Related Terms

• Acceptance and commitment therapy, art therapy, behavior therapy, behavioral medicine, biofeedback, body psychotherapy, brief therapy, CBT, client-centered therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, cognitive bibliotherapy, cognitive restructuring, cognitive therapy, common factors therapy, compliance therapy, counseling, CT, DBT, dialectical behavior therapy, existential psychotherapy, family therapy, forensic psychotherapy, gestalt therapy, group therapy, guided imagery, humanistic psychotherapy, hypnosis, hypnotherapy, internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, Jacobson's progressive relaxation therapy, Jungian analysis, Jungian therapy, marital therapy, mind/body medicine, MST, multi-systemic therapy, music therapy, narrative therapy, nondirective psychotherapy, personal therapy, play therapy, projective identification, psychoanalysis, psychoanalytic psychotherapy, psychodrama, psychodramatic psychotherapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, psychoeducation, psychosynthesis, rational emotive behavior therapy, rational emotive therapy, relaxation therapy, sand tray therapy, schema-focused therapy, Schultz' autogenic training, sex therapy, solution-focused therapy, somatic psychotherapy, spirituality-focused psychotherapy, supportive-expressive group therapy, supportive psychotherapy, talk therapy, talking cure, telephone-administered cognitive-behavioral therapy, transcendental mediation, transference-focused psychotherapy, unconscious psychotherapy, visualization.
• Note: Psychotherapy is sometimes used in combination with drugs or herbal medicine to help alleviate psychological symptoms. This monograph pertains primarily to psychotherapy as a modality in itself and does not evaluate related drugs or herbs. We do, however, note some circumstances where combined therapy is recommended or where psychotherapy should not be relied upon alone.

Background

• Psychotherapy is an interactive process between a person and a qualified mental health professional (psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker, licensed counselor, or other trained practitioner). Its purpose is the exploration of thoughts, feelings, and behavior for the purpose problem solving or achieving higher levels of functioning.
• Psychotherapists are bound by professional and legal standards of ethics, such as protecting the confidentiality of information provided by clients or patients, not engaging in inappropriate behavior with a client or patient, and protecting the safety of children by reporting suspected child abuse to legal authorities.
• The generally acknowledged father of modern psychotherapy was Sigmund Freud, a neurologist in 1880s Vienna, Austria, who noted that some of his patients did not seem to have a physical cause for their symptoms. Freud became intrigued with the relationship between the mind and physical symptoms. In 1886, he opened an office for the practice of what he named "psychoanalysis," which incorporated dream interpretation, free association, and the three levels of consciousness: the id (primitive drives and impulses), the ego (normal waking mental functioning), and the superego (conscience, self-regulation of right and wrong).
• Psychoanalytic theory is one of four major approaches to psychotherapy. The others are behavioral (primarily concerned with behavioral processes and outcomes), humanistic (focused on existential issues, meaning, and self-actualization), and transpersonal (focused on transcendent awareness and the spiritual dimensions of life). These four main approaches are blended in many different varieties of psychotherapy.
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Evidence

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Safety

Many complementary techniques are practiced by healthcare professionals with formal training, in accordance with the standards of national organizations. However, this is not universally the case, and adverse effects are possible. Due to limited research, in some cases only limited safety information is available.

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Interactions

Most herbs and supplements have not been thoroughly tested for interactions with other herbs, supplements, drugs, or foods. The interactions listed below are based on reports in scientific publications, laboratory experiments, or traditional use. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy.

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Author Information

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References

Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to www.naturalstandard.com. Selected references are listed below.

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