Quick Overview: Yes. Finding individual therapy can involve more than one step. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says a search can begin with a recommendation and can include looking for options with availability, schedules, and qualities that matter to the person searching. The National Institute of Mental Health says that, after identifying possible therapists, a preliminary conversation can help a person understand how treatment will proceed and decide whether they feel comfortable with the therapist.
Why Finding Individual Therapy May Involve Several Steps
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides general guidance for finding health care professionals, programs, and support groups. Its guidance is broader than individual therapy, but it identifies practical parts of a search that may also be relevant when someone is looking for individual therapy.
SAMHSA says that, if someone is comfortable doing so, they can ask a doctor, social worker, loved one, or trusted friend for a recommendation. It also says that talking with more than one person can be helpful because many types of support are available. A recommendation can therefore be one place to begin gathering options to consider.
The same guidance names factors to look for during a search: whether an option accepts insurance or offers free or low-cost services, is taking new patients, has open appointments or meetings that fit a schedule, and includes qualities important to the person searching. These are practical topics that may help organize a search.
SAMHSA also notes that a person might not find a perfect match right away and encourages looking for a professional or program they could open up to while working with them. Its guidance presents recommendations, availability, schedules, cost-related questions, and personally important qualities as parts of finding support.
Recommendations can be a starting point
A recommendation may give someone the name of a health care professional, program, or support group to explore. SAMHSA lists recommendations from a doctor, social worker, loved one, or trusted friend as a possible starting point for finding health care or support.
Someone considering a recommendation may also review the practical factors that SAMHSA names. For example, they may want to ask whether the option is taking new patients, whether open appointments fit their schedule, or whether the option accepts insurance or offers free or low-cost services.
Practical questions can help organize a search
SAMHSA identifies availability, schedules, cost-related options, and qualities important to the person searching. These considerations can provide questions to bring to an initial search.
A person may want to note which qualities matter to them before reaching out. They may also want to ask about appointment availability and scheduling. SAMHSA includes these items in its general guidance for looking for health care professionals, programs, or support groups.
A preliminary conversation can cover approach and comfort
The National Institute of Mental Health says that therapists have different professional backgrounds and specialties. It says that a therapist’s approach depends on training and experience and on the disorder being treated.
After identifying one or more possible therapists, NIMH says a preliminary conversation can help a person understand how treatment will proceed and decide whether they feel comfortable with the therapist. NIMH says these conversations may happen in person, by phone, or virtually.
NIMH lists questions that may be useful in a preliminary conversation. These include asking about the therapist’s specialty, approach, whether they practice a particular type of therapy, the rationale and evidence base for the therapy, therapy goals, and how progress will be assessed. NIMH also includes questions about treatment fees, insurance, and sliding-scale fees according to income.
Reflection Questions for a Therapy Search
The questions below reflect topics named by SAMHSA and NIMH. They can help structure a search or early conversation.
| Reflection question | Related guidance |
|---|---|
| Is there a recommendation I want to explore? | SAMHSA says a search can begin with a recommendation. |
| Which appointment times or schedules do I need to ask about? | SAMHSA identifies open appointments and schedules as search considerations. |
| What qualities are important to me in an option? | SAMHSA recommends looking for qualities important to the person searching. |
| How does the therapist describe their approach? | NIMH lists a therapist’s approach as a topic to ask about. |
| Does the therapist practice a particular type of therapy? | NIMH includes this as a possible question. |
| How will progress be assessed? | NIMH includes this among suggested questions. |
Practice Note: Rooted Integrative Therapy lists individual therapy among its services. Its FAQs describe scheduling a consultation call as the first step, with an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit.
Questions to Bring to a Consultation
NIMH identifies the following as possible questions for a prospective therapist, while SAMHSA identifies availability and schedules as practical search considerations.
- How do you describe your approach to therapy?
- Do you practice a particular type of therapy?
- What is the rationale and evidence base for that approach?
- What are the goals of therapy?
- How will progress be assessed?
- What appointment availability and scheduling options are open?
These questions reflect topics in the available general guidance. A consultation can be an opportunity to ask the questions that matter in a search.
Finding Individual Therapy at Rooted Integrative Therapy
Rooted Integrative Therapy lists individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives among its services. The practice identifies Alina Hovsoyan, LCSW, on its website.
The practice lists in-person therapy near Orem and Provo, with virtual therapy across Utah. Its Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests through its contact details or form.
Rooted Integrative Therapy’s FAQs describe scheduling a consultation call as the first step. The FAQs state that the call offers an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a recommendation be part of finding individual therapy?
Yes. SAMHSA says a search for health care or support can begin with a recommendation from a doctor, social worker, loved one, or trusted friend, if someone is comfortable asking.
What can I ask during a preliminary therapy conversation?
NIMH lists questions about a therapist’s approach, a particular type of therapy, the rationale and evidence base for therapy, goals, progress assessment, fees, insurance, and sliding-scale fees according to income.
Can I ask about appointment availability?
Yes. SAMHSA identifies whether an option is taking new patients and has open appointments or meetings that fit a person’s schedule as search considerations.
What does Rooted Integrative Therapy describe as its first step?
Its FAQs describe scheduling a consultation call as the first step, with an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit.
Sources and Further Reading
Sources used for this article:
- National Institute of Mental Health: Psychotherapies
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Health Care Or Support
A Grounded Next Step
If you would like to contact Rooted Integrative Therapy, its Connect page invites general inquiries and appointment requests. The practice’s FAQs describe 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.
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.