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Learn more about psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a broad category of structured psychological treatments delivered by trained therapists. It is not a single method but an umbrella term covering many approaches, including cognitive behavioural therapy, psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, and integrative models. What these approaches share is a professional therapeutic relationship, a defined framework for understanding psychological difficulty, and an evidence-based way of working toward change.
Psychotherapy is distinct from counselling, coaching, and psychiatry. It typically involves a deeper and more sustained engagement with psychological patterns than counselling, does not involve prescribing medication, and is delivered by practitioners with specialist clinical training and regulation.
Psychotherapy sessions provide a consistent, confidential space in which the client can explore their experience with a trained professional. The specific methods used depend on the therapist's approach and the client's needs.
Across approaches, psychotherapy typically involves:
- Building a therapeutic relationship based on trust, safety, and professional boundaries
- Exploring the thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and patterns that are contributing to difficulty
- Developing insight into the origins and maintenance of those patterns
- Practising new ways of relating to oneself, others, and difficult experience
- Working toward defined therapeutic goals, reviewed and adjusted over time
Psychotherapy is used across the full range of mental health presentations. The following represent some of the most common reasons people seek psychotherapeutic support.
Bipolar disorder
Psychotherapy is a core component of bipolar disorder treatment, typically alongside medication. It helps people understand their condition, recognise early warning signs of episodes, develop coping strategies, and address the relational and identity challenges that bipolar disorder brings.
Adjustment disorders
Adjustment disorders, difficulties coping with a specific life stressor or change, are among the most common reasons people seek psychotherapy. A structured, time-limited course of therapy is often highly effective for helping people process what has happened and find a way forward.
Acute stress disorder
Acute stress disorder develops in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event and can, if untreated, develop into PTSD. Psychotherapy provides early, structured support to help the person process the experience before it becomes more deeply embedded.
Crisis intervention
Psychotherapy plays a role in crisis intervention, providing immediate structured support when someone is in acute psychological distress. Crisis-focused psychotherapy is time-limited, stabilisation-focused, and designed to restore safety and functioning before longer-term work begins.
Choosing an approach isn't something you have to do alone. IC's matching can pair you with a therapist whose approach suits your situation. Get matched
It's Complicated is a therapist-founded mental health platform connecting clients with verified practitioners across Europe and globally in over 60 languages. We work with over 2,500 vetted therapists, with in-person availability in Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lisbon, Vienna, and other major cities, alongside online sessions across the globe.
With so many therapeutic approaches available, finding the right type of psychotherapy for your situation is not always straightforward. Our matching service is built to remove that friction. You complete a short survey, our psychologists combine data-driven insights with human judgement to identify the right therapists for your situation, and you choose from a shortlist of strong candidates. You can also browse our directory directly if you'd prefer to choose yourself.
Get matched with a psychotherapist, or browse all psychotherapists in the directory.
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