Quick Overview: Yes. The National Institute of Mental Health says a preliminary conversation can include asking about a therapist’s approach, the rationale for it, and its evidence base. Asking these questions can be part of comparing therapy options. The available information does not determine personal fit or outcomes for an individual reader. Therapy and counseling also include multiple types, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, including family and marriage therapy, motivational therapy, art therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Questions About an Approach, Its Rationale, and Its Evidence Base
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. The organization states that a preliminary conversation can help a person understand how treatment will proceed and whether they feel comfortable with the therapist.
Among the questions the National Institute of Mental Health lists for a prospective therapist are these: What approach will the therapist use? Does the therapist practice a particular type of therapy? What is the rationale for the therapy and its evidence base? These questions provide a direct way to ask about the evidence for therapy approaches without assuming that an answer will determine an individual outcome.
The National Institute of Mental Health also states that therapists may use a primary approach or incorporate elements from multiple approaches, depending on their training, the condition being treated, and the needs of the person receiving treatment. The organization notes that the approach a therapist uses depends on training and experience and the condition being treated.
Questions Can Focus on the Therapist’s Description
A preliminary conversation can include asking a therapist to describe the approach they use, whether they practice a particular type of therapy, and the rationale and evidence base they identify. The National Institute of Mental Health includes these topics in its list of questions for prospective therapists.
The same source says that discussions in therapy are deeply personal and that rapport and trust are essential. It states that a preliminary conversation can help a person understand how treatment will proceed and whether they feel comfortable with the therapist. It does not determine whether a particular approach will fit an individual reader or what outcome that reader will have.
Evidence Information Has a Defined Boundary
The National Institute of Mental Health states that research involving large numbers of patients has provided evidence that many therapies are effective. It says these evidence-based therapies have been shown to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders. It also states that its health-topic pages list some evidence-based therapies used to treat specific disorders.
That information does not establish an outcome for a particular person. The research notes for this article do not determine personal fit or outcomes for an individual reader. A question about an evidence base is therefore a question a person may bring to a preliminary conversation; it is not a conclusion about an individual experience.
Therapy and Counseling Types Named by SAMHSA
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration states that there are many types of therapy and counseling. It lists family and marriage therapy, motivational therapy, art therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy as common names a person may see.
SAMHSA says counseling and therapy are usually focused on developing healthy skills to cope, such as handling the loss of a loved one, drug or alcohol use, or a problem in a relationship. The organization also states that therapy and counseling can help a person better understand the core cause of thoughts and behaviors so that unhealthy patterns can be changed.
Its list illustrates that therapy and counseling types can have different names. The list itself does not answer which approach will fit an individual reader, and the available information does not establish personal outcomes for an individual reader.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the Source Material
The National Institute of Mental Health identifies cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, as an approach that can help a person become aware of automatic ways of thinking that are inaccurate or harmful, question those thoughts, understand how thoughts affect emotions and behavior, and change self-defeating behavior patterns.
The organization also describes exposure therapy as a type of CBT for anxiety disorders. It says that, in exposure therapy, a person spends brief periods in a supportive environment learning to tolerate distress caused by certain items, ideas, or imagined scenes. The source states that this continues until fear associated with those things goes down over time.
These descriptions are examples from the National Institute of Mental Health. They do not establish that CBT, exposure therapy, or another approach is appropriate for a particular reader.
A Reflection Table for Comparing Therapy Options
The questions below reflect topics named by the National Institute of Mental Health for a preliminary conversation.
| Question to reflect on | Source-bounded topic to ask about |
|---|---|
| What approach does the therapist use? | The therapist’s approach |
| Does the therapist practice a particular type of therapy? | A particular therapy type |
| What is the rationale for the therapy? | The rationale identified by the therapist |
| What is the evidence base for the therapy? | The evidence base identified by the therapist |
| How will treatment proceed? | How treatment will proceed |
| Do I feel comfortable with the therapist? | Comfort, rapport, and trust |
Practice Note: Rooted Integrative Therapy is led by Alina Hovsoyan, LCSW. The practice lists individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives. It offers in-person therapy near Orem and Provo, with virtual therapy across Utah.
Questions to Bring to a Consultation
- What approach will you use?
- Do you practice a particular type of therapy?
- What is the rationale for the therapy?
- What is the evidence base for the therapy?
- How will treatment proceed?
- How will progress be assessed?
The National Institute of Mental Health includes questions about goals of therapy, a recommended time frame or number of sessions, progress assessment, and what happens if improvement does not occur among topics for a prospective therapist. This article does not establish answers to those questions for a particular service or person.
Rooted Integrative Therapy Consultation Information
Rooted Integrative Therapy’s FAQs describe scheduling a consultation call as the first step. The consultation call provides an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit. The practice’s Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests through its contact details or form.
Consultation Questions May Include Approach and Evidence
The National Institute of Mental Health says preliminary conversations may happen in person, by phone, or virtually. Rooted Integrative Therapy’s FAQ information describes a consultation call as a first step for asking questions and considering fit. The practice facts provided for this article do not state whether a particular Rooted Integrative Therapy service is offered through a particular format.
Practice Services Are Listed Without Outcome Claims
Rooted Integrative Therapy lists individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives. This list identifies services named by the practice. It does not establish what a service will involve for a particular person or what outcome it will produce.
FAQs
Can I ask about the evidence for therapy approaches?
Yes. The National Institute of Mental Health says a preliminary conversation can include asking about a therapist’s approach, its rationale, and its evidence base.
Does an evidence base determine whether an approach will fit me?
No. The available information does not determine personal fit or outcomes for an individual reader.
Are there different therapy and counseling types?
Yes. SAMHSA lists family and marriage therapy, motivational therapy, art therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy among common names a person may see.
How can I contact Rooted Integrative Therapy?
The practice’s Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests through its contact details or form. 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:
- National Institute of Mental Health: Psychotherapies
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Types Of Treatment
A Grounded Next Step
If you want to ask about an approach, its rationale, or its evidence base, Rooted Integrative Therapy’s Connect page provides contact details and a form for inquiries and appointment requests.
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.