The Psychological Therapies - An Overview

How much of what we call “treatment” is really medication, and how much is the way we talk with our patients?
In this lecture, I give an overview of psychological therapies for senior psychiatry trainees, using Francis Peabody’s famous line – “the secret of the care of the patient is in caring for the patient” – as a starting point. From Freud and the “talking cure” to CBT, ACT, and supportive work in community settings, we explore how these models emerged, what they have in common, and why the therapist–patient relationship so often matters more than the specific school of therapy.
In this session, we cover:
• The historical roots of psychotherapy and the legacy of dynamic thinking
• Basic psychological skills every psychiatrist needs (listening, explanation, morale, boundaries)
• Supportive and problem-solving interventions we can use in routine consultations
• Behavioural and cognitive therapy principles, including CBT “first steps”
• Third-wave approaches (ACT/DBT) and the shift toward acceptance and values
• Evidence that the therapeutic alliance and common factors predict outcome across models
This talk is aimed at psychiatry registrars and other mental health clinicians. Still, it may be helpful for anyone seeking a structured, clinically grounded overview of psychotherapy in everyday practice.
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