Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a form of talking therapy that helps people understand thoughts, emotions and patterns of behaviour, and develop healthier ways of coping and relating. It is used for issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and relationship difficulties.

Different approaches exist (for example psychodynamic, integrative, CBT-informed), and a good therapist will explain what they offer and how progress will be reviewed.

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Psychotherapy is a broad term for structured talking therapies delivered by trained professionals. The focus may be on understanding deeper patterns and experiences, learning practical coping tools, improving relationships, or processing trauma—depending on the approach and your goals.

What happens in psychotherapy?

Sessions typically last around 50 minutes and take place weekly or fortnightly. Early sessions usually explore what you want help with, relevant life history, current stressors and what support would feel most useful. Your therapist should explain confidentiality, safeguarding and how they work.

What can psychotherapy help with?

Anxiety and panic symptoms
Depression and low mood
Trauma (including PTSD and complex trauma)
Grief and bereavement
Relationship and family difficulties
Low self-esteem and confidence

Different psychotherapy approaches

Psychotherapy can include psychodynamic therapy, person-centred therapy, integrative approaches, CBT-informed therapy, and more. The most effective approach often depends on your preferences, the issue, and the therapeutic relationship. Many people find that feeling safe and understood is a key part of progress.

How long does psychotherapy take?

Some people work in a time-limited way (for example 6–12 sessions) focused on a specific goal, while others choose longer-term therapy for deeper or more complex patterns. Agree a review point and talk openly about what is and is not helping.

When to seek urgent help

If you feel at immediate risk of harming yourself or others, seek urgent support via emergency services or a crisis service. A directory page can also include signposting to NHS 111 and local urgent mental health lines.

History of Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy developed through the late 19th and 20th centuries as psychological theories and clinical practices evolved. Different schools of psychotherapy emerged—some focused on insight and early experiences, others on behaviour change and coping skills.

In the UK today, psychotherapy includes a wide range of evidence-informed approaches delivered in private practice, community services and the NHS, with professional standards set by recognised training pathways and ethical frameworks.

