# psychotherapy

> clinically applied psychology for desired behavior change

**Wikidata**: [Q183257](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q183257)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotherapy)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/psychotherapy

## Summary
Psychotherapy is a clinically applied form of psychology designed to facilitate desired behavior change, typically used in medical treatment to address psychological dysfunction and improve mental health. It encompasses a variety of therapeutic approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic psychotherapy, and gestalt therapy, each tailored to address specific psychological issues.

## Key Facts
* Psychotherapy is a specialized branch of psychology that applies clinical techniques to promote behavioral and emotional change.
* It is part of medical treatment, particularly in clinical psychology, and is founded on psychological theories such as psychoanalysis, behaviorism, and cognitive science.
* Key subfields include psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and gestalt therapy, each with distinct methodologies and applications.
* Major organizations supporting psychotherapy include the American Psychological Association (est. 1892), the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations (est. 1947), and the C.G. Jung Institute Zürich (est. 1948).
* Notable figures in psychotherapy include Sigmund Freud (founder of psychoanalysis), Carl Jung (developer of analytical psychology), and Viktor Frankl (creator of logotherapy).
* Psychotherapy is supported by publishers like Hogrefe Verlag (est. 1949), which specializes in psychological literature.
* Technical identifiers include Wikidata Q7860, MeSH D011584, and GND 4047704-6.
* Psychotherapy is categorized under human sciences, health sciences, and behavioral sciences, integrating philosophical, biological, social, and cultural aspects of human life.

## FAQs
* What are the primary types of psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy includes psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), gestalt therapy, and existential therapy, each offering distinct approaches to address psychological issues.
* Which organizations are involved in psychotherapy?
Key organizations include the American Psychological Association (APA), the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, and the C.G. Jung Institute Zürich, which provide training and research in psychotherapy.
* How does psychotherapy differ from other forms of psychological treatment?
Psychotherapy is distinct from medical treatment in that it focuses on psychological rather than physical health, using techniques like CBT and psychodynamic therapy to address emotional and behavioral issues.
* What are the main therapeutic techniques used in psychotherapy?
Common techniques include imagery rescripting, the Primal Scream, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which are used to modify dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and cognitions.
* Who are the notable figures in the development of psychotherapy?
Significant contributors include Sigmund Freud (psychoanalysis), Carl Jung (analytical psychology), and Viktor Frankl (logotherapy), who have shaped the field through their theoretical frameworks and clinical practices.

## Why It Matters
Psychotherapy plays a crucial role in mental health care by providing evidence-based treatments for psychological disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and trauma. It is integral to clinical psychology and medical treatment, offering structured approaches to improve emotional well-being and behavioral outcomes. Beyond clinical settings, psychotherapy influences education, industry, and technology through its application in counseling, organizational behavior, and cognitive modeling. Its interdisciplinary nature connects psychology with fields like psychiatry, sociology, and linguistics, addressing complex human experiences and societal challenges.

## Notable For
* Foundational role in clinical psychology, established as a discipline in 1896.
* Development of psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud in 1890, introducing theories of the unconscious.
* Pioneering work in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) by David D. Burns and others, focusing on measurable treatment outcomes.
* Integration of psychological theories with artificial intelligence research, as seen in the work of Margaret Boden and Earl Busby Hunt.
* Advancement of humanistic perspectives by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, emphasizing sensory experience and human potential.
* Contribution to social experiments, such as Philip Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment and Albert Bandura’s social learning theory.
* Support from major publishers like Hogrefe Verlag, which disseminates psychological literature globally.

## Body

### Disciplinary Framework and Subfields
Psychotherapy is a specialized field within psychology that applies clinical techniques to promote behavioral and emotional change. It is categorized as a **health science** and **behavioral science**, focusing on the psychological aspects of human life. Key subfields include:
* **Psychodynamic Psychotherapy:** Focuses on unconscious processes and early childhood experiences, developed by figures like Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.
* **Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):** Addresses dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and cognitions, pioneered by David D. Burns and others.
* **Gestalt Therapy:** Examines human perception and organizing principles in sensory impressions, as developed by Fritz Perls.
* **Existential Therapy:** Emphasizes sensory experience and the positive aspects of human existence, as practiced by Irvin Yalom and others.

### Historical Foundations and Organizations
The development of psychotherapy is marked by the establishment of key organizations and theoretical frameworks:
* **Sigmund Freud** founded psychoanalysis in 1890, introducing theories of the unconscious and the importance of childhood experiences.
* The **American Psychological Association (APA)** was established in 1892, providing professional standards and research support.
* The **Tavistock Institute of Human Relations** (est. 1947) and the **C.G. Jung Institute Zürich** (est. 1948) emerged as centers for advanced psychological training and research.
* **Hogrefe Verlag** (est. 1949) is a major publisher of psychological literature, supporting the dissemination of psychotherapy techniques and theories.

