US Medical Term · mental-health
Psychotherapy
Psicoterapia
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Psychotherapy |
| Spanish (Español) | Psicoterapia |
| Chinese (中文) | 心理治療 |
| Korean (한국어) | 심리 치료 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Liệu pháp tâm lý |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Psychotherapy |
| Portuguese (Português) | Psicoterapia |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | จิตบำบัด |
| Japanese (日本語) | 精神療法 |
What it means
Psychotherapy — also called talk therapy or counseling — is a range of treatments that help people understand and change thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are causing them distress. It is delivered by licensed mental health professionals including psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed counselors, and psychiatrists. Common evidence-based approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), psychodynamic therapy, and interpersonal therapy. Psychotherapy may be used alone or in combination with medication. Sessions are typically 45 to 60 minutes and may occur weekly or more frequently depending on need. Under the Mental Health Parity law, insurance plans that cover medical visits must cover psychotherapy visits on comparable terms. Check your plan's behavioral health benefits for details.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I would like to start psychotherapy to work on my anxiety and depression.
Me gustaría comenzar psicoterapia para trabajar en mi ansiedad y depresión.
How many psychotherapy sessions are covered per year under my insurance plan?
¿Cuántas sesiones de psicoterapia están cubiertas por año bajo mi plan de seguro?
I need a referral to a licensed therapist who offers evidence-based psychotherapy.
Necesito una derivación a un terapeuta licenciado que ofrezca psicoterapia basada en evidencia.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026