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Psychotherapy, also known as “talk therapy,” is a professional, evidence-informed treatment for psychological, emotional, and behavioral difficulties, delivered through a structured therapeutic relationship between a trained mental health provider and a client, couple, family, or group. It encompasses a wide range of approaches — including cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, humanistic, interpersonal, systemic, and trauma-focused therapies — each with distinct techniques and evidence bases.
Psychotherapy is used to address conditions such as depression, anxiety, trauma-related, eating, substance use, and personality disorders, as well as relational difficulties, life transitions, and stress-related concerns, and may be provided alone or in combination with pharmacologic treatments.
Author and reviewer
Editorial responsibilityReferences and further reading
- American Psychological Association. APA Handbook of Psychotherapy. APA Handbooks in Psychology. Covers theory-driven practice, disorder-driven practice, evidence-based practice, practice-based evidence, training, and ethics in psychotherapy. View source
- Cuijpers P, Cristea IA, Karyotaki E, Reijnders M, Huibers MJH. How effective are cognitive behavior therapies for major depression and anxiety disorders? A meta-analytic update of the evidence. World Psychiatry. 2016;15(3):245-258. doi:10.1002/wps.20346. View source
How to cite this entry
CNP (2026). Psychotherapy. In CNP Encyclopedia Editorial Board (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology. The Center for Nutritional Psychology.
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