Quick Overview: Yes. The National Institute of Mental Health states that psychotherapy can include identifying ways to cope with stress, developing problem-solving strategies, and applying mindfulness and relaxation techniques. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration states that therapy and counseling are usually focused on developing healthy skills to cope and can explore thought and behavior patterns. These sources describe possible elements of therapy; they do not determine what will be included for any particular person.
Coping Skills and Relaxation Practices in Therapy
Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, refers to a variety of treatments that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The same source describes several elements that psychotherapy can include.
Among those elements are identifying ways to cope with stress, developing problem-solving strategies, and applying mindfulness and relaxation techniques. The source gives meditation and breathing exercises as examples of mindfulness and relaxation techniques. It also describes examining interactions with others, teaching social and communication skills, tracking emotions and behaviors, and using supportive counseling to explore troubling issues and receive emotional support.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration similarly states that therapy and counseling are usually focused on developing healthy skills to cope. Its description also says therapy and counseling can help people better understand the core cause of their thoughts and behaviors so they can change unhealthy patterns.
These descriptions establish that coping-oriented skills, problem-solving strategies, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques can all be included in psychotherapy. They do not establish that every therapy experience includes each element, that a particular approach is appropriate for a particular person, or that any element will produce a particular result.
What the federal health-source descriptions include
The National Institute of Mental Health lists identifying ways to cope with stress and developing problem-solving strategies as possible elements of psychotherapy. It separately lists applying mindfulness and relaxation techniques, including meditation and breathing exercises.
The source also states that therapists may use one primary approach or incorporate elements from multiple approaches, depending on their training, the disorder being treated, and the needs of the person receiving treatment. This is a general description of psychotherapy, not a description of a particular therapist, service, or appointment.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration lists several names that may appear in discussions of therapy and counseling, including family and marriage therapy, motivational therapy, art therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Its description does not state that these approaches are interchangeable or that one approach is preferable to another.
What these sources do not answer
The supplied sources do not define coping skills and relaxation practices as identical. They also do not say that relaxation techniques must be included in therapy, that problem-solving is always part of therapy, or that a person will have the same experience across different therapy approaches.
They do not determine personal fit, predict clinical outcomes, or establish what should be emphasized in a particular appointment. Questions about an approach, its rationale, and what participation involves can be discussed directly with a prospective therapist.
Reflection Questions for a Therapy Conversation
The following table is a general way to organize questions about coping skills and relaxation practices in therapy. It is not a treatment plan or a determination of what an individual needs.
| Reflection question | Topic to raise in conversation |
|---|---|
| What concerns do I want to discuss? | Stress, thought patterns, behavior patterns, relationships, or another issue. |
| Am I interested in asking about ways to cope with stress? | Whether coping skills are part of the approach being discussed. |
| Do I have questions about problem-solving strategies? | What problem-solving strategies may involve in that therapy approach. |
| Would I like to ask about mindfulness or relaxation techniques? | Whether meditation, breathing exercises, or other techniques are being considered. |
| What do I want to understand before trying a practice? | The purpose of the practice, what it involves, and the rationale for using it. |
| What questions do I have about the therapy approach? | The therapist’s approach, training, and how treatment may proceed. |
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. Questions may include:
- How do you describe the approach used in individual therapy?
- Can therapy include ways to cope with stress, problem-solving strategies, mindfulness, or relaxation techniques?
- What is the rationale for a suggested strategy or practice?
- What would participation in a suggested practice involve?
- What questions can I ask to understand how treatment may proceed?
Practice Note: Rooted Integrative Therapy lists individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives. The practice lists Alina Hovsoyan, LCSW, on its About page.
The practice states that it offers in-person therapy near Orem and Provo, with virtual therapy across Utah. Its Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests through the contact details or form. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can therapy include both coping skills and relaxation practices?
Yes. The National Institute of Mental Health states that psychotherapy can include ways to cope with stress, problem-solving strategies, and mindfulness and relaxation techniques. The source does not say that every therapy experience includes all of these elements.
Are mindfulness and relaxation techniques the same as problem-solving strategies?
The supplied sources list mindfulness and relaxation techniques separately from problem-solving strategies. They do not define these terms as the same.
What examples of relaxation techniques does the National Institute of Mental Health provide?
The National Institute of Mental Health gives meditation and breathing exercises as examples of mindfulness and relaxation techniques that psychotherapy can include.
Can therapy and counseling explore thought and behavior patterns?
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration states that therapy and counseling can help people better understand the core cause of their thoughts and behaviors so they can change unhealthy patterns.
What can a consultation call be used for at Rooted Integrative Therapy?
According to the practice FAQs, a consultation call is a first step that provides an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit. The practice does not state that a consultation determines whether a particular service or approach is appropriate.
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 individual therapy, coping skills, problem-solving strategies, or relaxation practices, you can use Rooted Integrative Therapy’s Connect page to make an inquiry or request an appointment.
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.