Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesPsychotherapy TechniquesWhat It Can Help WithBenefitsPsychotherapy EffectivenessThings to ConsiderFinding a Therapist
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Psychotherapy Techniques
What It Can Help With
Benefits
Psychotherapy Effectiveness
Things to Consider
Finding a Therapist
Close
Psychotherapy, also known astalk therapy, refers to techniques that help people change behaviors, thoughts, and emotions that cause them problems or distress. It is an umbrella term that describes treatingpsychological disordersand mental distress through verbal and psychological techniques.
Psychotherapy is increasingly viewed as a distinct profession in its own right, but many different types of professionals offer it, includingclinical psychologists,psychiatrists,marriage and family therapists,social workers,mental health counselors, and psychiatric nurses.
This article discusses the different types of psychotherapy that are available and the potential benefits of psychotherapy. It also covers the different conditions it can treat and its effectiveness for a variety of disorders.
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Types of Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy can take different formats depending on the style of the therapist and the needs of the patient. A few formats that you might encounter include:
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The exact method used in each situation can vary based upon a variety of factors, including the training and background of the therapist, the preferences of the client, and the exact nature of the client’s current problem. Here is a brief overview of the main types of therapy.
Behavioral Therapy
When behaviorism became a more prominent school of thought during the early part of the twentieth century, conditioning techniques began to play an important role in psychotherapy. “Conditioning” refers to teaching the client to react to certain triggers, stressors, and situations in a particular way.
While behaviorism may not be as dominant as it once was, many of its methods are still very popular today.Behavioral therapyoften usesclassical conditioning,operant conditioning, andsocial learningto help clients alter problematic behaviors.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) is a psychotherapeutic treatment that helps patients understand the thoughts and feelings that influence their behaviors. CBT is used to treat a range of conditions includingphobias,addiction,depression, andanxiety.
CBT involves cognitive and behavioral techniques to change negative thoughts and maladaptive behaviors. The approach helps people to change underlying thoughts that contribute to distress and modify problematic behaviors that result from these thoughts.
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Cognitive Therapy
The cognitive revolution of the 1960s also had a major impact on the practice of psychotherapy, as psychologists began to increasingly focus on how human thought processes influence behavior and functioning.
Cognitive therapy is centered on the idea that our thoughts have a powerful influence on our mental well-being.
For example, if you tend to see the negative aspects of every situation, you will probably have a more pessimistic outlook and a gloomier overall mood.
The goal of cognitive therapy is to identify the cognitive distortions that lead to this type of thinking and replace them with more realistic and positive ones. By doing so, people are able to improve their moods and overall well-being.
Humanistic Therapy
Starting in the 1950s, the school of thought known ashumanistic psychologybegan to have an influence on psychotherapy. The humanist psychologistCarl Rogersdeveloped an approach known asclient-centered therapy, which focused on the therapist showingunconditional positive regardto the client. This creates a safe space in therapy in which the client can explore feelings and beliefs without fear of judgment from the therapist.
Today, aspects of this approach remain widely used. The humanistic approach to psychotherapy focuses on helping people maximize their potential and stresses the importance of self-exploration, free will, andself-actualization.
Psychoanalytic Therapy
Thispsychoanalytic approachinvolves delving into a person’s thoughts and past experiences to seek out unconscious thoughts, feelings, and memories that may influence their current behavior.
RecapThere are many different types of psychotherapy available. The kind that is most appropriate for you depends on a variety of factors including your preferences, your mental health condition, and the severity of your symptoms.
Recap
There are many different types of psychotherapy available. The kind that is most appropriate for you depends on a variety of factors including your preferences, your mental health condition, and the severity of your symptoms.
What Psychotherapy Can Help With
Psychotherapy comes in many forms, but all are designed to help people overcome challenges, develop coping strategies, and lead happier and healthier lives.
Psychotherapy is used to treat a wide range of mental health conditions, including:
In addition, psychotherapy has been found to help people cope with the following:
How to Get the Most Out of Psychotherapy
Theefficacy of therapycan vary depending on a wide range of factors. The nature and severity of your problem will play a role, but there are also things you can do to get the most out of your sessions, including:
Psychotherapy is often more affordable than other types of mental health treatment and a viable option on its own for those who don’t require psychotropic medication.
Notable benefits of psychotherapy include:
One of the major criticisms leveled against psychotherapy calls into question its effectiveness. In one early and frequently cited study, a psychologist namedHans Eysenckfound that two-thirds of participants either improved or recovered on their own within two years, regardless of whether they had received psychotherapy.
However, in numerous subsequent studies, researchers found that psychotherapy can enhance the well-being of clients.
Verywell Mind’sCost of Therapy Surveyfound that 8 in 10 Americans in therapy believe it to be a good investment despite the high costs. Additionally:91% are satisfied with the quality of therapy they receive84% are satisfied with their progress toward personal mental health goals78% believe therapy plays a big part in meeting those goals
Verywell Mind’sCost of Therapy Surveyfound that 8 in 10 Americans in therapy believe it to be a good investment despite the high costs. Additionally:
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In his book “The Great Psychotherapy Debate,” statistician and psychologist Bruce Wampold reported that factors such as the therapist’s personality as well as their belief in the effectiveness of the treatment played a role in the outcome of psychotherapy.
Surprisingly, Wampold suggested that the type of therapy and the theoretical basis of the treatment do not have an effect on the outcome. This disagreement has motivated researchers to continue to examine and study the effectiveness of psychotherapy.
More recent research has shown that psychotherapy is an effective form of treatment for someanxiety disorders,mood disorders, and eating disorders as well as grief and trauma.
