week.

Clinically reviewed by William Schroeder, LPC, NCC, co-founder of Just Mind. Last reviewed October 24, 2026.

Why Choose a Single Session?

A lot of people put off therapy. Maybe it’s the time or the cost, or the sense that starting means signing up for months. A single session lowers the bar. You can find out what therapy feels like, see whether a therapist’s style suits you, or get an outside view on one hard thing.

Some people come in with a decision they keep circling. Others want to say something painful out loud to a professional who has no stake in how it turns out.

Who It Works Best For

It works best when there’s something specific on your mind: a decision, a breakup, a conflict with someone close to you, a move or a new job.

One session isn’t the right tool for long-standing depression, trauma work or patterns you’ve been fighting for years. Those usually need regular sessions over time. Even then, one session can help you sort out where to start, and we can match you with a therapist for ongoing work if you want that. To book a single session, use our website and tell the client care team what you’d like to talk about. A real person reads it and matches you with a clinician trained in single sessions, online anywhere in Texas or at our North Austin and Westlake offices.

What Happens in a Single Session

Before you come in: When you book, you tell us in a few lines what you’d like help with. That gives your therapist a head start.
The opening minutes: Your therapist asks what would make this hour worth your time, and you pick the one thing that matters most today.
The middle: You look together at what’s already working for you, what you’ve tried and what’s getting in the way. The focus stays on your strengths and the problem in front of you, not your whole history.
Before you leave: You walk out with a concrete next step you can try this week. If you want more, you can book another single session or move into ongoing counseling.

Trained by a Pioneer of Walk-In Therapy

Our single-session therapists trained with Arnold Slive, PhD, an Austin psychologist who helped pioneer walk-in single-session clinics in Canada in the 1990s and co-edited the book When One Hour Is All You Have: Effective Therapy for Walk-In Clients. As he told the Associated Press in 2026, “It’s not meant to replace all those other things that mental health professionals do, but it can help people feel better.”

Get Matched With a Therapist Online

Same careful matching, just from wherever you are. We’ll find your right fit, no matter where you’re logging in from.

Single Session Therapy FAQs

Single Session Therapy

Can I book a single session if I’m in crisis?

A single session isn’t crisis care. If you’re thinking about suicide or worried you might hurt yourself or someone else, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time of day. If you’re in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Once you’re safe, we’re glad to help with what comes next.

Does insurance cover a single session?

No. Single sessions are private pay: $160 for one person or $175 for a couple or family. We can’t bill them to insurance. Our rates and insurance page has the details.

Is there research that single session therapy works?

Yes, though the research is younger than the research on longer therapy. A 2023 systematic review of randomized trials in adults found that a single session may help with depression symptoms in particular, while noting that many of the studies were small and had a high risk of bias. A 2021 review of studies on anxiety found single-session therapy did better than no treatment. A 2025 review that pulled together 24 earlier reviews found single sessions had a small but real benefit across several problems.

What that means for you: one session can help, especially with something specific, and it isn’t a replacement for ongoing care when you need more.

What if I want to come more than once?

Plenty of people do. Let the client care team know you’ve had a single session before, and they’ll tell you what’s open. You can book another single session when something new comes up, or switch to regular counseling.

What is single session therapy?

It’s a one-time appointment designed to be useful on its own. You and your therapist pick the thing that matters most to you right now, work on it together and end with a plan. If you want more, you can come back. If you don’t, you’re done.

What should I bring to a single session?

One clear question or problem you want help with. The more focused you are going in, the more you get out of the 55 minutes. Your therapist will help you narrow it if you’re not sure.

Where did single session therapy come from?

Therapists noticed a long time ago that many clients come once and never return. In 1990, psychologist Moshe Talmon published Single Session Therapy, which argued that therapists should plan a first session as if it might be the only one, and make it count. Clinics in several countries have built services around that idea since.

Who is a good fit for a single session?

It tends to suit people who have one clear problem and want to act on it. It’s also a low-pressure way to find out whether therapy is for you. If you’re dealing with several things at once, or something that’s been going on for years, ongoing counseling is usually a better fit, and we’ll tell you so.