Quick Overview: Yes. The National Institute of Mental Health states that psychotherapy can help a person become aware of automatic ways of thinking that are inaccurate or harmful, understand how thoughts affect emotions and behavior, and change self-defeating behavior patterns. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration states that therapy and counseling can help people better understand the core cause of their thoughts and behaviors and change unhealthy patterns. These are general descriptions of therapy and counseling, not a prediction about an individual person’s experience, fit, or outcome.
Understanding thoughts and behaviors in therapy can be a topic for discussion. The available material describes possible elements of psychotherapy and counseling, but it does not establish one process, approach, timeline, or result for every person.
What the Source Material Says About Therapy
The National Institute of Mental Health 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. It states that psychotherapy can be used as an alternative to or alongside medication and other treatment options. The organization also notes that treatment planning is based on a person’s individual needs and medical situation under the guidance of a mental-health professional.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration states that therapy and counseling are usually focused on developing healthy skills to cope with concerns such as the loss of a loved one, drug or alcohol use, or a problem in a relationship. Its description states that therapy and counseling can help people better understand the core cause of their thoughts and behaviors so they can change unhealthy patterns.
These descriptions do not identify the cause of a particular thought or behavior. They also do not determine whether therapy will be useful for a particular reader, which approach may fit, or what may happen in care.
Automatic Thoughts, Emotions, and Behavior
The National Institute of Mental Health lists awareness of automatic ways of thinking that are inaccurate or harmful as a possible element of psychotherapy. Its description includes questioning those thoughts, understanding how thoughts affect emotions and behavior, and changing self-defeating behavior patterns.
The organization identifies this group of elements as cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. It also states that therapists may use one primary approach or incorporate elements from multiple approaches depending on their training, the needs of the person receiving treatment, and the condition being treated.
This does not mean that every therapy approach uses CBT or follows the same process. It also does not mean that a particular thought is inaccurate, harmful, or self-defeating. Those terms appear in the organization’s description of possible psychotherapy elements.
Other Elements Named in the Material
The National Institute of Mental Health also lists tracking emotions and behaviors to raise awareness of their impact on each other as a possible psychotherapy element. Other examples it names include identifying ways to cope with stress, developing problem-solving strategies, examining interactions with others, teaching social and communication skills, and applying mindfulness and relaxation techniques.
The same material lists supportive counseling as a way to explore troubling issues and receive emotional support. It describes exposure therapy as a type of CBT for anxiety disorders. These examples do not describe every person’s care, and the source does not state that every therapist uses every element.
SAMHSA’s description similarly addresses understanding thoughts and behaviors and changing unhealthy patterns. The source material does not state that understanding a pattern produces a particular result for every person.
Reflection Questions About Thoughts and Behaviors
The questions below are prompts for reflection. They do not identify a cause, determine whether a pattern is unhealthy, or establish which type of care may fit.
| Reflection question | Question to consider |
|---|---|
| What automatic thought would I like to understand better? | How do I notice its connection with emotions or behavior? |
| What behavior do I describe as difficult or self-defeating? | What would I want to ask about changing that pattern? |
| What emotion or behavior would I want to track or discuss? | What impact do I notice between emotions and behaviors? |
| What troubling issue would I want to explore? | Would I want to ask about supportive counseling or another approach? |
| What questions do I have about coping with stress? | What would I want to know about problem-solving strategies? |
Questions That Can Clarify an Approach
The National Institute of Mental Health states that a preliminary conversation can help a person understand how treatment will proceed and whether they feel comfortable with a therapist. It lists questions about a therapist’s specialty, the approach used, the rationale and evidence base for that approach, therapy goals, a recommended time frame, progress assessment, and what may happen if improvement is not occurring.
The source does not guarantee that a particular conversation will answer every question or establish that a particular service is a fit. A consultation can be a place to ask about an approach, goals, and how progress may be assessed.
Individual Therapy at Rooted Integrative Therapy
Rooted Integrative Therapy lists individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives among its services. This service list does not determine which service is relevant for a particular person.
Alina Hovsoyan, LCSW, is listed by Rooted Integrative Therapy. The practice offers in-person therapy near Orem and Provo, with virtual therapy across Utah.
Practice Note: Rooted Integrative Therapy’s FAQs describe scheduling a consultation call as the first step, with an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit. Its Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests through its contact details or form.
Questions to Bring to a Consultation
- What approach do you use when someone wants to understand automatic thoughts and behaviors?
- What is the rationale and evidence base for the approach you use?
- What are the goals of therapy in this service?
- How will progress be assessed?
- What may happen if the approach does not seem to be helping?
FAQs
Can therapy help a person notice automatic thought patterns?
The National Institute of Mental Health states that psychotherapy can help a person become aware of automatic ways of thinking that are inaccurate or harmful. It also states that psychotherapy can help a person understand how thoughts affect emotions and behavior. This does not predict an individual result.
Can therapy help change behavior patterns?
The National Institute of Mental Health includes changing self-defeating behavior patterns among possible psychotherapy elements. SAMHSA states that therapy and counseling can help people change unhealthy patterns. Neither source determines what will happen for a particular person.
Is CBT the only approach named in the material?
No. The National Institute of Mental Health names CBT in connection with automatic thoughts and self-defeating behavior patterns. It also lists supportive counseling, mindfulness and relaxation techniques, exposure therapy, tracking emotions and behaviors, problem-solving strategies, and social and communication skills as possible psychotherapy elements.
Can I ask questions before requesting an appointment?
Rooted Integrative Therapy’s FAQs describe a consultation call as a first step for asking questions and considering fit. The practice’s Connect page also invites inquiries and appointment requests.
Does this article determine whether therapy is right for me?
No. This article provides general education based on the available source material and practice facts. It does not determine personal fit, a treatment plan, or an outcome.
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.
Sources and Further Reading
Sources used for this article:
- National Institute of Mental Health: Psychotherapies
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Types Of Treatment
A Grounded Next Step
If you would like to ask about services at Rooted Integrative Therapy, visit the Connect page to submit an inquiry or appointment request. The practice describes a consultation call as a first step for asking questions and considering fit.
Please do not include urgent or highly sensitive clinical information in a general inquiry.