Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, sometimes called talk therapy, is a treatment that involves a talking relationship between a therapist and patient. It can be used to treat a broad variety of mental disorders and emotional difficulties. The goal of psychotherapy is to eliminate or control disabling or troubling symptoms so the patient can function better. Depending on the extent of the problem, treatment may take just a few sessions over a week or two or may take many sessions over a period of years. Psychotherapy can be done individually, as a couple, with a family, or in a group. There are many forms of psychotherapy. There are psychotherapies that help patients change behaviours or thought patterns, psychotherapies that help patients explore the effect of past relationships and experiences on present behaviours, and psychotherapies that are tailored to help solve other problems in specific ways. Cognitive behaviour therapy is a goal-oriented therapy focusing on problem-solving. Psychoanalysis is an intensive form of individual psychotherapy which requires frequent sessions over several years.