Psychotherapy or personal councelling is an intentional interpersonal relationship used by trained psychotherapiststo aid a client or a patient in problems of living. It aims to increase the individual’s sence of their well-being. Psychotherapists employ a range of on experiential relationship techniques based building dialog, communication and behavior change that are designed to improve the mental health of a client or patient or to improve group relationships.

Psychotherapy may also performed by practicioners with a number of different qualifications including psychiatry, clinical psychology, clinical social work, psychiatric social work, drama therapy etc.. Psychotherapy in Europe and in the USA is increasingly being seen as an independent profession rather than being restricted to being practiced only by psychologists and psychiatrists as is stipulated in some countries.

Clinical social work has eclipsed psychiatry in the marketpeace of health care. As the role and scope of psychiatry in health care have narrowed and contracted; the role and scope of clinical social work have expanded. Clinical social work has become the nation’s largest provider of mental health services.

National Association of Social Workers (NASW) recognized psychotherapy as a legitimate social work specialization in 1984. The practice of psychotherapywithin social work has been controversial.Some professionals oppose psychotherapy as a legitimate social work focus, viewing it as outside the profession’s histroric mission to promote the general welfareof societies’ disadvantaced members. Other social workers have supported psychotherapy as a fully legitimate social work focus specialization in social work.