Definition of Psychotherapy (1976-4s)

DEFINITION OF PSYCHOTHERAPY

At its meeting on May 1st, 1976, the Board of Directors accepted in principle the following definition of psychotherapy recommended by the Professional Standards and Practice Council of the CPA and provided by the CPA Nucleus Committee on Psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy is a selected form of psychiatric treatment which employs specialized communication tecniques practised by a properly trained physician for the purpose of curing or reducing the psychiatric disability of the patient.
In psychiatric pratice, psychotherapy is usually carried out at intervals, for a definite time duration, most often an hour or a fraction thereof.