### Key Theoretical Perspectives and Concepts
Psychotherapy is defined by various theoretical perspectives:
* **Psychoanalysis:** Focuses on the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences, as developed by Freud and expanded by Jung and Adler.
* **Behaviorism:** Centers on the stimulus-response model, championed by B.F. Skinner and John B. Watson.
* **Cognitive Science:** An interdisciplinary study of the mind, involving Noam Chomsky, Ulric Neisser, and James McClelland.
* **Humanistic and Existential:** Emphasizes sensory experience and the positive aspects of human existence, as practiced by Abraham Maslow and Viktor Frankl.

### Influential Figures in Psychotherapy
The development of psychotherapy is tied to numerous influential figures:
* **Sigmund Freud:** Founder of psychoanalysis, introducing theories of the unconscious and the importance of childhood experiences.
* **Carl Jung:** Developer of analytical psychology, focusing on the collective unconscious and symbolic thought.
* **Viktor Frankl:** Creator of logotherapy, emphasizing the search for meaning in human existence.
* **David D. Burns:** Pioneer of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), focusing on measurable treatment outcomes.
* **Irvin Yalom:** Advocate of existential therapy, emphasizing sensory experience and the positive aspects of human existence.

### Interdisciplinary Intersections and Specialized Applications
Psychotherapy frequently overlaps with other fields to create specialized areas of study:
* **Biology and Medicine:** Behavioral neuroscience, neuropsychology, and psychophysiology, which integrate psychological theories with biological and medical research.
* **Social Sciences:** Political psychology, legal psychology, and ethnopsychology, which address the social and cultural dimensions of psychological phenomena.
* **Humanities:** Psycholinguistics and the psychology of religion, which explore the intersection of psychology with language and spirituality.
* **Technology and Environment:** Cyberpsychology and environmental psychology, which apply psychological principles to digital and ecological contexts.

### Methodologies and Phenomena
Psychological research utilizes empirical and theoretical methodologies:
* **Empirical Psychology:** Observation and experiment, as practiced in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and behaviorism.
* **Theoretical Psychology:** Philosophical and metapsychological questions, as explored in psychoanalysis and cognitive science.
* Key phenomena studied include the Zeigarnik effect, chunking in memory, attribution theory, and the double bind in communication.
* Measurement is handled through psychometrics, which focuses on the theory and technique of psychological measurement.
* Specialized concepts like autogenesis, compensation, and imagery rescripting serve as specific therapeutic or strategic tools within the discipline.

### Related Entities and Subsidiaries
Psychotherapy is related to various entities and subsidiaries:
* **Psychodynamic Psychotherapy:** A form of psychoanalysis and depth psychology, focusing on unconscious processes and early childhood experiences.
* **Psychoanalysis:** A psychological theory founded by Sigmund Freud in 1890, introducing theories of the unconscious and the importance of childhood experiences.
* **Gestalt Therapy:** A form of psychotherapy that examines human perception and organizing principles in sensory impressions.
* **Existential Therapy:** A form of psychotherapy that emphasizes sensory experience and the positive aspects of human existence.
* **Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):** A psychotherapeutic approach that addresses dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and cognitions.
* **Art Therapy:** A therapeutic technique that incorporates creative methods of expression through visual art media.
* **Body Psychotherapy:** An academic discipline that focuses on the psychological aspects of the body and its relationship to mental health.
* **Family Therapy:** A type of psychotherapy that addresses the dynamics of family relationships and their impact on individual behavior.
* **Feminist Therapy:** A set of related therapies that address the intersection of gender, power, and psychology.
* **Group Psychotherapy:** A form of psychotherapy in which one or more therapists treat a small group of clients together as a group.

## References

1. Nuovo soggettario
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Nuovo soggettario](https://thes.bncf.firenze.sbn.it/termine.php?id=3676)
4. [Registros de autoridad de "Materia" de la Biblioteca Nacional de España. Spain open data portal](https://www.bne.es/media/datosgob/catalogo-autoridades/materia/materia-UTF8.zip)
5. BBC Things
6. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
7. BabelNet
8. UMLS 2023
9. Quora
10. [Psychotherapy: A Place For Therapists](https://www.reddit.com/r/psychotherapy/)
11. National Library of Israel
12. KBpedia
13. [psychotherapy · GitHub Topics](https://github.com/topics/psychotherapy)
14. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)