Quick Overview: When choosing individual therapy, ask the therapy option whether it is taking new patients and whether it has open appointment times that fit your schedule. SAMHSA identifies both new-patient status and appointment times as search considerations. NIMH includes asking a prospective therapist how progress will be assessed among questions about how therapy may proceed. These questions can provide information for your search; they do not determine fit or outcomes for an individual person.
An individual therapy search may include questions about availability, scheduling, the therapy approach, and how progress may be assessed. SAMHSA notes that finding a health care professional or program can take work and suggests looking for support that is taking new patients and has open appointments or meetings that fit a person’s schedule.
NIMH notes that therapists have different professional backgrounds and specialties. It suggests a preliminary conversation may help a person understand how treatment will proceed and whether they feel comfortable with the therapist. Asking about progress assessment is one question NIMH includes in that conversation.
Start With New-Patient Status and Appointment Times
A clear opening question is: “Are you taking new patients?” SAMHSA specifically includes taking new patients in its guidance for people looking for treatment or support.
A related question is: “Do you have open appointment times that fit my schedule?” SAMHSA also identifies appointment times that fit a person’s schedule as a search consideration. These questions address whether an option has space for new patients and whether open times work with your schedule.
SAMHSA also lists other search considerations, including whether support accepts insurance or offers free or low-cost services and whether it includes qualities that are important to the person seeking support. Its guidance 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 with them.
Keep the Availability Question Specific
When contacting a therapy option, ask about the information you need: new-patient status and open appointment times. If you have other questions that matter in your search, state those questions separately rather than treating new-patient status as an answer to them.
For example, a short inquiry might ask:
- Are you taking new patients for individual therapy?
- Do you have open appointment times that fit my schedule?
- Is there an opportunity to ask questions before scheduling?
At Rooted Integrative Therapy, the Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests through its contact details or form.
Ask How Progress Will Be Assessed
NIMH includes the question, “How will progress be assessed?” in its discussion of what to ask a prospective therapist. This is a direct question about how therapy may proceed.
You may ask, “How will progress be assessed?” You may also ask the therapist to describe the answer in terms you understand. NIMH lists additional questions that may be relevant to a preliminary conversation, including what approach the therapist will use, whether the therapist practices a particular type of therapy, the rationale and evidence base for the therapy, the goals of therapy, and what happens if the person or therapist feels improvement is not starting.
NIMH states that a therapist’s approach depends on the therapist’s training and experience and on the disorder being treated. It 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.
Ask for a Description Rather Than Assuming an Answer
“How will progress be assessed?” is a question for the therapist or therapy option to answer. The available sources do not establish one assessment process for every therapist, therapy approach, or person seeking therapy. If an answer does not address your question, you can ask the therapist to explain how they would assess progress.
NIMH describes psychotherapy as a variety of treatments that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. It states that, in general, psychotherapy goals are to gain relief from symptoms, maintain or enhance daily functioning, and improve quality of life. Those general statements do not determine what progress will mean or what outcomes will occur for a particular person.
A Question-Based Reflection Table
| Question | Information named in the question |
|---|---|
| Is this therapy option taking new patients? | New-patient status |
| Are there open appointment times that fit my schedule? | Appointment availability and schedule fit |
| What qualities are important to me in a professional or program? | Qualities that matter in the search |
| How will progress be assessed? | The therapist’s description of progress assessment |
| What therapy approach will the therapist use? | The approach the therapist describes |
| What are the goals of therapy? | The goals the therapist describes |
These questions reflect items discussed by SAMHSA and NIMH. They are for gathering information and do not determine personal fit or outcomes.
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. A consultation inquiry could include the following questions:
- Are you taking new patients for individual therapy?
- What open appointment times are available?
- How will progress be assessed?
- What approach will be used in therapy?
- What are the goals of therapy?
Practice Note: Rooted Integrative Therapy lists individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives among its services. The practice lists in-person access near Orem and Provo and virtual therapy across Utah. Alina Hovsoyan, LCSW, is identified on the practice’s About page.
The practice’s FAQs describe a consultation call as a first step for scheduling, questions, and considering fit. Its Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests using the page’s contact details or form.
FAQs
How can I check whether a therapy option is taking new patients?
Ask whether the option is taking new patients. SAMHSA includes taking new patients among factors to look for when searching for treatment or support.
Should I ask about appointment times?
SAMHSA advises looking for open appointments or meetings that fit your schedule. You can ask whether open appointment times fit your schedule.
What should I ask about therapy progress?
NIMH includes asking, “How will progress be assessed?” among questions for a prospective therapist.
Can I ask about the therapy approach?
NIMH includes questions about the approach a therapist will use, whether the therapist practices a particular type of therapy, and the rationale and evidence base for the therapy.
What does Rooted Integrative Therapy describe as the first step?
Its FAQs describe scheduling a consultation call as the first step, with an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit.
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.
Sources and Further Reading
Sources used for this article:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Health Care Or Support
- National Institute of Mental Health: Psychotherapies
A Grounded Next Step
If you want to contact Rooted Integrative Therapy, its Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests. You may ask whether the practice is taking new patients, whether open appointment times fit your schedule, and how progress will be assessed.
Please do not include urgent or highly sensitive clinical information in a general inquiry.