ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the oft-asked question concerning client indications and contra-indications. It presents a variety of views on this question including some client data, although people need to know more about this question from the client perspective. The chapter outlines therapists’ views on the ‘client criteria’ question, there seems to be two perspectives. The first perspective is that there are criteria concerning for which clients Single-Session Therapy (SST) is indicated. The second perspective is that there are no such criteria. This perspective is likely to be articulated by SST therapists who work in walk-in services. When therapists adopt a criteria-based approach to SST, they tend to outline a long list of indications and contra-indications. For many therapists and some managers, the assumption that clients facing complex problems require ‘deep’ change which can only occur in long-term work is powerful and entrenched.