Typical conditions that use Psychotherapy

Condition	Evidence	Notes
Anxiety	strong	Core indication; choose approach suited to goals and needs.
Attachment issues	strong	Core use for attachment issues.
Depression	strong	Common; risk assessment and support planning important.
Difficulty reaching orgasm	strong	Core use for orgasm difficulties.
Domestic abuse recovery support (sensitive)	strong	Core use for domestic abuse recovery.
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)	strong	Core use for GAD.
Grief and bereavement	strong	Common area; supportive processing and adjustment.
Health anxiety	strong	Core use for health anxiety.
Imposter syndrome	strong	Core use for imposter syndrome.
Intimacy concerns	strong	Core use for intimacy concerns.
Intimacy difficulties	strong	Core use for intimacy difficulties.
Intrusive thoughts	strong	Core use for intrusive thoughts.
Life transitions / adjustment issues	strong	Core use for life transitions.
Loneliness	strong	Core use for loneliness.
Low confidence	strong	Core use for low confidence.
Low mood	strong	Core use for low mood.
Low mood in men	strong	Core use for low mood in men.
Motivation and goal setting	strong	Core use for motivation and goal-setting.
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)	strong	Core use for OCD.
Panic disorder	strong	Core use for panic disorder.
Parenting stress	strong	Core use for parenting stress.
People pleasing	strong	Core use for people pleasing.
Perfectionism	strong	Core use for perfectionism.
Performance anxiety	strong	Core use for performance anxiety.
Phobias	strong	Core use for phobias.
Postnatal emotional support	strong	Core use for postnatal emotional support.
Pregnancy anxiety support	strong	Core use for pregnancy anxiety.
Premature ejaculation	strong	Core use for premature ejaculation.
Public speaking nerves	strong	Core use for public speaking nerves.
Relationship stress (men)	strong	Core use for relationship stress in men.
Resilience building	strong	Core use for resilience building.
Rumination / overthinking	strong	Core use for rumination and overthinking.
Self-harm thoughts (sensitive)	strong	Core use for self-harm thoughts.
Separation / divorce support	strong	Core use for separation/divorce support.
Sexual difficulties	strong	Core use for sexual difficulties.
Sexual performance anxiety (supportive)	strong	Core use for sexual performance anxiety.
Sexual wellbeing concerns (supportive)	strong	Core use for sexual wellbeing concerns.
Shame	strong	Core use for shame.
Sleep anxiety	strong	Core use for sleep anxiety.
Social anxiety	strong	Core use for social anxiety.
Trauma after accident or assault	strong	Core use for trauma after accident or assault.
Trouble falling asleep	strong	Core use for sleep onset insomnia.
Trouble staying asleep	strong	Core use for sleep maintenance insomnia.
Trust issues	strong	Core use for trust issues.
Vaginismus	strong	Core use for vaginismus.
Work-life balance	strong	Core use for work-life balance.
Workplace stress	strong	Core use for workplace stress.
Addiction / dependency support	strong	Core use for addiction recovery.
Anger issues	strong	Core use for anger issues.
Body image concerns	moderate	Psychotherapy for body image concerns.
Boundary issues	moderate	Psychotherapy for boundary issues.
Cancer emotional support (men)	strong	Core use for cancer emotional support.
Caregiver stress	strong	Core use for carer stress.
Chronic illness adjustment	strong	Core use for chronic illness adjustment.
Complex PTSD	moderate	Often benefits from longer-term, trauma-informed psychotherapy.
Compulsive behaviours	strong	Core use for compulsive behaviours.
Eating disorder recovery support (alongside specialist care)	strong	Core use for eating disorder recovery.
Emotional dysregulation (neurodiversity)	strong	Core use for emotional dysregulation.
Emotional eating	strong	Core use for emotional eating.
Emotional regulation difficulties	strong	Core use for emotional regulation difficulties.
Erectile dysfunction	strong	Core use for erectile dysfunction.
Exam stress	moderate	Psychotherapy for exam stress.
Family conflict	strong	Core use for family conflict.
Fatherhood adjustment	moderate	Psychotherapy for fatherhood adjustment.
Feeling overwhelmed	strong	Core use for feeling overwhelmed.
Friendship difficulties	strong	Core use for friendship difficulties.
Gambling problems	strong	Core use for gambling problems.
Guilt	strong	Core use for guilt.
Gut-brain stress symptoms	strong	Core use for gut-brain stress.
Hair loss-related distress	moderate	Psychotherapy for hair loss distress.
Irritability	strong	Core use for irritability.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)	strong	Psychotherapy for IBS psychological component.
Jealousy	strong	Core use for jealousy.
Leadership coaching goals	strong	Core use for leadership coaching goals.
Libido concerns (supportive)	strong	Core use for libido concerns.
Long-term condition coping	strong	Core use for long-term condition coping.
Low libido	strong	Core use for low libido.
Low motivation	strong	Core use for low motivation.
Low self-esteem	moderate	Common goal; track confidence and behavioural change.
Painful sex (dyspareunia)	strong	Core use for dyspareunia.
Panic attacks	strong	Often treated effectively; ensure screening for physical contributors.
Pelvic pain	strong	Core use for pelvic pain psychological support.
PMDD support (adjunct)	moderate	Psychotherapy for PMDD psychological support.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)	strong	Trauma-informed care; some clients may prefer specialist trauma therapy.