RecapMental health conditions can create distress and make it difficult to function, but psychotherapy can help improve well-being and reduce the negative impact of many symptoms.
Mental health conditions can create distress and make it difficult to function, but psychotherapy can help improve well-being and reduce the negative impact of many symptoms.
There are a number of issues or concerns for both therapists and clients. When providing services to clients, psychotherapists need to consider issues such asinformed consent, patient confidentiality, andduty to warn.
Informed consent involves notifying a client of all of the potential risks and benefits associated with treatment. This includes explaining the exact nature of the treatment, any possible risks, costs, and the available alternatives. It is only with informed consent that a client can enter into an ethical and helpful relationship with their therapist.
Because clients frequently discuss issues that are highly personal and sensitive in nature, psychotherapists also have a legal obligation to protect a patient’s right to confidentiality. However, one instance where psychotherapists have the right (and actually, the responsibility) to breach patient confidentiality is if clients pose an imminent threat to either themselves or others. This responsibility is called duty to warn.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
How to Know If You Need Psychotherapy
You might realize that psychotherapy can help with life’s problems, but it can still be difficult to seek help or to even recognize when it is time to talk to a professional.
Some key signs that it might be time to see a psychotherapist are when:
A common misunderstanding about therapy among patients is that you’ll immediately start to feel better; however, the reality is that it is an individual process that takes time, depending on the type of psychotherapy you need as well as the severity of your symptoms.
How to Get Started
Psychotherapy can be an effective treatment choice for a range of psychological issues. You don’t have to wait until your life becomes so overwhelming that you can’t cope to ask for help. The sooner you reach out, the sooner you can get the help you need to live a healthier, happier life.
If you feel that you or someone you love might benefit from this form of therapy, consider the following steps:
As you evaluate a potential psychotherapist, consider the following questions:Does the therapist seem professional and qualified?Do you feel comfortable sharing your feelings and experiences?Do you like the therapist’s conversational style?Are you satisfied with the extent of your interaction with the therapist?Do they seem to understand what you are feeling?What is their approach to treatment?What type of goals do they have for your treatment?
As you evaluate a potential psychotherapist, consider the following questions:
Psychotherapy can be helpful for people who are experiencing a mental health problem, but it can also be beneficial for people interested in learning new coping strategies or better understanding their own thoughts and experiences.
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6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy.Conclusions and Recommendations of the Interdivisional (APA Divisions 12 & 29) Task Force on Evidence-Based Therapy Relationships.Eysenck, H. J. (1992). The effects of psychotherapy: An evaluation.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60(5), 659–663.https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.60.5.659Norcross JC, ed.Psychotherapy relationships that work: Evidence-based responsiveness.2nd edition. Oxford University Press; 2011. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199737208.001.0001Wampold BE.The good, the bad, and the ugly: A 50-year perspective on the outcome problem.Psychotherapy (Chic). 2013;50(1):16-24. doi:10.1037/a0030570Fonagy P.The effectiveness of psychodynamic psychotherapies: An update.World Psychiatry. 2015; 14(2):137-150. doi: 10.1002/wps.20235American Psychiatric Association.What is Psychotherapy?.
6 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy.Conclusions and Recommendations of the Interdivisional (APA Divisions 12 & 29) Task Force on Evidence-Based Therapy Relationships.Eysenck, H. J. (1992). The effects of psychotherapy: An evaluation.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60(5), 659–663.https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.60.5.659Norcross JC, ed.Psychotherapy relationships that work: Evidence-based responsiveness.2nd edition. Oxford University Press; 2011. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199737208.001.0001Wampold BE.The good, the bad, and the ugly: A 50-year perspective on the outcome problem.Psychotherapy (Chic). 2013;50(1):16-24. doi:10.1037/a0030570Fonagy P.The effectiveness of psychodynamic psychotherapies: An update.World Psychiatry. 2015; 14(2):137-150. doi: 10.1002/wps.20235American Psychiatric Association.What is Psychotherapy?.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy.Conclusions and Recommendations of the Interdivisional (APA Divisions 12 & 29) Task Force on Evidence-Based Therapy Relationships.Eysenck, H. J. (1992). The effects of psychotherapy: An evaluation.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60(5), 659–663.https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.60.5.659Norcross JC, ed.Psychotherapy relationships that work: Evidence-based responsiveness.2nd edition. Oxford University Press; 2011. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199737208.001.0001Wampold BE.The good, the bad, and the ugly: A 50-year perspective on the outcome problem.Psychotherapy (Chic). 2013;50(1):16-24. doi:10.1037/a0030570Fonagy P.The effectiveness of psychodynamic psychotherapies: An update.World Psychiatry. 2015; 14(2):137-150. doi: 10.1002/wps.20235American Psychiatric Association.What is Psychotherapy?.
Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy.Conclusions and Recommendations of the Interdivisional (APA Divisions 12 & 29) Task Force on Evidence-Based Therapy Relationships.
Eysenck, H. J. (1992). The effects of psychotherapy: An evaluation.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60(5), 659–663.https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.60.5.659
Norcross JC, ed.Psychotherapy relationships that work: Evidence-based responsiveness.2nd edition. Oxford University Press; 2011. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199737208.001.0001
Wampold BE.The good, the bad, and the ugly: A 50-year perspective on the outcome problem.Psychotherapy (Chic). 2013;50(1):16-24. doi:10.1037/a0030570
Fonagy P.The effectiveness of psychodynamic psychotherapies: An update.World Psychiatry. 2015; 14(2):137-150. doi: 10.1002/wps.20235
American Psychiatric Association.What is Psychotherapy?.
Hannah Owens, LMSW
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