What is Psychotherapy? Types and How It Helps

Posted on: Apr 9, 2025 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

What is Psychotherapy? Types and How It Helps

Psychotherapy is a therapeutic approach that helps individuals navigate and manage their mental and emotional challenges effectively. It combines therapies and medications to help people change their thoughts, emotions and behaviours to a positive state. Psychotherapy helps in two ways—managing the symptoms of the current issues and identifying the root of the problem to help people improve their mental/emotional health.

What is Psychotherapy?

Many people assume that counselling, therapy, and psychotherapy are the same. However, psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is a broader term that includes counselling along with other therapeutic approaches. Psychotherapy helps in managing these conditions:

• Difficulty of losing a closed one

• Stress

• Anger management

• Any trauma

• Withdrawal symptoms (especially when you have quit drinking or smoking recently)

• Divorce and relationship issues

• Mental health disorders: depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, etc.

• Behavioural issues: ADHD, conduct disorder, etc.

The different types of psychotherapy that psychiatrists may follow to treat the above-mentioned conditions are:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) –

Helps identify and replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) –

Beneficial for managing intense emotions.

• Interpersonal Therapy –

Focuses on handling grief, trauma, and relationship challenges.

• Psychodynamic Therapy –

Explores how childhood experiences and past trauma shape emotional health.

• Complementary Therapies –

Includes animal-assisted therapy, creative arts, and play therapy to enhance session comfort.

Based on the number of people attending the sessions, psychotherapy sessions can be:

• Individual –

only involves you and your psychotherapist

• Group –

two or more people are present in the session

• Couples –

to solve marriage or relationship issues

• Family –

to discuss family problems

Conclusion

Psychotherapy is an effective way to help people deal with their emotional and behavioural issues successfully. Based on the intensity of the condition, these sessions can last a few days to many years. If you are dealing with any stress, trauma, or other mental issue, visit your psychiatrist right away. It is time to give your mental health as much importance and care as you give your physical health. Treatments and therapies recommended by psychiatrists can cost a lot. This is why having health insurance can be beneficial, as it may help cover treatment costs.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

Mental/Psychological Issues Covered under Health Policy

Physical Therapy – Importance and Benefits

Benefits of Music Therapy In Physical and Mental Health

Men’s Mental Health: Breaking Stigmas and Barriers

Does Critical Illness Cover Mental Health Issues?