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Psychology vocabulary · Therapy and Counselling

Psychotherapy

Meaning in psychology, with examples

/ˌsaɪkəʊˈθerəpi/nounCore term

In psychology, psychotherapy means: Treatment of psychological problems through a structured, confidential relationship with a trained professional, mainly using conversation rather than medication.

In Turkish: psikoterapi, terapi

How it is used

Often shortened to therapy; in the UK, talking therapy is also common. People are 'in therapy' or 'in psychotherapy', and a psychotherapist works within a specific approach such as CBT, psychodynamic or systemic therapy.

Example sentences

  1. Psychotherapy and medication are often combined for severe depression.

  2. She has been in psychotherapy for a year and feels much more confident.

Common collocations

  • individual psychotherapy
  • group psychotherapy
  • be in psychotherapy
  • psychotherapy session
  • cognitive behavioural therapyA structured, time-limited form of psychotherapy that helps people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours that keep their problems going.
  • psychodynamic therapyA form of talking therapy, developed from psychoanalysis, that explores how unconscious feelings, early relationships and repeated patterns shape a person's present difficulties.
  • therapeutic allianceThe collaborative bond between therapist and client, including trust, agreement on the goals of therapy and agreement on the tasks used to reach them.
  • sessionOne meeting between a therapist and a client, often lasting about 50 minutes, or one period of testing in a research study.

More terms: Therapy and Counselling

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.