• Mental Health

What is Psychotherapy and How Does it Work?

There’s no shame in needing professional help to balance your thoughts and emotions. Around 30% of adults in the U.S. have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety and other mental health conditions can be challenging to manage on your own. 

Psychotherapy – also known as talk therapy – is a process that offers space to discuss your mental health challenges with a licensed mental health provider and find better ways to manage them. 

Talk therapy isn’t just for those with mental health conditions – anyone can benefit from it. The goal of psychotherapy is to alter harmful behaviors through intentional dialogue.

A therapist can help you work through problems with traumatic events in your life – like losing a loved one, experiencing chronic stress, or managing substance abuse issues.

How Does Psychotherapy Work?

When you start talk therapy, you and a healthcare provider will work together long-term to discuss your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions to find ways to process them better and improve your mental health.

A licensed therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist can provide psychotherapy. Most healthcare providers may suggest meeting with you every week. However, there is flexibility depending on your schedule and needs. You can discuss with your healthcare provider what meeting time works best for you each week. 

Therapy sessions are typically 45 minutes to an hour depending on your needs. Before you start a session, a healthcare provider may send you a questionnaire about your concerns and why you want to begin psychotherapy. Be sure to be honest with them about what you need help with to ensure you receive the best care possible.

What can you talk about in psychotherapy?

During a talk therapy session, you can discuss anything you are concerned about regarding your mental health with a therapist.

Common topics discussed in therapy include:

• Traumatic life events

• The sudden passing of a loved one

• Substance abuse

• Relationship issues

• Burnout

• Life goals

Be sure to let a healthcare provider know if you are having serious thoughts about self-harm. In addition to talk therapy, a licensed mental health provider can also prescribe medications to manage certain mental health conditions. If you feel that you are in immediate danger of hurting yourself, seek emergency care right away.

While most people are familiar with a therapy structure that includes speaking one-on-one with a licensed mental health professional, there are other types of psychotherapy. Some psychotherapy structures may work better for some people than others.

What are the Different Types of Psychotherapy?

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is one of the most well-known forms of therapy. It takes a holistic approach to understanding your thoughts and emotions through communication with a licensed healthcare provider. 

However, you may want to consider other forms of psychotherapy depending on your needs. Some healthcare providers may also be more well-versed in certain forms of psychotherapy. For example, a cognitive-behavioral approach may be better for someone working on developing coping strategies.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on changing negative thoughts and emotions for better decision-making habits. It’s a form of behavioral therapy intended to help with thinking through fears and associated actions.

To do so, a healthcare provider can help you to identify thought patterns and use strategies to manage them. This may look like role-playing different scenarios to find alternate ways to respond to them. The ultimate goal of CBT is to help you find ways to cope on your own.

Psychodynamic therapy

Psychodynamic therapy is the process of using open-ended questions to get people to discuss what’s on their minds. This can help a person to think more deeply about their state of mind and recognize harmful behaviors. This form of therapy is often used to treat mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and personality disorders.

Exposure therapy

If you need help coping with phobias, you may want to consider exposure therapy. This type of cognitive behavioral therapy confronts fears head on to learn how to better manage them. Exposure therapy may also be beneficial for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Humanistic therapy

A humanistic therapy approach focuses more on the present and the future. Instead of discussing your past extensively, a healthcare provider may focus more on building on strengths that you already have.

Types of humanistic therapy are as follows:

• Existential therapy: A healthcare provider may emphasize identifying your values and making decisions that align with them.

• Transpersonal therapy: This form of therapy focuses on strengthening your connection to yourself and others.

• Transactional analysis: A treatment approach that focuses more on self-awareness around your behaviors and feelings.

• Phenomenological therapy: A focus on developing new paths and beliefs that help you live a healthier life.

• Compassion-focused therapy: A healthcare provider may encourage you to show more kindness and compassion to yourself.

• Person-centered therapy: This form of therapy focuses on providing support.

• Gestalt therapy: The process of analyzing current thoughts and feelings to know how to move forward.

Dialectical behavior therapy 

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is primarily used to treat people with borderline personality disorder and who experience suicidal ideation. This type of psychotherapy emphasizes finding methods to deal with emotions and negative thoughts. 

