What is psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is a group of therapies that help you understand why you feel, think and act in ways that cause you distress and make your life more difficult. Psychotherapy aims to help you work towards understanding and making choices about these ways of thinking.

These therapies are often used to treat mental health conditions. They can also be useful for anyone who wants to change unhelpful thoughts or behaviours.

Psychotherapy is offered by specially trained psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. It is sometimes called 'psychological therapy' or 'talking therapy'.

What is the difference between psychotherapy and counselling?

Counselling is usually for a short time and helps you find and use solutions to a problem you have right now. It can also be long-term depending on your needs.

Counselling promotes:

• mental health and wellbeing
• self-understanding
• finding solutions to problems you may have

Counsellors use empathy and deep listening to help you feel safe and understood. You will work closely with your counsellor during the counselling process.

Psychotherapy is a longer process. It focuses on making sense or understanding the root or historical cause of your problems. It is evidence based and involves a team of people such as:

• counsellors
• psychologists
• psychiatrists
• social workers
• mental health nurses

When do I need psychotherapy?

If you're diagnosed with a mental health condition, your doctor may recommend you have psychotherapy. Psychological treatment can be combined with taking medicines.

Psychotherapy can be used to treat:

• depression
• anxiety
• eating and panic disorders
• substance-use disorders (for example, alcohol and other drugs)
• obsessive compulsive disorder
• borderline personality disorder or dependent personality disorder
• trauma

Not everyone who has psychotherapy has a mental health condition.

These therapies can also be helpful to learn how to deal with stressful and challenging situations using healthy coping skills.

What types of psychotherapy are available?

There are many different types of psychotherapy, such as:

• Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) — looks at how a person's thoughts, feelings and actions are connected and how this can influence how someone sees the world and their wellbeing.
• Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy — a type of CBT that involves learning 'mindfulness meditation'. A way of being present and 'unhooking' from the pull of your mind.
• Dialectical behaviour therapy — a type of CBT that teaches behavioural skills to deal with stress and emotions and develop positive relationships.
• Interpersonal therapy — helps a person handle situations they find difficult and get along better with others by looking at their interpersonal relationships.
• Supportive psychotherapy — a talking-based therapy that helps people with mental health problems to share their worries and get support while finding practical solutions.
• Acceptance and commitment therapy — helps people to accept their thoughts and feelings by focusing on the present moment and to 'just notice' their thoughts and feelings. This therapy focuses on helping people to cope with unsettling feelings so they can live in line with their values.
• Psychodynamic psychotherapy — helps people understand how their distressing thoughts and feelings started and how these can affect their problems.

Your therapist may combine exercises or practices from different types of psychotherapy to tailor a therapy for you.

What are the benefits of psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy aims to help people understand their feelings, thoughts and actions better and to discover their own resilience.

While psychotherapy can't stop stressful events, it can give you the power to cope in a healthy way. It can also help you understand yourself and learn new ways of thinking, behaving and feeling.

Psychotherapy takes time to show results. Usually, it will take a few months, but the positive effects are often long lasting.

What should I expect during an appointment with a psychotherapist?

The length of your appointment can vary depending on the treatment and your needs. Usually, appointments last between 45 to 90 minutes.

It's normal to feel a bit worried before your first therapy appointment. During your first appointment you will learn how the process works and what you can hope to achieve.

Your psychotherapist may ask you questions such as:

• Why have you come to therapy?
• What would you like to achieve?
• Have you been to therapy before?
• If you have tried therapy before, what was and wasn't helpful?
• What is happening in your life?

Your therapist may be taking notes while you speak. This can take some time to get used to. Your therapist has a legal and ethical responsibility to keep your information and their notes confidential.

How can I get the most out of psychotherapy?

Here are some tips to get the most benefit from therapy sessions:

• Choose a therapist who is right for you. Think about what you want to achieve and what type of psychotherapy may help you.
• Be honest with your therapist. You need to share your thoughts, feelings and experiences honestly.
• Be an active participant in the therapy. Therapy works best as a partnership: you need to do the work.
• Put in the time. If you have homework, make this part of your daily routine. It may be difficult in the beginning, but a new habit takes time to become routine.
• If it's not working, consider a different approach. Talk to your therapist about whether a different psychotherapy approach may be more helpful for you. A good therapist will welcome feedback.

What questions should I ask a psychotherapist?

It is important to get to know your psychotherapist. You may want to ask:

• When will I see results?
• How often should I meet with you?
• What techniques will be used during the sessions?
• How long will a therapy session last?
• How should I prepare for the sessions?
• Can you help me achieve my goals?

How can I find a psychotherapist?

If you or someone you care about is having suicidal thoughts, call 000 and ask for an ambulance or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.

To find a good psychotherapist, ask for recommendations from your:

• doctor
• other health professionals
• local pharmacists
• trusted family and friends

You can also access some psychotherapies online.

The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia and Good Therapy Australia have search tools to find local psychotherapists and the types of therapy they specialise in.

The Australian Counselling Association has a search tool to find a registered counsellor in your area.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency can verify whether psychologists and psychiatrists are registered.

To find a psychotherapist see your doctor for a referral.

Do I need a referral to see a psychotherapist?

You will need a referral from your doctor to get psychotherapy from a:

• psychiatrist
• psychologist
• other mental health professional

What is the cost?

You may be eligible for a mental health treatment plan. This helps you claim up to 10 sessions with a mental health professional through Medicare.

Mental health professionals such as psychologists or psychiatrists often set their own fees. Medicare may only cover part of the cost. If they don't bulk bill, you'll have to pay the full cost or the difference between what Medicare covers and the session fee.

Remember to ask about the fees and how much Medicare will cover when making your appointment.

Read the article on the Costs of mental health services for more information.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

Resources and support

If you have further questions about psychotherapy, speak to your doctor.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are many organisations that offer further resources and support such as:

• Medicare Mental Health has advice and information to get connected to local mental health services, you can call for free on 1800 595 212. Check the operating times.
• Headspace online offers resources and support for young people and their families. You can call on 1800 650 890 .
• Beyond Blue has a counsellor service you can call on 1300 224 636 or chat to them online.
• SANE offers a range of support services, including counselling, peer support and online groups, online information and resources.
• ReachOut has further information on cognitive behavioural therapy.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

• 13Yarn operate a free and confidential service run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.