Quick Overview: Yes. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) says psychotherapy may include becoming aware of automatic thinking, understanding how thoughts affect emotions and behavior, tracking emotions and behaviors, and examining interactions with others. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) says therapy and counseling can explore thoughts and behaviors and address a problem in a relationship. These sources describe therapy generally. They do not establish whether a particular individual therapy service, including one at Rooted Integrative Therapy, includes these topics. A consultation is a place to ask what the service covers.
Understanding Patterns in Psychotherapy
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 also states that psychotherapy approaches can differ. A therapist may use one primary approach or incorporate elements from multiple approaches, depending on the therapist’s training, the condition being treated, and the needs of the person receiving treatment.
For that reason, a general description of psychotherapy cannot define the content of every individual therapy service. The available information supports asking whether a therapist addresses thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationship interactions within the service they offer. It does not establish what a particular conversation would involve or what result would follow.
SAMHSA likewise describes therapy and counseling broadly. It says therapy and counseling are usually focused on developing healthy coping skills for concerns that can include loss, substance use, or a problem in a relationship. SAMHSA also says therapy and counseling can help a person better understand the core cause of thoughts and behaviors so they can change unhealthy patterns.
Thoughts, Emotions, and Behaviors
NIMH lists several possible elements of psychotherapy. One element involves helping a person become aware of automatic ways of thinking that are inaccurate or harmful. In its description of cognitive behavioral therapy, NIMH includes questioning those thoughts, understanding how thoughts affect emotions and behavior, and changing self-defeating behavior patterns.
NIMH also lists tracking emotions and behaviors to raise awareness of their impact on each other. This supports a general question about whether emotions and behaviors may be discussed together in psychotherapy. It does not establish that every psychotherapy approach uses tracking, what tracking would look like, or whether it is part of a particular service.
The sources do not state that all thoughts are inaccurate or harmful. They also do not state that every behavior is self-defeating or unhealthy. Those descriptions appear in explanations of particular psychotherapy elements and do not provide conclusions about any individual person.
Interactions With Other People
NIMH includes examining interactions with others and teaching social and communication skills among possible elements of psychotherapy. SAMHSA states that therapy and counseling can address a problem in a relationship. These descriptions show that interactions with other people can be among topics discussed in therapy or counseling.
They do not establish that relationship-focused discussion is included in every therapy service. They also do not explain the cause of a relationship concern or indicate what changes may occur after discussing it. A direct question can clarify scope: “Does this service address concerns involving interactions with other people?”
Approaches, Goals, and Progress
NIMH recommends several questions for a preliminary conversation with a prospective therapist. These include asking what approach the therapist will use, whether they practice a particular type of therapy, the rationale and evidence base for that approach, the goals of therapy, and how progress will be assessed.
NIMH states that a preliminary conversation can help a person understand how treatment will proceed and whether they feel comfortable with the therapist. It also notes that therapists have different professional backgrounds and specialties. The available sources do not identify one approach as the right choice for every person or concern.
A Question-Based Reflection Table
| Reflection question | Connection to the available information |
|---|---|
| What thoughts, emotions, or behaviors would I want to discuss? | NIMH describes psychotherapy as aiming to identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. |
| Do emotions and behaviors seem connected in the concern I want to raise? | NIMH lists tracking emotions and behaviors to raise awareness of their impact on each other. |
| Are interactions with other people part of the concern? | NIMH lists examining interactions with others, and SAMHSA says therapy and counseling can address a problem in a relationship. |
| What would I like to understand about the approach used? | NIMH suggests asking about an approach, its rationale, and its evidence base. |
| What would I want to know about goals and progress? | NIMH suggests asking about therapy goals and how progress will be assessed. |
Questions to Bring to a Consultation
- Does this individual therapy service include discussion of thoughts, emotions, behaviors, or interactions with other people?
- What approach or approaches do you use in this service?
- What is the rationale and evidence base for the approach you describe?
- What goals could be discussed, and how would progress be assessed?
- What can you share about fees, insurance, or sliding-scale options where relevant?
Practice Note: Rooted Integrative Therapy lists individual therapy among its services and identifies Alina Hovsoyan as its therapist. The practice’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.
FAQs
Do the sources show that every individual therapy service includes discussion of patterns?
No. NIMH and SAMHSA describe psychotherapy, therapy, and counseling generally. The available information does not establish what any particular individual therapy service includes.
Can psychotherapy include tracking emotions and behaviors?
NIMH lists tracking emotions and behaviors to raise awareness of their impact on each other as a possible element of psychotherapy. NIMH does not specify what this would involve for a particular person.
Can therapy address concerns involving a relationship?
SAMHSA says therapy and counseling can address a problem in a relationship. NIMH also lists examining interactions with others as a possible psychotherapy element. These statements do not mean every service includes relationship-focused discussion.
Can a therapist use more than one approach?
NIMH says therapists may use one primary approach or incorporate elements from multiple approaches. It states that this can depend on the therapist’s training, the condition being treated, and the needs of the person receiving treatment.
What does Rooted Integrative Therapy describe as a first step?
The practice’s FAQs describe 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: Types Of Treatment
A Grounded Next Step
Rooted Integrative Therapy’s Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests. The practice lists in-person services near Orem and Provo, with virtual therapy across Utah. Its FAQs describe a consultation call as an opportunity to ask questions and consider 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.