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Symposia

Program / Treatment Design

Harnessing Low-Intensity Treatments to Support People on Mental Health Treatment Waitlists

4 - (SYM 29) Top Problems Endorsed by Single-session Consultation Clients on Psychotherapy Wait-lists

Saturday, November 22, 2025
10:56 AM - 11:13 AM CST
Location: Imperial 12, Level 4
Keywords: Treatment/ Program Design, Technology / Mobile Health, Health Care System
Recommended Readings: Buck, B., Kadakia, A., Larsen, A., Tauscher, J., Guler, J., & Ben-Zeev, D. (2024). Digital interventions for people waitlisted for mental health services: A needs assessment and preference survey. Practice Innovations. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/pri0000250,   Peipert, A., Adams, S., & Lorenzo-Luaces, L. (2023). “I would not want the mechanic to direct me to an engine repair manual”: A qualitative analysis of provider perspectives on low-intensity treatments for patients on waiting lists. BMC Psychiatry, 23, 600.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05055-6,   Horwitz, A. G., Mills, E. D., Sen, S., & Bohnert, A. S. (2024). Comparative effectiveness of three digital interventions for adults seeking psychiatric services: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 7, e2422115-e2422115. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.22115,   Sung, J. Y., Bugatti, M., Vivian, D., & Schleider, J. L. (2023). Evaluating a telehealth single-session consultation service for clients on psychotherapy wait-lists. Practice Innovations, 8, 141-161.,  
Abstract Body

Outpatient mental health clinics across the country are struggling to meet the acute demand for mental health services, resulting in months-long waitlists. Providing evidence-based, single session interventions to treatment-seeking individuals while they wait for care may help address this crisis. One such intervention, the Single Session Consultation (SSC), offers an effective, acceptable, and feasible low-intensity treatment option to rapidly connect wait-listed individuals to care, foster trust in the mental healthcare system, and capitalize on their motivation for change. The study aimed to: (1) assess their willingness to participate in the SSC; (2) characterize the top problems endorsed by wait-listed individuals; and (3) report on the effectiveness of in-person and telehealth SSCs.


Combining data from two open trials of the in-person and telehealth SSC, 53 wait-listed individuals participated in the SSC. A total of 62 action plans were analyzed to identify the primary reasons for seeking care and self-ratings of how close they are to their goals (1= furthest, 10 = closest). 


At baseline, participants endorsed moderate levels of anxiety and depression. Of the 237 people offered an SSC, 120 (50.63%) accepted and scheduled a session, with 95 (79.17%) attending the SSC. SSC recipients presented with a range of concerns, most commonly interpersonal distress (e.g., loneliness,  coping with a breakup), generalized worry, depressed mood, sleep disturbances, and academic stress. Participants rated themselves at 4.34 out of 10 regarding their standing relative to their personal goals. Notably, SSC recipients saw significant reductions in hopelessness from baseline to 2-week follow-up (face to face trial, d = 1.43, p < .001; telehealth trial, d = 1.04, p < .001). Qualitative coding of participant responses is projected to be completed by May 2025.


The SSC is a scalable, trans-diagnostic approach to addressing common mental health concerns among wait-listed individuals. Additional insights with the completion of qualitative coding will inform best practices for integrating SSCs into mental health clinics to improve access, engagement, and outcomes.