Small but mighty: how can pediatric psychologists harness the power of digital single-session interventions?

Single-session interventions (SSIs) are an innovative, scalable approach for addressing the unmet behavioral and mental health needs of pediatric patients and their families. Specifically, digital SSIs, which are self-guided and delivered online, offer a low-cost and accessible approach but are currently underutilized in pediatric psychology.

This topical review aims to describe SSIs broadly and the specific need for digital SSIs, explore potential applications within pediatric psychology, outline future directions and considerations, and present two examples of community-engaged digital SSI design.

SSIs evidence small to medium effects across a range of mental health concerns, including distress, anxiety, and depression, supporting their broad applicability. Incorporating community voices during the development process is essential to ensure SSIs are contextually relevant in pediatric populations. Two illustrative SSIs currently in development within pediatric psychology are described: (1) an intervention supporting adolescent siblings of children with cancer and (2) a program targeting depression in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Both examples incorporate input from key community members, underscoring the value of participatory design in enhancing intervention relevance and impact.

SSIs offer a brief and scalable strategy to help address gaps in psychological care, particularly for youth and families with limited access to services. Pediatric psychologists are well positioned to develop, evaluate, and implement SSIs across diverse populations and intervention targets. Ensuring the effectiveness, equity, and sustainability of SSIs will require ongoing collaboration with community partners and integration across pediatric care settings.