psychotherapy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, technical, medical
Quick answer
What does “psychotherapy” mean?
The treatment of mental or emotional disorders through psychological methods, typically involving talking with a trained therapist.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The treatment of mental or emotional disorders through psychological methods, typically involving talking with a trained therapist.
Any systematic application of psychological principles to alleviate psychological distress, promote personal growth, or modify maladaptive behaviors through a therapeutic relationship.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling follows national conventions (psychotherapy in both).
Connotations
In the UK, sometimes associated more strongly with NHS mental health services; in the US, may have broader private practice associations.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties within professional and academic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “psychotherapy” in a Sentence
N undergo psychotherapy for NN receive psychotherapy from NN benefit from psychotherapyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “psychotherapy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was psychotherapised for several months.
- The clinic specialises in psychotherapising trauma survivors.
American English
- She was psychotherapized for anxiety.
- The practice focuses on psychotherapizing adolescents.
adverb
British English
- The treatment proceeded psychotherapy-wise as planned.
- He approached the issue psychotherapy-ly.
American English
- They handled the case psychotherapy-appropriately.
- She responded psychotherapy-positively.
adjective
British English
- The psychotherapy approach was integrative.
- She attended a psychotherapy group.
American English
- The psychotherapy techniques were evidence-based.
- He referred her to a psychotherapy clinic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in workplace wellness programmes (e.g., 'The company offers psychotherapy through its employee assistance programme.')
Academic
Common in psychology, psychiatry, and social science literature.
Everyday
Used when discussing mental health treatment options.
Technical
Standard term in clinical psychology, psychiatry, and mental health professions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “psychotherapy”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “psychotherapy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “psychotherapy”
- Misspelling as 'psycotherapy' (missing 'h').
- Using interchangeably with 'psychology' (the science vs. the treatment).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Psychotherapy typically refers to longer-term, deeper work on psychological issues, often rooted in specific theoretical models, while counselling may focus more on specific problems and shorter-term support, though the terms overlap.
It varies widely, from a few sessions of brief therapy to several years of psychoanalytic therapy, depending on the approach and the individual's needs.
Yes, online psychotherapy (teletherapy) has become common, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, and can be effective for many people and issues.
Qualified mental health professionals such as clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed professional counsellors who have specific training in psychotherapeutic methods.
The treatment of mental or emotional disorders through psychological methods, typically involving talking with a trained therapist.
Psychotherapy is usually formal, technical, medical in register.
Psychotherapy: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsaɪ.kəʊˈθer.ə.pi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsaɪ.koʊˈθer.ə.pi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on the couch”
- “talking cure”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PSYCHO (mind) + THERAPY (treatment) = treatment for the mind.
Conceptual Metaphor
MENTAL HEALTH IS A JOURNEY (e.g., 'She's making progress in her psychotherapy.'), MIND IS A LANDSCAPE TO BE EXPLORED.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT typically a goal of psychotherapy?