Psychotherapy Articles
Recent
Popular
Psychotherapy refers to talk therapy to treat mental health conditions and improve relationships. Psychotherapy relies on tools such as emotion identification, coping skills exploration and cognitive restructuring, to treat mental health concerns. It may be paired with prescription medications or utilized on its own to help individuals manage symptoms and find solutions.
Gain insight into the therapy process
Explore More on Psychotherapy
Medically Reviewed by Melissa Guarnaccia, LCSW
Psychotherapy is a type of treatment designed to help people understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Psychotherapy can often improve symptoms of mental health conditions and help people improve their relationships. Therapy can be conducted individually or in groups, and there are numerous therapeutic approaches that can be used, depending on a person’s symptoms. Below are some of the main types of psychotherapy used to treat mental health concerns.
Various Types Of Therapy
Interpersonal Therapy
Many people live with mood disorders like depression that can affect their ability to make and maintain relationships. These individuals might face social isolation, which can worsen pre-existing symptoms. Through interpersonal psychotherapy, a therapist may help a person identify negative patterns in their social interactions and then learn strategies to improve their interactions.
Exposure Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
This type of psychotherapy may be effective for helping people experiencing addiction, low self-esteem, and a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy is typically used to help people who are experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The process usually involves the client moving their eyes in a specific way while recalling traumatic memories with the guidance of a therapist. The therapist typically provides bilateral stimulation of the brain by having the client follow their finger with their eyes. This process may help the client change thoughts and behaviors that stem from a traumatic memory. It may also help the client’s brain to heal from the mental injury caused by a traumatic event.
Group Therapy
While most therapy is usually done on a one-on-one basis, group psychotherapy can also be effective for a variety of mental health challenges. Group psychotherapy can have many advantages. For example, being with people who face similar challenges may help you realize that you aren't alone. Group psychotherapy may also help you discover solutions you hadn’t thought of before, in addition to allowing you to help others on their mental health journey.
How Online Therapy Can Help
Takeaway
Psychotherapy can take many forms, depending on the needs of the client. One of the most common approaches is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which typically aims to help people identify inaccurate or negative thoughts and replace them with more positive thoughts. If you’re experiencing mental health challenges, you don’t have to face them alone. With BetterHelp, you can be matched with a licensed therapist who has experience addressing your specific areas of concern. Take the first step toward getting support through psychotherapy and reach out to BetterHelp today.