This is an example of how easily-accessed single sessions can make a momentous difference in someone’s life.
By making early, in-the-moment support so available, Kooth is able to provide help where and when it’s needed, preventing early struggles becoming more serious and acute.
Justin, a 17-year-old student, heard about Kooth at college. He decided to set up an account to explore what Kooth had to offer and began by writing in an online journal.
His entry was short but powerful. He mentioned feeling ‘tired,’ that ‘life was becoming increasingly hard,’ and that he had ‘had enough.’ The Kooth moderation team quickly flagged this as a potential concern. Knowing that feelings of hopelessness can sometimes be linked to suicidal thoughts, they reached out with a proactive message. They let Justin know he wasn’t alone, offered a chance for him to chat with a Kooth practitioner, and shared information about crisis services should he need them.
Justin explained that he didn’t feel he needed immediate support—he was just feeling a bit fed up. Taking his lead, a practitioner followed up with a friendly message, suggesting he might find it helpful to connect with others in the Kooth community.
About a month after registering, and after exchanging a few brief messages with a practitioner, Justin started engaging more with the Kooth community. He read articles written by other young people and joined discussion forums.
Trying a single therapy session
In his second month, Justin joined the drop-in chat queue, and after a short wait, he was connected with a Kooth wellbeing practitioner.
To help guide this single session, the practitioner introduced Kooth’s Session Needs and Wants Outcome Measure (SWAN-OM), a survey designed to understand what Justin hoped to gain from their conversation. His response was clear: he just wanted to ‘feel listened to.’
The practitioner took a warm, non-judgemental approach, asked about any potential risks and encouraged Justin to share at his own pace. Justin spoke generally about his relationships with friends and family but didn’t highlight anything specific he wanted to work on.
The practitioner introduced the idea of goal-setting and asked if Justin might find that helpful. After some thought, he set a goal: ‘increase my self-confidence around others.’
Together, they explored ways to work towards this, including listing things that others might see as his strengths—a small but effective way to challenge his own negative self-view. The practitioner also recommended some articles that could offer further support.
Building confidence and opening up Over time, Justin became more involved in the Kooth community. He started submitting his own content, particularly around the themes of identity and self-confidence. His journal entries became more frequent, reflecting his personal growth.
By his third month, Justin reached out for another one-off chat session. As before, he completed the SWAN-OM, but this time, his response was different: he wanted to ‘talk about something I haven’t told anyone before.’
During the session, Justin shared that he had been questioning his sexuality and thought he might be bisexual. The practitioner reassured him that he wasn’t alone and gently linked this to his original goal of increasing self-confidence. Together, they explored ways he could work towards feeling more comfortable in himself.
It was a powerful moment of self-discovery and support.
Through Kooth, Justin found a safe space to express himself, connect with others, and take small but meaningful steps towards self-acceptance and confidence. His journey shows how access to single therapy sessions at the right time can make a huge difference.