Single-Session and Multi-Session Family Therapy: Comparing Effectiveness

What if one well-timed family therapy session could make a meaningful difference for some families?

New Research Publication

Single-Session and Multi-Session Family Therapy: Comparing Effectiveness

Published by Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy

How many therapy sessions are needed to create meaningful change for families? This new Australian research compares the effectiveness of single-session and multi-session family therapy, providing valuable insights for service design, clinical practice, and access to care.

Supported by the Medibank Better Health Foundation and the Victorian Department of Health, this PhD research underscores the need for adaptable service models that provide families with timely and appropriate levels of support.

Who is this research relevant to?

This article is relevant for family therapists, counsellors, practitioners, service leaders, policymakers, commissioners, and researchers interested in improving outcomes while making services more accessible and responsive to family needs.

Key Insights

1. Both single-session and multi-session family therapy can support positive outcomes for families.
2. A single session may be sufficient for many families, even those experiencing complex challenges, particularly when support is timely and focused.
3. Family needs and circumstances vary, highlighting the importance of flexible service pathways.
4. Offering different levels of support can help services respond more effectively to demand and complexity.
5. Findings offer evidence for the effectiveness of single sessions in addressing family needs.
6. Single session models have potential to improve client experience and service efficiency.

Why this matters

With growing demand for mental health and family support services, this study provides valuable evidence for the effectiveness of rapid access single session family interventions, which could potentially help organisations increase accessibility without compromising quality of care.