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Psychotherapy

female psychologist talking to male patient

Any psychological service provided by a trained professional that primarily uses forms of communication and interaction to assess, diagnose, and treat dysfunctional emotional reactions, ways of thinking, and behavior patterns. Psychotherapy may be provided to individuals, couples, families, or members of a group.

There are many types of psychotherapy, but generally they fall into four major categories: psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive therapy or behavior therapy, humanistic therapy, and integrative psychotherapy.

Adapted from the APA Dictionary of Psychology

Resources from APA

professional and client talking

Speech or conduct? "Conversion therapy" bans

Supreme Court ruling calls into question states’ authority to enforce evidence-based standards of care

teen boy and therapist during session

Discussing AI use in therapy

Patients are using chatbots for emotional support. Here’s what clinicians need to know

teen boy using AI on laptop

How to talk to patients about AI

Psychologists are well-positioned to help their patients navigate AI thoughtfully and safely

collage of people at in-person therapy session or using chatbots

2026 Chatbots and Mental Health Survey

Psychologists report patients are turning to AI as an additional mental health resource

More resources about psychotherapy

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What APA is doing

Advocacy

Mental health parity

APA Services works to ensure that health plans provide equitable coverage for mental and behavioral health services.

Medicare reimbursement and access

APA Services advocates for Medicare policies that expand access to psychologists’ services, as well as facilitate and incentivize psychologists’ participation in the program.

Telehealth access

APA Services advocates for broader access to an array of mental and behavioral health services furnished via telehealth.

APA Divisions

Society of Clinical Psychology

Society of Counseling Psychology

Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy

Society of Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy

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APA books

Person-Centered Psychotherapies

Person-Centered Psychotherapies

Mastering the Inner Skills of Psychotherapy

Mastering the Inner Skills of Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy Case Formulation

Psychotherapy Case Formulation

Talking About Sex in Psychotherapy

Talking About Sex in Psychotherapy

ExistentialHumanistic Therapy

Existential–Humanistic Therapy

Magination Press children’s books

Cover of Someone To Talk To: Getting Good at Feeling Better (medium)

Someone To Talk To

Cover of Depression: A Teen's Guide to Survive and Thrive (medium)

Depression

Cover of Some Bunny To Talk To (medium)

Some Bunny To Talk To

Cover of Healing Days (medium)

Healing Days

My Anxious Mind: A Teen's Guide to Managing Anxiety and Panic

My Anxious Mind

More children's books

Journal special issues

Cover of Ruptures and Repairs in Group Psychotherapy

Cover of Ruptures and Repairs in Group Psychotherapy

Cover of Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Skills and Methods

Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Skills and Methods

Cover of Embracing Clinical Complexity

Embracing Clinical Complexity

Cover of Psychology and Virtual Reality (special issue of Translational Issues in Psychological Science, September 2021)

Psychology and Virtual Reality

Cover of Play Therapy With Military Families

Play Therapy With Military Families

More journal special issues

APA journals

Cover of Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice

Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice

Cover of Spirituality in Clinical Practice (medium)

Spirituality in Clinical Practice

Cover of Psychoanalytic Psychology (medium)

Psychoanalytic Psychology

Cover of Journal of Psychotherapy Integration (medium)

Journal of Psychotherapy Integration

Cover of Psychotherapy (medium)

Psychotherapy