What Is Psychotherapy? To Whom Can it be Useful?

Date of the last update: 02.06.2025

Psychotherapy is a form of treatment that uses talking and a variety of therapeutic techniques to help people cope with emotional problems, life difficulties and improve their mental and emotional functioning.

This form of therapy can benefit a wide range of people, including those suffering from mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, personality disorders, PTSD, as well as those who wish to improve their quality of life, increase self-awareness and cope with life’s difficulties.

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Who needs psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy can be helpful for people suffering from a variety of emotional and mental problems, such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders or traumatic conditions.

People with relationship difficulties, problems at work or school, or problems coping with stress can also benefit from psychotherapy sessions.

Psychotherapy can be useful for those who want to better understand themselves, their needs, motivations and life goals, and for those who seek to improve the quality of their lives and their relationships with others.

Children and adolescents with emotional difficulties, such as difficulties at school, behavioural disorders or anxiety, can also find support and help in therapy.

What is done in psychotherapy? What is the aim of psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy aims to support the client in personal development, learning about themselves, changing negative thinking and behavioural patterns and achieving better mental and emotional functioning.

During psychotherapy sessions, the client and therapist explore different aspects of the client’s life together, such as emotions, thoughts, behaviours and relationships. The therapist helps the client to identify and understand the difficulties they are facing and to discover the roots of these problems. Various therapeutic techniques are often used in psychotherapy, such as talking, reflection, practical exercises, drawing or meditation. As a result, clients learn new skills to cope with stress, anxiety, depression or relationship problems. Which improves the quality of their functioning in everyday life.

Check out also: TOP 5: Facts and myths about psychotherapy

Is psychotherapy for everyone?

Although psychotherapy is a helpful method and has become increasingly popular, it is not always suitable for everyone. The decision to start therapy should be individual and depends on the person’s needs, preferences and willingness to work on themselves and be open to change.

Some people may feel resistant to psychotherapy for a variety of reasons, such as lack of confidence, fear of opening up or negative experiences with therapy in the past.

There are also cases where the psychological problems are severe enough to require specialised psychiatric care or medical intervention.

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychotherapist?

A psychologist is a specialist who deals with the study of human behaviour and thoughts and their impact on the functioning of an individual. A psychotherapist, on the other hand, is a specialist who has additional training and experience in providing therapy to help people cope with emotional, mental and relational problems.

A psychologist may carry out diagnosis and conduct psychological research, while a psychotherapist focuses on providing emotional support, applying various therapeutic techniques and supporting the client in the process of change.

Although the two roles may overlap, the psychologist usually focuses on diagnosis and research, while the psychotherapist focuses on treatment and therapy.

Summary

Psychotherapy is a therapeutic process that aims to help individuals cope with emotional and mental challenges. It is an effective method of support for people struggling with a variety of life difficulties, emotional problems or mental disorders. Through psychotherapy, you can develop skills to cope with stress, improve interpersonal relationships and achieve greater self-awareness and understanding of your emotional needs. Psychotherapy can also be useful for anyone who wishes to work on personal development, seeks support in making life decisions or wants to better understand themselves and their emotions.