Word
psychotherapy
Phoneticspsy·chother·a·py
US/ˌsaɪkoʊˈθɛɹəpi/
UK/sˈaɪkəʊθˌɛɹəpi/
Definition
n. the treatment of mental or emotional problems by talking with a trained professional. It helps you understand your feelings and change how you react to difficult situations.
n. the treatment of mental, emotional, or personality disorders through psychological methods such as dialogue and behavioral intervention. Often involves regular sessions with a licensed therapist to address specific psychological distress.
Examples
“She decided to start psychotherapy to help with her anxiety.”
“Many patients find that psychotherapy provides them with the tools needed to manage stress more effectively in their daily lives.”
“While medication can address the physiological symptoms of depression, psychotherapy is often necessary to explore the underlying cognitive patterns and past experiences that contribute to the condition.”
Examples
simple
“She decided to start psychotherapy to help with her anxiety.”
contextual
“Many patients find that psychotherapy provides them with the tools needed to manage stress more effectively in their daily lives.”
complex
“While medication can address the physiological symptoms of depression, psychotherapy is often necessary to explore the underlying cognitive patterns and past experiences that contribute to the condition.”
Usage
Commonly used as a general term for 'talk therapy'; often paired with the verbs 'undergo' or 'practice'.
Real-World Examples
“She went to therapy, did Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy (a type of psychotherapy), and took lithium for a full year.” “Psychotherapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy each play a role in retraining disrupted brain networks .” Etymology
From psycho- + therapy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
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englishreference.com/q/psychotherapy