Procrastination	strong	Core use for procrastination.
Relationship conflict	moderate	Helpful for patterns, communication and boundaries.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)	strong	Core use for SAD.
Sedentary lifestyle support	moderate	Psychotherapy for sedentary lifestyle behaviour change.
Skin picking (dermatillomania) support	strong	Core use for skin picking/dermatillomania.
Social isolation	strong	Core use for social isolation.
Stammering (stuttering)	strong	Core use for stammering psychological component.
Weight management (behaviour change support)	strong	Core use for weight management behaviour change.
Acne-related confidence concerns	moderate	Psychotherapy for acne-related confidence and distress.
ADHD (support / coaching alongside medical care)	moderate	Psychotherapy for ADHD secondary emotional impacts.
Asthma-related anxiety support (adjunct)	moderate	Psychotherapy for asthma-related anxiety.
Autism / ASC support	moderate	Psychotherapy for autism-related anxiety and adjustment.
Bipolar disorder (support alongside medical care)	moderate	Psychotherapy for bipolar disorder alongside medical care.
Career change support	moderate	Psychotherapy for career change anxiety and identity.
Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME support (adjunct)	moderate	Psychotherapy for ME/CFS adjustment.
Confidence building	moderate	Psychotherapy for confidence building.
Co-parenting challenges	moderate	Psychotherapy for co-parenting challenges.
Eczema stress impact support	moderate	Psychotherapy for eczema stress.
Endometriosis support (adjunct)	moderate	Psychotherapy for endometriosis emotional support.
Executive dysfunction	moderate	Psychotherapy for executive dysfunction secondary emotions.
Fatigue	moderate	Psychotherapy for fatigue with psychological component.
Fertility stress (emotional support)	moderate	Psychotherapy for fertility stress.
Fibromyalgia support	moderate	Psychotherapy for fibromyalgia psychological support.
Focus and concentration difficulties	moderate	Psychotherapy for concentration difficulties.
Food-related anxiety (supportive)	moderate	Psychotherapy for food-related anxiety.
High blood pressure stress support (adjunct)	moderate	Psychotherapy for blood pressure stress.
Language and communication difficulties (speech/language)	moderate	Psychotherapy for communication difficulties distress.
Learning difficulties support (non-diagnostic)	moderate	Psychotherapy for learning difficulties secondary emotions.
Lipolymphoedema support	moderate	Psychotherapy for lipolymphoedema distress.
Low energy	moderate	Psychotherapy for low energy with psychological component.
Lymphoedema (lymphedema)	moderate	Psychotherapy for lymphoedema distress.
Memory concerns (supportive)	moderate	Psychotherapy for memory concern anxiety.
Menopause symptoms	moderate	Psychotherapy for menopause psychological support.
Multiple sclerosis support (adjunct)	moderate	Psychotherapy for MS adjustment.
Neuralgia support	moderate	Psychotherapy for neuralgia pain distress.
Non-restorative sleep	moderate	Psychotherapy for sleep quality with psychological component.
Osteoarthritis support	moderate	Psychotherapy for OA psychological component.
Parkinson’s support (adjunct)	moderate	Psychotherapy for Parkinson's depression and anxiety.
PCOS support (adjunct)	moderate	Psychotherapy for PCOS psychological support.
Perimenopause symptoms	moderate	Psychotherapy for perimenopause psychological support.
Peripheral neuropathy support (adjunct)	moderate	Psychotherapy for peripheral neuropathy distress.
Post-viral fatigue support	moderate	Psychotherapy for post-viral fatigue adjustment.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)	moderate	Psychotherapy for PMS mood symptoms.
Psoriasis stress impact support	moderate	Psychotherapy for psoriasis distress.
Sensory overload	moderate	Psychotherapy for sensory overload anxiety.
Sports injury recovery support	moderate	Psychotherapy for sports injury psychological support.
Stroke recovery support (adjunct)	moderate	Psychotherapy for post-stroke adjustment.
Time management	moderate	Psychotherapy for time management difficulties.
TMJ / jaw tension	moderate	Psychotherapy for TMJ stress component.
Tremor support	moderate	Psychotherapy for tremor-related anxiety.
Vertigo support	moderate	Psychotherapy for vertigo anxiety.
Voice problems	moderate	Psychotherapy for voice problem distress.
Acid reflux / heartburn support	limited	Psychotherapy for stress-related reflux.
Chronic cough impact support	limited	Psychotherapy for chronic cough impact.
Cravings	limited	Psychotherapy for cravings alongside CBT.
Daytime sleepiness	limited	Psychotherapy for daytime sleepiness with psychological component.
Post-surgery swelling support	limited	Psychotherapy for post-surgical anxiety.
Postural pain	limited	Psychotherapy for chronic postural pain distress.
Rheumatoid arthritis support (adjunct)	limited	Psychotherapy for RA psychological support.
Swelling (oedema)	limited	Psychotherapy for swelling-related anxiety.

Frequently asked questions

How is psychotherapy different from counselling?

There is overlap. Psychotherapy may explore longer-term patterns and deeper themes; approaches vary by training.

How long does psychotherapy last?

Anything from time-limited work to longer-term therapy, agreed around your aims.

Is psychotherapy suitable if I take medication?

Yes; many people combine both. Medication decisions should be discussed with your prescriber.