What’s the Smallest Amount of Therapy That’s Still Effective?

The most of talk-therapy sessions that people attend in their lifetime is one. That very first meeting with a mental-health practitioner is usually focused on asking the patient introductory questions, not on providing substantial support, and it can fail to keep them coming back for subsequent meetings. Contributing to that lack of sustained engagement is the pervasive idea that years-long, weekly therapy is the only way to receive adequate mental-health treatment, which can be a daunting prospect for many. But some therapists and patients are challenging that idea and making the case for short-term therapy, a practice that can last anywhere from a single session to dozens over the course of a few months, and that tends to focus on immediate solutions to situational crises. They believe that treating short-term therapy, in addition to long-term care, as a viable option could