Quick Overview: In SAMHSA’s trauma-informed framework, transparency matters because Trustworthiness and Transparency is a stated principle, and organizational decisions are made with the goal of building and maintaining trust with participants and staff. NIMH separately states that rapport and trust are essential in therapy. Together, these sources show that trust is central to trauma-informed organizational guidance and to therapy. They do not establish that any particular trauma-informed therapy setting, therapist, or service will provide a particular experience.
SAMHSA Defines Trauma-Informed Care as an Organizational Approach
SAMHSA describes a trauma-informed approach as one used by a program, organization, or system. In this approach, an organization realizes the widespread impact of trauma, recognizes signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involved with the system, and responds by integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices. SAMHSA also states that trauma-informed approaches seek to actively resist retraumatization.
This description is organizational guidance. It explains a framework for programs, organizations, and systems rather than identifying a specific therapy service as trauma-informed.
Trustworthiness and Transparency Are Named Principles
SAMHSA lists safety; peer support; trustworthiness and transparency; collaboration and mutuality; and empowerment, voice, and choice as principles of trauma-informed approaches.
For trustworthiness and transparency, SAMHSA states that organizational decisions are conducted with the goal of building and maintaining trust with participants and staff. This is the direct answer to why transparency matters in a trauma-informed therapy setting: within SAMHSA’s organizational framework, transparency is paired with trustworthiness, and the stated goal of organizational decisions is to build and maintain trust.
SAMHSA’s material does not provide a single definition of transparency for an individual therapy conversation. It also does not describe what a particular therapist will discuss, how a particular service will proceed, or how any person will experience therapy.
Collaboration and Choice Appear Alongside Transparency
SAMHSA describes collaboration and mutuality as placing importance on partnering and leveling power differences between staff and service participants. It describes empowerment, voice, and choice as fostering a belief in the primacy of people who are served to heal and promote recovery from trauma.
These are principles within SAMHSA’s framework. A prospective client may wish to ask how a therapist describes their approach, how therapy may proceed, and how goals or progress are discussed.
NIMH Identifies Trust and Rapport as Essential in Therapy
NIMH describes psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, as a variety of treatments that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. NIMH explains that therapists may use one primary approach or incorporate elements from multiple approaches depending on their training, the condition being treated, and the needs of the person receiving treatment.
NIMH states that rapport and trust are essential in therapy. It also says that discussions in therapy are deeply personal and that it is important for a person to feel comfortable with the therapist and have confidence in the therapist’s expertise.
This information identifies rapport and trust as essential elements of therapy. It does not predict whether trust, comfort, or confidence will develop in a particular therapeutic relationship.
A Preliminary Conversation Can Help Clarify Therapy Process
NIMH says that, after identifying possible therapists, a preliminary conversation can help a person understand how treatment will proceed and whether they feel comfortable with the therapist. NIMH notes that preliminary conversations may happen in person, by phone, or virtually.
NIMH identifies several topics a person may discuss with a prospective therapist. These include specialty, therapy approach, the rationale and evidence base for an approach, therapy goals, a recommended time frame or number of sessions, progress assessment, and what may happen if improvement is not occurring.
A preliminary conversation can be a place to ask questions. The information shared in such a conversation may help a person understand how treatment will proceed and whether they feel comfortable with the therapist, as NIMH describes.
Practice Note: Rooted Integrative Therapy is the business name associated with Alina Hovsoyan. Verified practice information lists individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives. The practice lists in-person services near Orem and Provo, with virtual therapy across Utah.
Reflection Questions About Transparency and Trust
The following questions are for reflection and may also help identify topics to discuss in a preliminary conversation.
| Question for reflection | Question to explore with a prospective therapist |
|---|---|
| What would I like to understand about how therapy may proceed? | How do you describe how therapy will proceed? |
| What would I like to know about a therapy approach? | What approach do you use, and what is its rationale? |
| What questions do I have about the evidence base for an approach? | What is the evidence base for the approach you use? |
| What would I want to understand about therapy goals? | What are the goals of therapy? |
| What would I want to know about progress? | How is progress assessed? |
| What questions do I have about a recommended time frame or number of sessions? | Do you recommend a particular time frame or number of sessions? |
Questions to Bring to a Consultation
NIMH identifies questions about therapy process, approach, goals, and progress as possible topics for a preliminary conversation. Consider asking:
- What approach do you use in individual therapy?
- What is the rationale for that approach and its evidence base?
- What are the goals of therapy?
- How is progress assessed?
- Do you recommend a particular time frame or number of sessions?
- What happens if someone feels they are not improving?
Frequently Asked Questions About Transparency in Therapy
What does SAMHSA say about transparency?
SAMHSA identifies Trustworthiness and Transparency as a principle of trauma-informed approaches. It says organizational decisions are conducted with the goal of building and maintaining trust with participants and staff.
Does SAMHSA’s guidance identify every therapy service as trauma-informed?
No. The SAMHSA material describes trauma-informed approaches for programs, organizations, and systems. It does not identify every therapy service as trauma-informed.
Why does trust matter in therapy?
NIMH states that rapport and trust are essential in therapy. NIMH also says it is important for a person to feel comfortable with the therapist and have confidence in the therapist’s expertise.
Can a preliminary conversation address questions about therapy?
NIMH says a preliminary conversation can help a person understand how treatment will proceed and whether they feel comfortable with the therapist. NIMH identifies approach, rationale, evidence base, goals, progress assessment, and time frame as possible discussion topics.
Can this article determine whether a therapy service is right for someone?
This article provides general education about SAMHSA’s trauma-informed framework and NIMH’s information about psychotherapy. It does not identify what service or approach fits a particular person.
Sources and Further Reading
These authoritative resources provide general background for this article:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Trauma-Informed Approaches and Programs
- National Institute of Mental Health: Psychotherapies
A Grounded Next Step
To contact Rooted Integrative Therapy, visit the Connect page.
Please do not include urgent or highly sensitive clinical information in a general inquiry.
This article is for general education only. It is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, or substitute for individualized mental-health care. A qualified mental-health professional can help you consider what fits your circumstances.