Quick Overview: Can talking with more than one person help you find therapy options? Yes. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) says it can be helpful to talk with more than one person for a recommendation because many types of support are available. SAMHSA suggests that, if someone is comfortable, they may ask a doctor, social worker, loved one, or trusted friend about health care professionals or programs for mental health or drug and alcohol use. After identifying one or more possible therapists, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) says a preliminary conversation can help a person understand how treatment may proceed and whether they feel comfortable with the therapist.
Recommendations as One Part of a Therapy Search
SAMHSA states that finding the right health care professional or program can take a lot of work. Its guidance suggests asking someone trusted for a recommendation when a person is comfortable doing so. The people SAMHSA names include a doctor, social worker, loved one, or trusted friend.
SAMHSA says talking with more than one person can be helpful because many types of support are available. Its guidance addresses health care professionals and programs for mental health or drug and alcohol use. It does not say that a recommendation determines personal fit or an outcome for a particular person.
A recommendation can be one part of gathering names of health care professionals, programs, or support options to contact. It is not the same as a conversation with a therapist after one or more possible therapists have been identified.
Practical considerations named by SAMHSA
SAMHSA identifies several matters to look for during a search for treatment or support. These include whether a health care professional or program:
- Accepts insurance or offers free or low-cost services
- Is taking new patients
- Has open appointments or meetings that fit a person’s schedule
- Includes qualities that are important to the person searching
SAMHSA also notes that a person may not find a perfect match right away. It suggests looking for a professional or program someone could open up to while working together, and it notes that any relationship takes time to build.
Questions for trusted people
A person may decide whether they feel comfortable asking someone they trust about available health care professionals or programs. SAMHSA’s guidance does not require someone to ask for a recommendation, and it does not identify one source of recommendations as right for every person.
Questions can stay focused on what the other person knows. For example, someone might ask whether they know of a health care professional, program, or support option for mental health or drug and alcohol use. The information gathered can then be considered alongside practical factors such as availability, cost, scheduling, and personally important qualities.
Preliminary Conversations With Possible Therapists
NIMH explains that therapists have different professional backgrounds and specialties. It states that the approach a therapist uses depends on training and experience and on the disorder being treated.
Once a person has identified one or more possible therapists, NIMH says a preliminary conversation can help them understand how treatment will proceed and whether they feel comfortable with the therapist. NIMH states that these conversations may happen in person, by phone, or virtually. This describes possible formats for preliminary conversations generally; it does not indicate the format available from a particular practice.
NIMH also states that rapport and trust are essential. It says discussions in therapy are deeply personal and that it is important for a person to feel comfortable with the therapist and have confidence in their expertise.
Topics NIMH identifies for discussion
NIMH identifies questions about a therapist’s specialty and approach, including whether the therapist practices a particular type of therapy. It also identifies asking about the rationale for therapy and its evidence base.
Other NIMH discussion topics include therapy goals, a recommended time frame or number of sessions, how progress will be assessed, and what may happen if a person or therapist feels improvement is not beginning. NIMH also identifies treatment fees, insurance, and sliding-scale fees according to income as questions for a prospective therapist.
Reflection questions for comparing information
| Question | Information identified in the sources |
|---|---|
| Who, if anyone, would I feel comfortable asking for a recommendation? | SAMHSA names a doctor, social worker, loved one, or trusted friend. |
| Would I like to speak with more than one person? | SAMHSA says this can be helpful because many types of support are available. |
| Which practical factors matter in my search? | SAMHSA names insurance or low-cost services, availability, scheduling, and important qualities. |
| What would I like to understand about how treatment may proceed? | NIMH says a preliminary conversation can help with this. |
| What questions do I have about specialty, approach, goals, or progress? | NIMH identifies these as topics to ask a possible therapist. |
Practice Note: Rooted Integrative Therapy lists individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives. The practice identifies Alina Hovsoyan, LCSW, as its therapist. It lists in-person therapy near Orem and Provo and virtual therapy across Utah.
Questions to Bring to a Consultation
Rooted Integrative Therapy’s FAQs describe scheduling a consultation call as a first step, with an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit. The following questions reflect topics identified by NIMH:
- How might treatment proceed?
- What approach do you use?
- Do you practice a particular type of therapy?
- What are the goals of therapy?
- How will progress be assessed?
- What can you share about fees, insurance, or sliding-scale fees?
FAQs
Can a recommendation determine whether a therapist is right for me?
No. The supplied guidance does not say that recommendations determine personal fit or outcomes. SAMHSA discusses recommendations for health care professionals or programs, while NIMH says a preliminary conversation can help someone understand how treatment may proceed and whether they feel comfortable with a therapist.
Why might I talk with more than one person?
SAMHSA says it can be helpful to talk with more than one person for a recommendation because many types of support are available.
What can I ask a possible therapist?
NIMH identifies questions about specialty, approach, therapy type, rationale and evidence base, goals, progress assessment, fees, insurance, and sliding-scale fees according to income.
What does Rooted Integrative Therapy list?
Rooted Integrative Therapy lists individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives. Its FAQs describe a consultation call as a first step for asking questions and considering fit.
Sources and Further Reading
Sources used for this article:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Health Care Or Support
- National Institute of Mental Health: Psychotherapies
A Grounded Next Step
Rooted Integrative Therapy’s Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests through its contact details or form.
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.