Psychotherapies

Psychotherapies are a set of structured treatments for mental health problems and emotional distress delivered through spoken interaction with a trained clinician. They aim to relieve distress, reduce symptoms, improve functioning, and support personal growth. Psychotherapy differs from medication alone and from informal advice; it emphasizes collaborative exploration of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Common approaches include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which targets the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions; psychodynamic therapy, which explores how past experiences shape present functioning; interpersonal therapy, focusing on relationships and social functioning; and humanistic therapies that emphasize the therapeutic relationship and personal growth. Other modalities such as exposure therapies for anxiety, dialectical behavior therapy for emotion regulation, and trauma-focused therapies (including EMDR) are also used.

Psychotherapy is typically delivered in individual sessions, but couples, family, and group formats are common. Treatment duration ranges from a few weeks to several years, depending on goals and evidence. Increasingly, therapy is offered online or by phone. Ethical practice requires informed consent, confidentiality, appropriate supervision, and attention to cultural and individual diversity.

Evidence for effectiveness varies by condition and approach. CBT has robust evidence for anxiety and depressive disorders; trauma-focused therapies help with PTSD. Results for other disorders are mixed or condition-specific. Not all patients benefit equally, and psychotherapy is sometimes combined with medication or other interventions. Effective practice emphasizes patient preference, ongoing assessment, and shared decision-making.