Quick Overview: Yes. The concern you want to discuss and the preferences that matter to you can both guide the questions you ask while choosing individual therapy. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that people may seek psychotherapy for ongoing stress, loss, or relationship and family concerns. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration suggests looking for a professional or program with qualities important to you and appointment availability that fits your schedule. These sources offer topics to explore; they do not determine personal fit, treatment, or outcomes.
Begin With the Concern You Want to Discuss
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 lists severe or long-term stress from a job or family situation, the loss of a loved one, and relationship or family problems among reasons people may seek psychotherapy.
Naming the concern you want to discuss can give you a starting point for a preliminary conversation. You might describe the general issue and ask how a prospective therapist would explain the way treatment could proceed. The National Institute of Mental Health suggests asking about a therapist’s approach, whether they practice a particular type of therapy, and the rationale and evidence base for that approach.
Therapists have different professional backgrounds and specialties, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The organization states that an approach can depend on training and experience, the disorder being treated, and the needs of the person receiving treatment. A therapist may use a primary approach or incorporate elements from multiple approaches.
This information does not identify the right approach or therapist for a particular person. It can help you prepare questions about the concern you want to bring forward.
Ask How an Approach May Address Your Concern
The National Institute of Mental Health describes several elements that psychotherapy can include. These may include examining automatic thoughts, identifying ways to cope with stress, developing problem-solving strategies, examining interactions with others, teaching social and communication skills, using mindfulness or relaxation techniques, tracking emotions and behaviors, and using supportive counseling to explore troubling issues and receive emotional support.
Not every psychotherapy includes the same elements. The National Institute of Mental Health states that there are many types of psychotherapy and that therapies are often variations of an established approach. Asking how a therapist understands your concern may help you learn what they would discuss about their approach.
The organization also suggests asking about therapy goals, whether a particular time frame or number of sessions is recommended, how progress will be assessed, and what happens if you or the therapist feel improvement is not beginning.
Include the Preferences That Matter to You
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration advises people seeking support to look for a professional or program with qualities important to them. It also identifies practical considerations that may be part of a search: whether a service accepts insurance or offers free or low-cost services, whether it is taking new patients, and whether open appointments or meetings fit a person’s schedule.
These considerations do not mean that a particular preference will be available through every practice or service. They support asking direct questions about the qualities and practical details that matter to you.
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 also states that rapport and trust are essential. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 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 together.
Neither source can determine comfort, rapport, trust, or fit for an individual reader. Those are topics to consider in a conversation with a prospective therapist.
Reflection Questions for Choosing Individual Therapy
| Reflection question | Question to explore |
|---|---|
| What concern would I like to discuss? | How would the therapist describe the approach and how treatment may proceed? |
| What qualities matter to me in a professional or program? | Can the professional or program address questions about those qualities? |
| What goals would I want to understand? | How may goals be discussed and progress assessed? |
| What practical details matter to my schedule? | Are open appointments available that fit the schedule I need to ask about? |
| What would I like to know about an approach? | What is its rationale and evidence base? |
These questions organize topics identified by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. They do not determine personal fit, treatment needs, or outcomes.
Individual Therapy at Rooted Integrative Therapy
Rooted Integrative Therapy lists individual therapy among its services. The practice identifies Alina Hovsoyan, LCSW, on its website.
Rooted Integrative Therapy states that it offers in-person therapy near Orem and Provo, with virtual therapy across Utah. If access is part of your inquiry, you can ask the practice about the service you are considering and currently available appointment options.
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 using its contact details or form.
Questions to Bring to a Consultation
- What approach would you discuss for the concern I want to bring up?
- What is the rationale and evidence base for that approach?
- What goals of therapy might be discussed?
- How would progress be assessed?
- What appointment options are currently open?
Rooted Integrative Therapy describes a consultation call as an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit. These questions reflect topics identified by the National Institute of Mental Health and schedule-related considerations identified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the concern I want to discuss and my preferences both guide my choice of individual therapy?
Yes. They can both guide the questions you ask while exploring options. The National Institute of Mental Health identifies concerns that may lead people to seek psychotherapy, while the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration advises looking for qualities important to you and appointment availability that fits your schedule. Neither source determines an individual choice or fit.
What can I ask about a therapist’s approach?
The National Institute of Mental Health suggests asking about the approach, its rationale and evidence base, therapy goals, a recommended time frame or number of sessions, and how progress will be assessed.
Does Rooted Integrative Therapy list individual therapy?
Yes. Rooted Integrative Therapy lists individual therapy among its services. Its website also lists couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives.
What does the practice say about access?
Rooted Integrative Therapy states that it offers in-person therapy near Orem and Provo, with virtual therapy across Utah.
What is the stated purpose of a consultation call?
The practice’s FAQs describe a consultation call as a 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 want to ask general questions about individual therapy at Rooted Integrative Therapy, the Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests using the practice’s contact details or form. You may ask about the concern you want to discuss, the qualities that matter to you, the approach, and available appointment options.
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.