September 9, 2009
It was inevitable, I guess. Americans want everything in a hurry. And now we've gone from speed dating to speed shrinking. The August 31 edition of The New York Times featured an article, "Answers to Life's Worries, in Three-Minute Bursts". It talks about "speed shrinking gatherings" featuring three-minute sessions for people needing fast advice—or those who find their regular professional on vacation. One interesting comment in the piece was a woman who said it was great to see multiple therapists in short order because “It was a great way to learn which of them I had the most chemistry with.”
What does this mean for the field? For a certain cohort of consumers, 'short sessions' don't seem to be a problem—and viewed as a convenience. And speaking of convenience, I can see the 'speed shrinking sessions' moving from bookstores to on-line meeting places. For professionals in private practice or looking to attract new clients, 'speed shrinking' is a marketing opportunity.
Matrix Mindset, in Australia, for instance, is already capitalizing on this new phenomenon:
Related Resources from the OPEN MINDS Circle Library:
- Consumerism in Health Care: What's Your Next Move
- Current Trends in Consumer-Directed Health Plans
- Technology as the Next Disruptive Innovation in Behavioral Health: Thoughts on How Consumerism and Technology Will Define Our Future
- Getting Your On-Line In Line: Issues & Considerations for Behavioral Health Professionals Contemplating Internet-Enabled Therapy
