A psychotherapist is a trained mental health professional who uses talk therapy to treat people for emotional problems and mental illnesses. Depending on their degree and specialty, psychotherapists can be psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, or social workers. They can work with individuals, couples, groups, or families. Psychotherapists use talk therapy to help people manage general emotional unrest or acute trauma or illness. They treat everything from daily overwhelm to grief to specific mental disorders like depression or anxiety. Sometimes talk therapy is used in combination with medications or lifestyle changes, but not all psychotherapists are licensed to prescribe medication.

The process of becoming a psychotherapist includes completing graduate school to get a doctoral degree and becoming a practicing therapist. After completing an undergraduate degree, the process of becoming a psychotherapist includes getting a doctoral degree. Some people only practice with a master’s, but they’re considered counselors, not psychologists or psychiatrists. Once you’ve found the right psychotherapist for you, you’ll have to do initial paperwork so they can understand you and your medical history. The first few sessions will help your therapist to get to know you and your situation. This lets them determine the best style of treatment.

Psychotherapy can help individuals experiencing a wide array of mental health conditions and emotional challenges. There are many types of psychotherapy, including psychodynamic therapy, psychoanalysis, and supportive therapy. The type of psychotherapy thats right for you depends on your situation. Psychotherapy can be provided by a number of different types of professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed social workers, licensed marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional counselors.

In general, psychotherapists act as a guide toward helping their patients understand their condition and feelings, cope with daily life, and manage their mental health to be able to function normally. The time taken for patients to feel better varies based on their primary diagnosis, their support system, and the patients themselves. Supportive psychotherapy helps patients deal with underlying issues associated with their mental health conditions that would help them manage their mental health on their own for the rest of their lives.