psychotherapy

[ sahy-koh-ther-uh-pee ]
/ ˌsaɪ koʊˈθɛr ə pi /

noun, plural psy·cho·ther·a·pies.

the treatment of psychological disorders or maladjustments by a professional technique, as psychoanalysis, group therapy, or behavioral therapy.

Origin of psychotherapy

First recorded in 1890–95; psycho- + therapy

OTHER WORDS FROM psychotherapy

psy·cho·ther·a·pist, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH psychotherapy

psychiatrist psychologist psychoanalyst psychotherapist psychiatry psychology psychoanalysis psychotherapy

Words nearby psychotherapy

psychosynthesis, psychotechnics, psychotechnology, psychotherapeutics, psychotherapist, psychotherapy, psychotic, psychotogen, psychotogenic, psychotomimetic, psychotoxic

Example sentences from the Web for psychotherapy

British Dictionary definitions for psychotherapy

psychotherapy

less commonly psychotherapeutics (ˌsaɪkəʊˌθɛrəˈpjuːtɪks)

/ (ˌsaɪkəʊˈθɛrəpɪ) /

noun

the treatment of nervous disorders by psychological methods

Derived forms of psychotherapy

psychotherapeutic, adjective psychotherapeutically, adverb psychotherapist, noun

Medical definitions for psychotherapy

psychotherapy
[ sī′kō-thĕr′ə-pē ]

n.

The treatment of mental and emotional disorders through the use of psychological techniques designed to encourage communication of conflicts and insight into problems, with the goal being personality growth and behavior modification. psychotherapeutics

Other words from psychotherapy

psy′cho•ther′a•peu′tic (-pyōō′tĭk) adj.

Cultural definitions for psychotherapy

psychotherapy

The use of the techniques of psychology or psychiatry or both to treat mental and emotional disorders. The term includes psychoanalysis, as well as other forms of psychological therapy.