| '''Psychotherapy''' is the treatment of mental and emotional disorders through the use of psychological techniques designed to encourage communication of conflicts and insight into problems, with the goal being relief of symptoms, changes in behavior leading to improved social and vocational functioning, and personality. | | '''Psychotherapy''' is the treatment of mental and emotional disorders through the use of psychological techniques designed to encourage communication of conflicts and insight into problems, with the goal being relief of symptoms, changes in behavior leading to improved social and vocational functioning, and personality. |
− | ''[[Psychotherapy]]'' is an [[English words of Greek origin|English word of Greek origin]], deriving from Ancient Greek ''psyche'' meaning "breath; spirit; soul" and ''therapia''("healing; medical treatment"). | + | ''[[Psychotherapy]]'' is an [[English words of Greek origin|English word of Greek origin]], deriving from Ancient Greek ''psyche'' meaning "breath; spirit; soul" and ''therapia'' ("healing; medical treatment"). |
| According to the Oxford English Dictionary, ''psychotherapy'' first meant "[[hypnotherapy]]" instead of "psychotherapy". The original meaning, "the treatment of disease by ‘psychic’ [i.e., hypnotic] methods", was first recorded in 1853 as "Psychotherapeia, or the remedial influence of mind". The modern meaning, "the treatment of disorders of the mind or personality by psychological or psychophysiological methods", was first used in 1892 by [[Frederik van Eeden]] translating "Suggestive Psycho-therapy" for his French "Psychothérapie Suggestive". Van Eeden credited borrowing this term from [[Daniel Hack Tuke]] and noted, "Psycho-therapy … had the misfortune to be taken in tow by hypnotism."<ref>'''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'', online edition, 2004, s.v. '''psychotherapy'''.</ref> | | According to the Oxford English Dictionary, ''psychotherapy'' first meant "[[hypnotherapy]]" instead of "psychotherapy". The original meaning, "the treatment of disease by ‘psychic’ [i.e., hypnotic] methods", was first recorded in 1853 as "Psychotherapeia, or the remedial influence of mind". The modern meaning, "the treatment of disorders of the mind or personality by psychological or psychophysiological methods", was first used in 1892 by [[Frederik van Eeden]] translating "Suggestive Psycho-therapy" for his French "Psychothérapie Suggestive". Van Eeden credited borrowing this term from [[Daniel Hack Tuke]] and noted, "Psycho-therapy … had the misfortune to be taken in tow by hypnotism."<ref>'''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'', online edition, 2004, s.v. '''psychotherapy'''.</ref> |
− | Most forms of psychotherapy use spoken conversation. Some also use various other forms of communication such as the written word, [[Work of art|artwork]], [[drama]], [[narrative]] story or music. Psychotherapy with children and their parents often involves [[play]], dramatization (i.e. role-play), and drawing, with a co-constructed narrative from these non-verbal and displaced modes of interacting.<ref>Schechter DS, Coates SW (2006). Relationally and Developmentally Focused Interventions with Young Children and Their Caregivers Affected by the Events of 9/11. In Y. Neria, R. Gross, R. Marshall, E. Susser (Eds.) September 11, 2001: Treatment, Research and Public Mental Health in the Wake of a Terrorist Attack, New York: Cambridge University Press. pp. 402-427.</ref> Psychotherapy occurs within a structured encounter between a trained [[clinical psychology|psychotherapist]], and client(s). Purposeful, theoretically based psychotherapy began in the 19th century with [[psychoanalysis]]; since then, scores of other approaches have been developed and continue to be created. | + | Most forms of psychotherapy use spoken conversation. Some also use various other forms of communication such as the written word, artwork, drama, narrative story or music. Psychotherapy with children and their parents often involves play, dramatization (i.e. role-play), and drawing, with a co-constructed narrative from these non-verbal and displaced modes of interacting.<ref>Schechter DS, Coates SW (2006). Relationally and Developmentally Focused Interventions with Young Children and Their Caregivers Affected by the Events of 9/11. In Y. Neria, R. Gross, R. Marshall, E. Susser (Eds.) September 11, 2001: Treatment, Research and Public Mental Health in the Wake of a Terrorist Attack, New York: Cambridge University Press. pp. 402-427.</ref> Psychotherapy occurs within a structured encounter between a trained [[clinical psychology|psychotherapist]], and client(s). Purposeful, theoretically based psychotherapy began in the 19th century with [[psychoanalysis]]; since then, scores of other approaches have been developed and continue to be created. |