Individual therapy

Individual therapy is confidential, one-on-one care with a licensed mental health provider. The main goal of individual therapy is to help you cope with challenges and build lifelong skills to manage stress and triggers. It gives you a private space to talk about what you're experiencing in your daily life. This may include difficult thoughts, feelings, behaviors or situations. This focuses on individual therapy for adults, but many of these aspects also apply to children and adolescents.

Our providers use treatments that are backed by research. They understand each person is different and tailor care to fit your unique needs. Along the way, they help make sure you feel safe, accepted and supported.

Some therapy approaches are more structured. These focus on learning specific skills and using them in real life situations. Sessions often focus on the same goals over time. You may learn new tools, practice them and make changes with support from your provider.

What to expect during individual therapy

Therapy usually starts with a first visit where your therapist asks questions about your concerns, symptoms, health history and goals. This visit may cover a lot of information to help your therapist understand your needs. Together, you will create a plan to guide your care.

During sessions, you may use different strategies based on your goals. Some focus on learning skills. Others focus on trying new tools and practicing how to use them in daily life. Therapy is active, not just talking.

At Optum Behavioral Care, patients complete brief check-in surveys as part of care. These help you and your therapist see what is working and adjust the plan if needed.

Many people start therapy with the goal of learning skills they can use on their own over time.