Psychotherapy is a branch of therapy that focuses specifically on the mind and emotional issues. As the name might suggest, psychotherapy helps people work through psychological challenges, relationship difficulties, and mental health concerns using conversation, reflection, and proven therapeutic techniques.
It’s far more common than many people realise. According to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, 35% of adults in the UK have sought help from a psychotherapist at some point in their lives, making it one of the most popular types of therapy available.
This article will answer the question: ‘What is psychotherapy?’ along with many other frequently asked questions. By the end of it, you’ll understand what it involves, how it works, and whether it might be right for you.
For those ready to explore psychotherapy, the LADZ app makes it easy to connect with qualified psychotherapeutic counsellors and other mental health professionals who understand the unique challenges men face in today’s world.
What Is Psychotherapy: Everything You Need To Know
Psychotherapy is often referred to as ‘talk therapy‘ because it’s fundamentally about talking through your emotions and thought patterns with the support of an expert. Unlike other forms of medical treatment that might focus on symptoms or physical interventions, psychotherapy works by helping you understand and change the ways you think, feel, and behave.
Here’s what we’ll explore in this article:
- What Is Psychotherapy?
- How Does Psychotherapy Work?
- What Are The Different Types Of Psychotherapy?
- What Are The Goals Of Psychotherapy?
- What Can Psychotherapy Help With?
- Can A Psychotherapist Prescribe Medication?
What Is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a collaborative treatment approach where trained professionals help individuals address mental health concerns, emotional difficulties, and life challenges through structured conversations and therapeutic techniques. Unlike talking to a mate or family member, psychotherapy is guided by evidence-based methods and conducted by professionals who understand how the mind works and how to facilitate positive change.
In psychotherapy sessions, you might explore topics like your childhood experiences, current relationships, work stress, traumatic events, recurring thoughts or behaviours, and your hopes and fears about the future. The therapist creates a non-judgmental space where you can speak openly about topics you might find difficult to discuss elsewhere.
You don’t need to be in a particularly bad place mentally to benefit from psychotherapy. Many people use it as a tool for personal growth, self-understanding, and maintaining good mental health.
Some people seek psychotherapy during crisis periods—such as after a bereavement, relationship breakdown, or job loss—whilst others use it proactively to develop better coping skills, improve relationships, or work towards personal goals.
How Does Psychotherapy Work?
Psychotherapy works by helping you develop new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving that lead to improved mental health and life satisfaction. The process is based on the understanding that our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours are interconnected and that changing one aspect can positively influence others.
Different therapists will conduct sessions in different ways depending on their training and the therapeutic approach they use, but their fundamental goal is to support you as you explore and understand your mindset. Some therapists might focus on identifying and changing negative thought patterns, whilst others might explore how past experiences influence current behaviour or help you develop better communication skills.
The therapeutic relationship itself is crucial. Research consistently shows that the quality of the relationship between therapist and client is one of the strongest predictors of successful outcomes. A good therapist provides empathy, understanding, and genuine care whilst maintaining professional boundaries and expertise.
Psychotherapy typically works through several key mechanisms. It provides a safe space to express and process difficult emotions, helps you gain insight into patterns in your thinking and behaviour, teaches practical skills for managing challenges, and often involves practice outside of sessions to apply what you’ve learned.
The process is usually gradual rather than offering quick fixes. Whilst some people notice improvements after just a few sessions, lasting change typically develops over weeks or months of consistent work.
What Are The Different Types Of Psychotherapy?
There are numerous approaches to psychotherapy, each with different techniques. Different types might work better for different people or different types of problems.
Is CBT A Psychotherapy?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is indeed a form of psychotherapy and is the most common and well-researched type. CBT focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviours that contribute to emotional distress.
The approach is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are all connected. CBT helps you recognise negative thinking patterns and develop more balanced ways of viewing situations. It’s typically structured and goal-oriented, often involving exercises to practice between sessions.
What Is Psychodynamic Psychotherapy?
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is based on the idea that past experiences significantly influence our current behaviour and relationships. This approach focuses on exploring how early life experiences shape our adult patterns of thinking and relating to others.
In psychodynamic therapy, you might discuss your childhood, family relationships, and recurring patterns in your life. The therapist helps you make connections between past experiences and current difficulties.
What Is Interpersonal Psychotherapy?
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) focuses on improving your relationships and social functioning. This approach is based on the idea that mental health problems often stem from difficulties in our relationships with others.
IPT typically focuses on areas like grief and loss, conflicts with others, major life changes, and problems with starting or maintaining relationships. It’s particularly effective for depression.
What Is Humanistic Psychotherapy?
Humanistic psychotherapy emphasises your inherent worth and potential for growth. This approach focuses on your personal experience and believes that you have the capacity to understand yourself and make positive changes.
Humanistic therapists create a supportive atmosphere where you can explore your feelings without judgment. The focus is on the present moment rather than past events.
