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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffPsychotherapy is a general term for a process of treating mental and emotional disorders by talking about your condition and related issues with a mental health provider.
During psychotherapy, you learn about your condition and your mood, feelings, thoughts and behavior. Using the insights and knowledge you gain in psychotherapy, you pick up healthy coping skills and stress management. Psychotherapy often can be successfully completed in just a few months, but in the case of a severe mental illness, long-term treatment may be helpful.
There are many specific types of psychotherapy, each with its own approach to improving your mental well-being. The type of psychotherapy that's right for you depends on your individual situation. Psychotherapy is also known as talk therapy, counseling, psychosocial therapy or, simply, therapy.
Why it's done
