Get IBD info delivered to your inbox
Sign up to our mailing list and receive regular articles and tips about IBD.
Psychotherapy is a type of therapy used to treat emotional problems and mental health conditions.
It involves talking to a trained therapist, either one-to-one, in a group or with your wife, husband or partner. It allows you to look deeper into your problems and worries, and deal with troublesome habits and a wide range of mental disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia.
Psychotherapy usually involves talking, but sometimes other methods may be used ‐ for example, art, music, drama and movement.
Psychotherapy can help you discuss feelings you have about yourself and other people, particularly family and those close to you. In some cases, couples or families are offered joint therapy sessions together.
You will meet your therapist regularly, usually once a week, for several months, or sometimes even years. Individual sessions last about 50 minutes, but group sessions are often a bit longer.
Read more about how psychotherapy works.
Psychotherapists are mental health professionals who are trained to listen to a person's problems to try to find out what's causing them and help them find a solution.
As well as listening and discussing important issues with you, a psychotherapist can suggest strategies for resolving problems and, if necessary, help you change your attitudes and behaviour.
Some therapists teach specific skills to help you tolerate painful emotions, manage relationships more effectively, or improve behaviour. You may also be encouraged to develop your own solutions. In group therapy, the members support each other with advice and encouragement.
A therapist will treat sessions as confidential. This means you can trust them with information that may be personal or embarrassing.
Psychotherapy can be used to treat a wide range of mental health conditions, including:
People with significant emotional problems may also benefit from psychotherapy, including people dealing with stress, bereavement, divorce, redundancy, or relationship problems.
Several different types of psychotherapy are available. These include:
The type of therapy that's most suitable for you will depend on the problem you have.
Read more about how psychotherapy works.
If you think you might benefit from psychotherapy, the best place to start is with your GP. In some cases, it may be possible for your GP or another healthcare professional to refer you a qualified psychotherapist for free treatment on the NHS. However, waiting lists for NHS treatment are often long.
Alternatively, you might choose to pay for private treatment. In these cases, it's important to make sure your therapist is registered with a recognised professional organisation and to be aware of the costs involved. Typically, a 50-minute one-to-one session can range from £40 to £100.
Read more about the availability of psychotherapy.
When looking for a psychotherapist, make sure they're fully qualified and, if appropriate, that they have experience of treating your specific condition. You can search the directory of psychological therapy services to find what's available in your area.
Your GP may also be able to recommend a local qualified psychotherapist, or you can check the registers of the various organisations of registered psychotherapists.
For example, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) can help you find a therapist, as can the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).
Why not sign up to our mailing list and receive regular articles and tips about IBD to your inbox?