What does psychotherapy mean?
Psychotherapy is the treatment of psychological and emotional difficulties through structured therapeutic methods, most often involving conversation between a client and a trained practitioner. It is commonly associated with talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and other established approaches. A session may help someone identify recurring patterns of thought or behaviour, understand emotional responses, and develop practical ways of coping. The term is used in both British and American English, although “talking therapies” is especially common in British public and healthcare contexts. Psychotherapy is related to counselling and psychiatry but is not identical to either: counselling can encompass general support and guidance, whereas psychiatry is the medical field concerned with diagnosis and treatment, including the use of medication. The word is useful because it distinguishes a deliberate, professional therapeutic process from informal conversation, self-help, or general emotional support.
nounThe treatment of psychological or emotional difficulties through structured conversations and therapeutic methods intended to change patterns of thought, feeling, or behaviour. The term often refers to talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, although it may also encompass other recognized therapeutic approaches.
- Treatment of psychological or emotional difficulties through recognized therapeutic methods, especially talking-based interventions.
- The broader professional practice or field of such treatment.
"After months of anxiety, she decided to begin psychotherapy with a qualified therapist."
"He found psychotherapy helpful in understanding the pressures affecting his work and family life."
"The clinic offers individual psychotherapy for anxiety, depression, and trauma-related difficulties."
Usually used when referring to different forms of psychotherapy or separate approaches, rather than for a single course of treatment.
"The research compared several psychotherapies for treating chronic anxiety."
Psychotherapy puts the conversation itself to therapeutic use: talk becomes a structured tool for understanding and changing difficult patterns of thought and emotion.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does psychotherapy come from?
Psychotherapy combines Greek psychē, meaning “soul” or “mind,” with therapeia, meaning “service,” “care,” or “treatment.” The combination was formed in English during the late 19th century as medicine and psychology developed increasingly systematic approaches to mental health. Its elements continue in related words such as psychiatry, psychology, therapeutic, and therapist, all associated with the treatment or study of the mind.
Related word forms
How psychotherapy is actually used
Psychotherapy usually denotes a planned therapeutic intervention delivered by a suitably trained practitioner. The term is especially associated with talking therapies, but not all psychotherapy necessarily consists solely of talking, and the term does not imply that medication is used.
Easily confused with psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a structured treatment for psychological or emotional difficulties, whereas counselling more broadly covers guidance, support, and problem-solving and is not necessarily a formal treatment.
Psychotherapy primarily uses psychological and conversational methods, while psychiatry is the medical field concerned with diagnosing and treating mental disorders, often including medication.