As terms, therapy and psychotherapy tend to be used interchangeably, which can be quite confusing at times. Even though they are similar, they also have key characteristics that help to differentiate them from one another.

In this article, we will define these terms, examine the differences and similarities between psychotherapy vs therapy, explore the various types/approaches of both, discuss how to choose between the two, and debunk some common myths in order to help you make the most informed decision for your health in the future.

What Is Therapy?

Therapy is an umbrella term that encompasses all types of treatments for both mental and physical health.

In regard to mental health, therapy typically refers to treatment in the form of talking to a professional about the current issues you may be facing and finding solutions for those issues. While for physical health, it refers to anything that helps you recover from an injury or other such physical ailments, including treatments like physiotherapy and massage therapy.

What Is Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is a specific type of therapy for mental health. It involves talking to a licensed professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or counselor, in order to deal with complex psychological issues that are impacting your life.

Through this long-term, in-depth process, you begin to learn how to identify negative thought patterns and develop coping strategies that will lead to positive personal growth.

What are the Differences Between Psychotherapy vs Therapy?

The main difference between psychotherapy and therapy is that the former is a specific type of mental health treatment while the latter encompasses a wide range of both mental and physical health treatments. More key differences between the two are outlined in the chart below:

Psychotherapy

Therapy

Focus and Scope
  • Focused on helping to understand and resolve long-standing mental health challenges and disorders
  • Deeply examines an individual’s past experiences and emotional and psychological state
  • Includes a variety of different treatment types for both physical and mental health
  • Often focused on problems that are situational, specific, and need immediate help.

Intensity and Duration
  • A long-term commitment with more intensive sessions
  • Can occur consistently for months or years
  • More flexibility with options for short-term and long-term treatments
  • Intensity and duration is entirely dependent on issue to be solved and type of therapy needed

Outcomes and Goals
  • Goals/outcomes include healing from past trauma, personal growth, and positive psychological changes
  • In reference to short-term talk therapy, goals/outcomes include receiving coping strategies and solutions to current life problems

Professional Training
  • Psychotherapists are highly trained professionals
  • Require a high certification level
  • Therapists have different training and certification levels that are dependent on their particular field

Types of Psychotherapy Approaches

Even though psychotherapy is a specific kind of mental health treatment, there are still many different types of psychotherapy approaches that can be used based on the issues a client is dealing with. These approaches include:

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) — The main focus of CBT is to change negative behaviours and thought patterns. It is often used for issues like anxiety and depression.
  • Psychodynamic Therapy — With ties to Freud, psychodynamic therapy examines past experiences and unconscious thoughts, tending to link early life experiences with current emotional conflicts.
  • Humanistic Therapy — Humanistic therapy focuses on self-awareness and personal growth, with a particular emphasis on the individual’s capacity to find self-fulfillment.
  • Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) — IPT is mainly used to treat depression, focusing on the improvement of communication skills and interpersonal relationships.
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) — DBT is quite helpful for treating personality disorders in particular. It combines cognitive-behavioural techniques and concepts of emotional regulation, acceptance, and mindfulness together.
  • Trauma-Focused Therapy — As the name suggests, trauma-focused therapy helps individuals process traumatic memories.
  • Couples and Family Therapy — Couples and family therapy focuses on improving communication and conflict resolution within these specific relationships. Read more How Family Therapy Works

Types of Therapy Commonly Used Today

As we know, therapy encompasses a wide range of treatments for both mental and physical health, but some common types of therapy to be aware of are:

  • Counseling — Counseling is a mental health therapy that provides support and guidance to an individual, helping them with any kind of emotional problems they may currently be dealing with.
  • Physical Therapy — Physical therapy is typically used for managing chronic conditions or for rehabilitation after an injury. Its focus is to improve function and mobility and to alleviate pain.
  • Occupational Therapy — Occupational therapy can be beneficial for both physical and mental conditions. It is meant to help people recover daily work and living skills or develop them.
  • Speech Therapy — Speech therapy helps people improve upon language and speaking difficulties, particularly those who have language delays, stutter, or have communication challenges as a result of a stroke or injury.

