psychotherapy

noun

psy·​cho·​ther·​a·​py ˌsī-kō-ˈther-ə-pē How to pronounce psychotherapy (audio)
: treatment of mental or emotional disorder or of related bodily ills by psychological means
psychotherapist noun

Examples of psychotherapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Personalized healthcare can vary greatly from solution to solution and can include things such as massage therapy, physical therapy, psychotherapy, exercise classes, nutrition plans and more. John Graham Harper, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 Most research also pairs psychedelic drugs with some form of therapy or facilitation, and as the FDA has made clear, its role is to assess drugs, not the psychotherapies that might go along with them. Benjamin Y. Fong, Discover Magazine, 16 Aug. 2024 Some companies are already using psychedelics purely as a drug therapy, rather than to assist psychotherapy, including the two aiming to treat depression with psilocybin. Bykai Kupferschmidt, science.org, 12 Aug. 2024 Having a completely new way to address these conditions, in addition to psychotherapy and medications, could eventually help more people to find interventions that work for them, and could even help more people experience more durable success in managing their mental illness. Alice Park, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for psychotherapy 

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of psychotherapy was circa 1890

Dictionary Entries Near psychotherapy

Cite this Entry

“Psychotherapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychotherapy. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

psychotherapy

noun
psy·​cho·​ther·​a·​py ˌsī-kō-ˈther-ə-pē How to pronounce psychotherapy (audio)
: treatment of mental or emotional disorder or of related bodily illnesses by psychological means

Medical Definition

psychotherapy

noun
psy·​cho·​ther·​a·​py ˌsī-kō-ˈther-ə-pē How to pronounce psychotherapy (audio)
plural psychotherapies
1
: treatment of mental or emotional disorder or maladjustment by psychological means especially involving verbal communication (as in psychoanalysis, nondirective psychotherapy, reeducation, or hypnosis)
2
: any alteration in an individual's interpersonal environment, relationships, or life situation brought about especially by a qualified therapist and intended to have the effect of alleviating symptoms of mental or emotional disturbance
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