Psychotherapy is a structured conversation with a trained mental health professional. It uses regular meetings, careful listening, questions, reflection and psychological ideas to help a person understand emotions, thoughts, body reactions, relationships and choices, and to find safer or more helpful ways forward.
It is sometimes called talk therapy or talking therapy. Some people come with anxiety, depression, OCD, grief, trauma or relationship difficulties. Others come because they feel stuck, keep repeating a painful pattern, or want to understand themselves better.
Start with the question you have
Anxiety and panic
Psychotherapy can help explore worry, avoidance, body symptoms, panic attacks and the patterns that keep anxiety going.
OCD and intrusive thoughts
Therapy may help with intrusive thoughts, compulsions, reassurance loops and the anxiety that surrounds them.
Depression and low mood
Psychotherapy can offer a place to understand withdrawal, self-criticism, loss of energy, hopelessness and relationship patterns.
Trauma and PTSD
Therapy can support careful work with the effects of frightening, overwhelming or repeated experiences when the timing and approach are right.
Grief and loss
Psychotherapy can help people make room for grief, change and complicated feelings without rushing the process.
Relationships and communication
Many people use psychotherapy to understand repeated patterns, conflict, distance, attachment, boundaries and communication.
What psychotherapy is
At its simplest, psychotherapy is a professional space for speaking honestly and thinking carefully about what is happening in your inner life and relationships. The work may involve feelings, thoughts, memories, body sensations, habits, communication, conflict, avoidance, loss, fear, shame, hope and change.
A psychotherapist does not simply give advice or tell you what to do. They listen, ask questions, help you notice patterns, and work with you to understand what may be maintaining distress or making change difficult. In some approaches, there may also be structured tasks, practice between sessions, skills work or exposure exercises.
What happens in a psychotherapy session
- You usually begin by talking about what brought you to therapy and what you hope may change.
- The therapist may ask about symptoms, relationships, work, family, health, medication, risk, previous help and what has supported you before.
- You can ask practical questions about confidentiality, fees, cancellations, online sessions, session length and the therapist’s approach.
- Over time, sessions may focus on repeated patterns, emotional reactions, difficult memories, beliefs, behaviour, communication and choices.
- Progress is usually reviewed rather than assumed. If therapy is not helping, it is reasonable to say so and discuss a different focus, pace or referral route.
What psychotherapy can help with
Psychotherapy may be useful when distress is persistent, severe, confusing, repeated, risky or interfering with everyday life. It can be used on its own, alongside medical care, or alongside medication when medication is clinically appropriate and has been discussed with a qualified prescriber.
- Anxiety, worry and panic.
- OCD, intrusive thoughts and compulsive patterns.
- Depression, low mood and loss of interest.
- Trauma, PTSD and the after-effects of overwhelming experiences.
- Grief, bereavement and major life changes.
- Relationship difficulties, attachment, boundaries and communication.
- Stress, burnout and feeling unable to keep going.
- Self-understanding, identity questions, life transitions and recurring patterns that feel hard to change alone.
Psychotherapy, counselling, psychology and psychiatry
These words overlap, but they do not mean exactly the same thing. Counselling is often used for focused or more immediate difficulties, while psychotherapy may also work with deeper or longer-standing patterns. In real practice, the boundary depends on the practitioner’s training, the approach, and what the person needs.
Psychology is the study of mind and behaviour, and psychologists may work in assessment, research, health services, education or therapy depending on their role and training. Psychiatry is a medical specialty: psychiatrists are doctors who can assess mental health, diagnose mental disorders, prescribe medication, and in some cases also provide psychotherapy.
Different approaches to psychotherapy
There is no single kind of psychotherapy. Approaches differ in how structured they are, how much they focus on present behaviour, early experience, relationships, emotions, body states, communication, trauma, meaning or practical skills. A good fit depends on the person, the difficulty, the therapist’s training and the goals of the work.
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on links between thoughts, feelings, body sensations and behaviour, often with structured practice.
- Psychodynamic or psychoanalytic psychotherapy explores emotional patterns, relationships, early experiences and less conscious meanings.
- Humanistic and integrative psychotherapy often emphasises the whole person, the therapy relationship, self-understanding and adapting the work to the individual.
- Systemic, couple and family therapy looks at patterns between people, not only inside one person.
- Interpersonal therapy focuses on mood and relationship patterns, especially where relationships and life changes are central.
- Trauma-focused therapies, including EMDR where appropriate, may be used for traumatic memories and PTSD symptoms.
- Communication-focused therapy looks closely at communication with oneself and others, and how meaning, emotion and connection can change.
How to know whether psychotherapy may be worth considering
It may be worth speaking to a qualified professional if symptoms are persistent, severe, risky, worsening, or affecting sleep, work, relationships, study, appetite, substance use, physical health or everyday functioning. You do not need to wait until things are unbearable.
If you are unsure, the not sure if therapy is right page may help you think through the next step. A first appointment can also be used to clarify what is happening and whether psychotherapy, counselling, medical assessment or another support route would fit best.
Questions to ask before starting
- What training, registration or accreditation does the practitioner have?
- Do they have experience with the kind of difficulty you want to work on?
- What approach do they use, and why might it fit your situation?
- What are the fee, cancellation policy, session length and likely review points?
- What are the limits of confidentiality, especially around risk and safeguarding?
- If medication is relevant, who can discuss prescribing questions with you? Medication decisions need to be discussed with a qualified prescriber.
- If sessions are online, what is the plan for privacy, technical problems and urgent local support?
Psychotherapy in Dublin and online
Dr Jonathan Haverkampf offers psychotherapy and counselling in Dublin and online by Zoom. The first appointment is usually a place to understand what has been difficult, ask practical questions, and consider whether working together is appropriate.
You can also read about fees, make an appointment, or make contact with a brief practical question.
When urgent help is needed
This page is for general education and orientation. If there is an immediate risk of harm, overdose, severe self-harm, or you do not feel able to keep yourself or someone else safe, contact local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department. In Ireland, you can call 999 or 112. You can also contact Samaritans in Ireland on 116 123 for 24-hour listening support.
Sources and further reading
This page was written as educational information and last reviewed on 11 May 2026. It is not a diagnosis, crisis service, or substitute for individual professional advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a structured form of talking with a trained mental health professional. It helps people understand emotions, thoughts, behaviour, relationships and patterns, and find safer or more helpful ways forward.
Is psychotherapy the same as counselling?
The terms overlap. Counselling is often used for focused or immediate difficulties, while psychotherapy may also work with deeper, longer-standing patterns. The practical difference depends on training, approach and need.
Do I need a diagnosis to start psychotherapy?
No. Many people start psychotherapy without a formal diagnosis. Others come after a diagnosis because they want help understanding symptoms, relationships, emotions, coping patterns or next steps.
Can psychotherapy be online?
Yes, where it is clinically and practically suitable. Online psychotherapy needs privacy, a reliable connection, and a plan for what to do if urgent local support is needed.