Quick Overview: Yes. You can ask a prospective therapist whether they practice a particular type of therapy and what approach they will use. The National Institute of Mental Health includes these among questions a person can ask when considering therapy. Asking directly can help you learn how a therapist describes the approach under consideration. Therapy and counseling include many types, so an approach name alone does not determine what fits a particular person or situation.
Asking Directly About a Therapy Type
If you have heard the name of a therapy approach, you can ask about it plainly. The National Institute of Mental Health states that a person can ask a prospective therapist whether they practice a particular type of therapy and what approach they will use.
Questions to ask about therapy types can be short and specific:
- “Do you practice this type of therapy?”
- “What approach would you use?”
- “What is the rationale for that approach and its evidence base?”
- “What are the goals of therapy?”
The National Institute of Mental Health also notes that therapists have different professional backgrounds and specialties. The approach a therapist uses depends on training and experience and on the disorder being treated. A preliminary conversation can help a person understand how treatment will proceed and whether they feel comfortable with the therapist.
An approach name can be a starting point
You do not need to know every therapy name before asking a question. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration states that therapy and counseling have many types. Examples it names include family and marriage therapy, motivational therapy, art therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
These examples show that types of therapy and counseling can have different names. They do not establish which approach is appropriate for an individual reader. If a name is unfamiliar, you can ask a prospective therapist to describe the approach they are considering.
What Research Notes Say About Therapy Approaches
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 therapists may use one primary approach or incorporate elements from multiple approaches, depending on training, the disorder being treated, and the needs of the person receiving treatment.
The same source lists possible elements of psychotherapy. These can include examining automatic ways of thinking that are inaccurate or harmful; identifying ways to cope with stress and develop problem-solving strategies; examining interactions with others and teaching social and communication skills; applying mindfulness and relaxation techniques; tracking emotions and behaviors; and using supportive counseling to explore troubling issues and receive emotional support.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one named example
The National Institute of Mental Health identifies cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, as an approach that can involve becoming aware of automatic ways of thinking that are inaccurate or harmful, questioning those thoughts, understanding how thoughts affect emotions and behavior, and changing self-defeating behavior patterns. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also includes CBT among common names a person may encounter.
This information describes an approach named in the source material. It does not answer whether CBT, another approach, or a combination of approaches fits a particular person.
Practice Note: Rooted Integrative Therapy identifies individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives among its services. Alina Hovsoyan, LCSW, is the therapist identified by the practice.
A Question-Based Reflection Table
Before making an inquiry, you may want to identify the information you are seeking. The table below is for reflection; it does not determine an approach or an outcome.
| Reflection question | Information to seek in a conversation |
|---|---|
| Is there a therapy name I have heard and want to ask about? | Whether the prospective therapist practices that type of therapy. |
| What do I want to understand about the approach being considered? | How the therapist describes the approach they would use. |
| What goals do I want to ask about? | What the therapist identifies as goals of therapy. |
| Do I want to ask about the rationale or evidence base? | How the therapist answers that question about the approach. |
| What practical details do I need to ask the practice? | The details available through the practice’s inquiry process. |
Questions to Bring to a Consultation
Rooted Integrative Therapy’s FAQs describe scheduling a consultation call as a first step, with an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit. You could bring questions such as:
- Do you practice a particular type of therapy I have heard about?
- What approach would you use?
- What is the rationale for the therapy and its evidence base?
- What are the goals of therapy?
- How will progress be assessed?
- What details should I know about requesting an appointment?
The National Institute of Mental Health includes questions about a therapist’s specialty, approach, goals, recommended time frame or number of sessions, progress assessment, and what happens if improvement does not begin among possible questions for a prospective therapist. Those questions may be relevant to a conversation, but they do not predict an individual experience or outcome.
Questions about Rooted Integrative Therapy
Rooted Integrative Therapy offers in-person services near Orem and Provo, with virtual therapy across Utah. The practice’s Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests through its contact details or form.
If you contact the practice, you can ask whether the service you are considering is individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, or a therapy intensive. You can also ask about the consultation call described in the practice FAQs and about appointment-request details.
FAQs
Can I ask whether a therapist uses a specific therapy type?
Yes. The National Institute of Mental Health says a person can ask a prospective therapist whether they practice a particular type of therapy and what approach they will use.
What are examples of therapy and counseling types?
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration lists family and marriage therapy, motivational therapy, art therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy as examples. This list does not determine what fits an individual reader.
Can a therapist use more than one approach?
The National Institute of Mental Health states that therapists may use one primary approach or incorporate elements from multiple approaches, depending on training, the disorder being treated, and the needs of the person receiving treatment.
What does Rooted Integrative Therapy say about consultations?
Its FAQs describe scheduling 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: Types Of Treatment
A Grounded Next Step
If you would like to make an inquiry or request an appointment, visit Rooted Integrative Therapy’s Connect page. You can ask about a particular type of therapy, the approach being considered, or the services identified by the practice.
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.