Psychotherapy has been shown to be effective in relieving depressed mood (Elkin et al., 1985) and is more effective than other treatments in panic disorder (Clum, Clum & Surls, 1993). It enables a person to change habitual ways of behaving (Szapocznik et al., 1990) and thinking (Hollon & Beck, 1994), and to improve social relationships (Winston et al., 1994). It may also be pursued as a form of self-knowledge, to improve job or marital prospects, or in the course of training. It may be provided on a one-to-one basis, to couples, in groups of strangers, or in families. People may seek out psychotherapy for themselves, or they may be pressured to have it. Similarities with counselling, with being a friend, with team-building and other motivational activities, with being a good parent and with good medical care have been claimed by many. Psychotherapy also has techniques in common with self-help, and with self-treatment guided by a book, computer or personal organizer (Newman, Consoli & Taylor, 1999). Some would claim that is just common sense, others that it is nonsense, yet others that it is the religion of our age. None of these is a position that I hold. About the only thing that everyone does agree on is that it is different from physical treatment.

This book will not address all these extensions of psychotherapy.