psychotherapy

[sahy-koh-ther-uh-pee] /ˌsaɪ koʊˈθɛr ə pi/

noun, plural psychotherapies.

the treatment of psychological disorders or maladjustments by a professional technique, as psychoanalysis, group therapy, or behavioral therapy.

Origin

1890-95; psycho- + therapy

Related forms

psychotherapist, noun

Can be confused

psychiatrist, psychologist, psychoanalyst, psychotherapist.

psychiatry, psychology, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy.

Examples from the web for psychotherapy

Politics, the politics of a democracy-which entails disagreement, which promotes candor-has been replaced by psychotherapy.
It has also been used in human medicine for pediatric burn cases, in dentistry, and in experimental psychotherapy.
Politics, the politics of a democracy-which entails disagreement, which promotes candor-has been replaced by psychotherapy.
He was forced to take the thimble, which the doctors felt had brought on his depression and led to years of intense psychotherapy.
They were socially voracious, now that psychotherapy had helped them to see that they couldn't stand each other.
She refused antidepressants and additional psychotherapy.
Depression can be treated with medication or psychotherapy, thereby improving a patient's physical health.
Recently, it's been demonstrated that the combination of psychotherapy and medication is preferable for many people.
Conventional treatments such as psychotherapy and medication had failed.
Most people seeking treatment for depression or anxiety face two choices: medication or psychotherapy.

British Dictionary definitions for psychotherapy

psychotherapy

/ˌsaɪkəʊˈθɛrəpɪ/

noun

the treatment of nervous disorders by psychological methods

Derived Forms

psychotherapeutic, adjective
psychotherapeutically, adverb
psychotherapist, noun

Word Origin and History for psychotherapy

1892 in modern sense, from psycho- + therapy, in model of French psychothérapie (1889). In early use also of hypnotism. Related: Psychotherapeutic.

psychotherapy in Medicine

psychotherapy psy·cho·ther·a·py (sī'kō-thěr'ə-pē)
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.

psy'cho·ther'a·peu'tic (-pyōō'tĭk) adj.

psychotherapy in Culture

psychotherapy definition

The use of the techniques of psychology or psychiatry or both to treat mental and emotional disorders. The term includes psychoanalysis, as well as other forms of psychological therapy.