Some healthcare providers may also recommend mindfulness techniques. This may help with centering yourself and setting aside time for reflection.

Interpersonal therapy

If one of your goals is to build better relationships with your loved ones, interpersonal therapy (IPT) may be an ideal option for you. A healthcare provider can help you evaluate the social relationships you have and find strategies to improve them. This type of therapy is often used for people with depression or who struggle with social isolation.

Mentalization-based therapy

A healthcare provider may suggest mentalization-based therapy if you have borderline personality disorder. This long-term therapy technique involves consciously thinking about your feelings and the feelings of others around you. This can help build empathy and understanding with other people.

What are the Benefits of Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy can be the first step you take towards taking control of your mental health. A licensed health provider can give you tools to manage symptoms of mental health conditions and process life experiences.

While one-on-one therapy is common, psychotherapy can also be used for groups. Couples therapy focuses on the relationship you have with a significant other. Family therapy is another form of therapy that centers around relationships you have with your family members and methods for improving them.

Group therapy is often used for people who have experienced similar traumatic events. For example, people who have experienced alcoholism or the tragic death of a loved one may benefit from group therapy where they can feel the support of others around them.

What is the Difference Between Psychotherapy and Counseling?

Psychotherapy is typically a more long-term form of therapy than counseling. Oftentimes counseling focuses on only addressing one particular concern. 

Counseling can last anywhere between six weeks to several months. You can find counseling services in many community spaces, hospitals, and schools, whereas psychotherapy may be slightly less accessible.

In addition to emotional support, counseling also sometimes provides tools for academic success, career support, and help with setting goals.

Healthcare providers that offer psychotherapy often have extensive education in treating more health conditions than a counselor.

How are Psychotherapy and Counseling Similar?

Like psychotherapy, counseling can be in an individual or group setting. You can receive counseling or psychotherapy in multiple settings including private practice, schools, community centers, or mental health facilities.

How Long Do You Need Psychotherapy?

Treatment can last anywhere between a couple of months to several years depending on your needs. It’s not uncommon to stay in therapy for your whole life to process big life events. Over time, you may start to notice changes in how you process your thoughts and emotions.

What are Alternate Forms of Therapy?

Other forms of therapy may utilize talk therapy with non-traditional therapeutic methods. The following techniques may be useful for people who have trouble verbalizing their concerns. 

Alternative forms of therapy include:

• Art therapy: Mental health professionals help people create visual art to express emotions. 

• Music therapy: A healthcare provider uses music to stimulate brain activity to help manage anxiety and other mental health conditions.

• Dance therapy: The use of movement to improve your emotional, social, and overall health. 

• Hippotherapy: Using horseback riding as a method of therapy with a licensed healthcare provider.

• Pet therapy: Trained cats or dogs help provide psychological and emotional support through guided activities and regular interaction.

There are even more types of therapy than the ones listed that use creative therapy techniques. If psychotherapy feels daunting, consider reaching out to a healthcare provider who specializes in alternate therapy forms.

How Can I Find a Healthcare Provider?

It’s important to find a healthcare provider who understands your life experiences. Be sure to take your time to search for a licensed mental health professional. 

Many healthcare providers give you the option of a consultation before starting your treatment. Consultations allow you to share more about yourself with a healthcare provider and let them know what your intentions are for treatment. If you are uncomfortable with a provider during the consultation, don’t be afraid to try someone new.

Your options for psychotherapy may also be affected by the type of health insurance you have. Some forms of healthcare insurance may give you more coverage than others. However, every insurer in the U.S. is required to provide some form of coverage for mental health per the The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.

Where Can I Learn More About Caring for my Mental Health?

Many local organizations may offer mental health support through free counseling. If receiving help in person is not an option, LifeMD can help you learn more about your mental health.

LifeMD works with insurance plans that cover mental health services for at least 95% of our patients. Still, there are tips and alternate options for care for people without health insurance.

Get started today with improving how you care for yourself.

LifeMD makes it easy to stay on top of your health because talking to a doctor, filling your prescriptions, getting your labs done—and more—are all easy and cost-effective. Come discover a healthcare solution built around you and your life.

Connect with a doctor now!

Join Now