What Is Gestalt Psychotherapy?
Gestalt psychotherapy focuses on present-moment awareness and taking responsibility for your choices. This approach emphasises paying attention to what you’re experiencing right now, rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
The goal is to help you develop greater self-awareness and live more authentically.
What Is Family Psychotherapy?
Family psychotherapy involves working with family members together to address problems that affect the family as a whole. This approach recognises that individual problems often occur within family relationships.
Family therapy might focus on improving communication, resolving conflicts, or helping families adapt to major changes such as divorce, illness, or loss.
What Are The Goals Of Psychotherapy?
Ultimately, the goal of psychotherapy is to improve an individual’s wellbeing and quality of life. This could mean that you understand your thought patterns better, feel more content with life, experience greater happiness in your day-to-day activities, or develop healthier relationships with others.
More specific goals might include reducing symptoms of mental health conditions like anxiety or depression, developing better coping skills for managing stress, improving communication in relationships, working through grief or trauma, building self-confidence, or making important life decisions with greater clarity.
If you’re considering psychotherapy, it’s important to understand what your personal goals are and take note of them so you can measure your progress. Some people want to address specific symptoms or problems, whilst others are more interested in personal growth and self-understanding. Having clear goals helps both you and your therapist work together effectively.
The goals of therapy can change over time as you make progress and new issues emerge. What matters most is that the goals are meaningful to you and that you feel your therapy is moving you in the direction you want to go.
What Can Psychotherapy Help With?
Research has shown that psychotherapy can have a really positive impact on a wide range of mental health issues. Studies consistently show that talking therapies can lead to significant improvements in how people feel and their quality of life.
- Anxiety: If you struggle with feeling anxious, worried, or panicked, research shows that psychotherapy can be incredibly helpful. Studies have found that talking therapies work really well for different types of anxiety, including general anxiety, social anxiety (feeling nervous around other people), and panic attacks. Many people see significant improvements in their anxiety levels.
- Depression: For people feeling depressed, low, or struggling to enjoy things they used to love, psychotherapy has been proven to be highly effective. Research shows that talking therapy can be just as helpful as medication for depression in the short term, and even more helpful in the long term for keeping you feeling better.
- Eating Disorders: If you have a difficult relationship with food or eating, psychotherapy can provide valuable support. Studies show that certain types of talking therapy are particularly effective for conditions like bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, helping people develop healthier relationships with food and their bodies.
- Obsessive Behaviour: For people who experience intrusive thoughts or feel compelled to repeat certain behaviours, psychotherapy offers proven techniques that can make a real difference. Research shows that specific approaches like Exposure and Response Prevention can significantly reduce obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.
- Phobias: If you have intense fears of specific things or situations—whether it’s flying, spiders, social situations, or anything else—psychotherapy has excellent success rates. Studies show that talking therapies, particularly those involving gradual exposure to feared situations, can dramatically reduce phobic responses.
Beyond these specific issues, psychotherapy can help with relationship problems, work stress, grief and loss, trauma, low self-esteem, and many other challenges that affect your mental health and wellbeing.
Can A Psychotherapist Prescribe Medication?
In the UK, psychotherapists are not qualified to prescribe medication. This is because prescribing medication requires medical training and registration with the General Medical Council (GMC), which psychotherapists typically don’t have. Only qualified doctors—including psychiatrists, GPs, and some other medical specialists—can legally prescribe medication in the UK.
This differs from some other countries, particularly the United States, where certain types of psychologists with additional training can prescribe medication in some states. However, in the UK, the roles remain separate: psychotherapists provide talking therapies, whilst medical doctors handle medication management.
If you’re seeing a psychotherapist and they believe medication might be helpful for your condition, they would typically refer you to your GP or a psychiatrist for a medication assessment. Many people benefit from a combination of psychotherapy and medication, and your psychotherapist can work collaboratively with medical professionals to ensure you receive comprehensive care.
This separation of roles can actually be beneficial, as it means your psychotherapist can focus entirely on the therapeutic relationship and psychological interventions without any potential conflicts of interest regarding medication.
Connect With Psychotherapists On The LADZ App
Psychotherapy is a powerful tool for improving mental health and wellbeing that works by helping you understand and change patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Whether you’re dealing with specific mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, or OCD, or you’re simply interested in personal growth and self-understanding, psychotherapy offers evidence-based approaches that can make a real difference.
We’ve explored what psychotherapy is, how it works, the different types available, and the strong research evidence supporting its effectiveness for numerous mental health conditions. The key is finding the right therapeutic approach and therapist for your specific needs and goals.
If you’re ready to explore how psychotherapy might benefit you, the LADZ app makes it simple to connect with qualified psychotherapists and mental health professionals who understand men’s mental health. Whether you’re interested in CBT, psychodynamic therapy, or other approaches, you can find experienced professionals ready to support your mental health journey. Download the LADZ app today and take the first step towards better understanding yourself and improving your wellbeing.
