psychotherapy

psychotherapy /psy·cho·ther·a·py/ (-ther´ah-pe) treatment of mental disorders and behavioral disturbances using verbal and nonverbal communication, as opposed to agents such as drugs or electric shock, to alter maladaptive patterns of coping, relieve emotional disturbance, and encourage personality growth.

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psychoanalytic psychotherapy  psychoanalysis (3).

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psy·cho·ther·a·py (sk-thr-p)

n.

The treatment of mental and emotional disorders through the use of psychological techniques designed to encourage communication of conflicts and insight into problems, with the goal being personality growth and behavior modification. Also called psychotherapeutics.

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psycho·thera·peutic (-pytk) adj.

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Psychotherapy

The treatment of mental disorders by psychological methods, usually by a psychiatrist or psychologist.

Mentioned in: Paruresis

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psychotherapy

[-ther′əpē]

Etymology: Gk, psyche + therapeia, treatment

any of a large number of related methods of treating mental and emotional disorders by psychologic techniques rather than by physical means.

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psychotherapy,

n a family of related treatments for emotional and mental disorders that use psychologic, rather than biologic or pharmacologic methods. Mosby's Medical, Nursing & Allied Health Dictionary, 1430.

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psychotherapy,

n any of a large number of related methods of treating mental or emotional disorders by psychologic techniques rather than by physical means.

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psychotherapy

Psychiatry The treating of mental–ie, emotional, behavioral, personality, and psychiatric disorders through verbal and nonverbal communication–eg, psychoanalysis with the Pt, rather by pharmacologic, surgical, or other physical intervention; the classic format of psychotherapy is based on the Freudian school of psychoanalysis, in which the focus is to bring repressed memories to the conscious mind; such therapies typically involve open discussion of emotional issues; psychotherapy differs from psychoanalysis in that it is more informal and interactive, less intense, and less concerned with repressed mental trauma; psychotherapy can be one-on-one with a therapist or in a group where other Pts participate Types Behavioral therapy, biofeedback, cognitive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, neurolinguistic programming, psychoanalysis, traumatic incident reduction, virtual reality exposure. See Biodynamic psychotherapy, Body-oriented psychotherapy, Hakomi body-oriented psychotherapy, Hypnotic psychotherapy, Interpersonal psychotherapy, Natural psychotherapy, Organismic psychotherapy, Psychiatry, Psychologic therapies, Psychoanalysis, Supportive psychotherapy.