THE SCIENCE-BACKED EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE AND DONE THERAPY | BINGE THINKING BOS

Welcome to Binge Thinking. We invite professors and experts to give lectures in bars around Boston, NYC, and DC!
In a world of AI slop, doomscrolling and brainrot, Binge Thinking brings real experts into real places for nights of learning, conversation, and community.
Think Responsibly.

Join us and grab a drink as we ask: can one therapy session actually change your life? The science might surprise you...
TOPIC: The Science-Backed Effectiveness of One and Done TherapySPEAKER: Dr. Jenna Y. Sung, Boston University
Somewhere along the way, we all agreed that therapy means a weekly appointment, a long waitlist, and a commitment measured in months (or years). But who actually made that rule? And what happens to the millions of people who can’t afford it, can’t find a provider, or simply can’t wait?
Turns out, a growing body of research says a single, well-designed session can make a real difference in how we think, feel, and act. Even better, many of these tools are free, online, and available whenever you need them, no waitlist required.
In this talk, Dr. Jenna Sung unpacks the science behind single-session interventions and how they could help bring mental health support to people who have been left out of the traditional system.
Topics include:
Who decided therapy should take months or years?
Why “just go to therapy” is easier said than done
What it would take to get mental health support to millions of people who need it
How a single session can change the way we think, feel, and behave
How free, brief online tools are reshaping who gets help, where, and when
Where to find free, science-backed tools you can try yourself or share with someone who needs them
How to tell when one session might be enough, and when it’s time to seek more support
You’ll leave with a fresh take on what “getting help” can look like, plus a few tools you can actually use the same night.
About the Speaker
Dr. Jenna Y. Sung is an Assistant Professor in the Counseling Psychology & Applied Human Development Department at Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, where she directs the Lab for Expanding Access for Families (LEAF). She earned her BA in Psychology from Emory University, and her MA and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Stony Brook University.
Her research focuses on developing and testing brief, scalable digital mental health tools, especially single-session interventions, designed to reach people who may not access traditional therapy. She received the 2025 Jenike Young Investigator Award from the International OCD Foundation for a web-based single-session intervention supporting caregivers of people with OCD.
Agenda
7:00 PM - Doors Open (Grab a seat and drinks!)7:30 PM - Lecture Begins8:10 PM - Audience Q&A8:30 PM - Drinks & Conversation9:00 PM - Event Ends