Similarities Between Psychotherapy and Therapy

While there are a lot of differences between psychotherapy and therapy, there are also quite a few similarities. These similarities include:


  • Objective — Psychotherapy and therapy share the ultimate objective of improving a person’s overall well-being and quality of life. No matter what the treatment is and what issues are being addressed, this objective remains the same across the board.
  • Professional Guidance — Both of these kinds of treatments are conducted by licensed and certified professionals who have the knowledge and experience required to provide the proper guidance that will assist in an individual’s recovery.
  • Therapeutic Techniques — Both therapy and psychotherapy employ specialized therapeutic techniques that can help someone better understand the challenges they are facing, whether physical or psychological, and how to work through them.
  • Safety and Confidentiality — Psychotherapy and therapy both ensure safe and confidential spaces where clients can feel secure and comfortable enough to share their feelings without any fear of judgement.
  • Personalized Care — Treatments are typically customized within both psychotherapy and therapy. In this way, the unique needs of each individual and their particular circumstances are addressed in order to provide them with the best possible care.
Psychotherapy and Therapy

How to Choose Between Psychotherapy and Therapy?

When choosing between psychotherapy and therapy, it is important to consider a variety of factors, such as the type of health issue you are dealing with, what kind of treatment or approach you would feel the most comfortable with, and the expertise or specialty of the therapist you decide to work with.

If the issue you are facing is something that’s deep-seated and psychological or you’re hoping for in-depth personal growth, psychotherapy is the better option. If your issue is specific, situational, or physical in nature, then a different form of therapy is the way to go.

For mental health issues in particular, if you would prefer intensive treatment that is a longer-term commitment, psychotherapy is the best choice, whereas if you are seeking a shorter-term commitment with immediate action, a different therapy treatment like counseling would be better. As for the therapist, their qualifications and expertise should be carefully examined. Psychotherapists specialize in mental health treatments while therapists have different specializations depending on the treatment you need.

Related article: Therapist vs Psychologist vs Counselor

Common Myths About Psychotherapy and Therapy

There are many myths and misconceptions that people have about psychotherapy and therapy. Here, we will debunk some of the most common ones:

This could not be further from the truth. People who go to any form of therapy are brave and resourceful. By not struggling in silence, by seeking out the help that you need, you prove just how strong you actually are.

Yes, therapy can be expensive. However, not getting therapy can cost you even more down the road. It is also important to note that some health insurances do cover therapy, so if the price is what’s stopping you from seeking help, it’s a good idea to check your insurance policy and see if the cost is partially or totally covered.

Just like how we aren’t friends with or don’t like every single person we meet, it’s also not guaranteed that the first therapist you see will be the best fit. It is crucial that you feel comfortable and safe with your therapist, and if you don’t like them or their approach for whatever reason, it’s more than okay to look for a new one.

While therapy can help you better yourself in a multitude of ways, it is not a cure-all. In fact, therapy is only helpful if you are ready and willing to put in the work. Even still, your problems won’t be cured, you’ll just be able to understand yourself better and learn useful coping mechanisms.

Conclusion

Overall, in comparing therapy vs psychotherapy, the main difference is that therapy is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of physical and mental health treatments whereas psychotherapy is a specific type of mental health treatment.

It can be difficult to know whether psychotherapy or some other form of therapy would be right for you, but if you are dealing with a mental health issue then psychotherapy is the better option.

At Positive Mind Wellness, we offer psychotherapy services conducted by highly trained professionals to provide you with the best possible help. For more information and to book a complimentary discovery session, contact us today.

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Jennifer Burke

About the Author

Jennifer Burke

Psychotherapist, Social Service Worker

Together, we can determine a clear path forward to get you unstuck from your current predicament or mindset. I practice with the philosophy that services must be individualized to meet a person’s unique needs.

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