What is the general term for treatment involving psychological techniques delivered through interactions with a trained therapist?

• A. Cognitive therapy
• B. Psychoanalysis
• C. Psychotherapy
• D. Pharmacotherapy

Answer: (C)

Psychotherapy is the general term for treatment that uses psychological techniques delivered through interactions with a trained therapist. It covers a wide range of approaches—talk therapies, behavioral strategies, and insight-oriented methods—all aimed at understanding and changing thoughts, emotions, and behaviors within a collaborative therapeutic relationship. The focus is on using psychological methods rather than medications, and it isn’t limited to a single method. For example, cognitive therapy is a specific form of psychotherapy that targets distorted thinking, psychoanalysis is another particular approach that explores unconscious processes, and pharmacotherapy involves medications rather than talk-based techniques.