Skip to main content

What is psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy or counselling, is a form of treatment that involves talking with a psychologist about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. The goal of psychotherapy is to help you identify and change negative patterns of thought and behaviour that may be causing problems in your life and to improve your overall mental health and well-being. Psychotherapy can be short-term or long-term depending on your needs. It can be effective in treating a wide range of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and relationship problems.

There are many different types of psychotherapy, each with its own approach and techniques. Some common types of psychotherapy include:

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT): This type of therapy focuses on helping you identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviours that contribute to your distress.

Interpersonal therapy (IPT): This type of psychotherapy focuses on helping you improve your relationships with others and address problems in your social and personal life.

Psychodynamic therapy: This type of therapy focuses on exploring unconscious thoughts and feelings that may be influencing your behaviour.

As a practice, we also have a strong interest in a form of psychodynamic therapy called Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy.

Book recommendations:

  • Living Like You Mean It
    Author: Ronald J. Frederick
  • The Lies We Tell Ourselves: How to Face the Truth, Accept Yourself, and Create a Better Life
    Author: Jon Frederickson
  • Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
    Author: Lori Gottlieb
  • Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel By Changing the Way You Think
    Authors: Dennis Greenberger and Christine A. Padesky