Psychotherapy is a primarily talk-based therapy and is intended to help clients improve and maintain their mental health and well-being. Psychotherapy occurs when a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) and a client enter into a psychotherapeutic relationship where both work together to bring about positive change in the client’s thinking, feeling, behaviour, and social functioning. Individuals usually seek psychotherapy when they have thoughts, feelings, moods, and behaviours that are adversely affecting their day-to-day lives, relationships, and ability to enjoy life. Though the therapeutic relationship is often intimate, it is a professional relationship.

Psychotherapy may involve the risk of remembering unpleasant events, feeling unfamiliar sensations, or arouse strong or unanticipated feelings or memories. Clients may face issues or aspects of themselves that are uncomfortable, and psychotherapy may lead clients to leave their comfort zone to explore and expand their healing. Benefits to clients may include an improved ability to cope with stressors and life challenges, an increased level of insight into themselves and their goals, relief or resolution of mental health symptoms, increased skills and/or resiliency, and a healthier relationship with the self and others.

The outcome of psychotherapy is difficult to predict or guarantee as it is dependent on numerous factors including the fit between client and therapist, life factors outside of psychotherapy, and the client’s readiness for therapy. However, psychotherapists do their best to maximize positive outcomes and maintain a positive therapeutic relationship with clients.