Psychotherapy is a form of treatment for psychological
disorders. In
Psychotherapy a patient or client talks with a therapist
to obtain help in changing emotions, thinking, or behavior patterns that are distressing. Many types of human problems are treated in
psychotherapy: disorders such as phobias, generalized anxiety, obsessions, compulsions, depression, and psychosomatic and psychosexual disorders. Psychotherapy may also help patients and their families cope with severe disorders such as schizophrenia.
Psychotherapy also addresses interpersonal difficulties, such as unassertiveness, lack of interpersonal skills, and marital and family difficulties, as well as habit problems, such as drug abuse, excessive alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, and excessive food consumption. Psychotherapy may be used as an alternative to or in conjunction with medications and other somatic (physical) treatments on an inpatient or outpatient basis.
THERAPISTS Psychotherapy is usually offered by psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and psychiatric social workers. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who take a special residency in psychiatry. Psychologists obtain a doctoral degree in psychology, which also involves a one-year internship. Psychiatric social workers have a minimum of a master's degree in social work. They are trained in treatment methods and often work as part of a treatment team in hospitals or clinics. Today psychotherapy is being practiced more and more by paraprofessionals, who have less training but may be supervised by a professional or may be trained to work with specific problems using specific methods. In self-help groups therapists share the characteristics of their patients. Recovered alcoholics, for example, serve as therapists for alcoholics.