Go see a psychologist. For many of us, this idea still triggers resistance: “I'm not crazy”, “I should figure it out on my own”, “it's no use”. However, psychotherapy is one of the best documented and most effective tools in all of medicine for treating psychological suffering, preventing relapses and sustainably improving quality of life. According to a meta-analysis by Cuijpers et al. published in World Psychiatry (2019) analyzing more than 400 studies, psychotherapy is as effective as medications for depression and anxiety disorders, with a more lasting long-term effect. But faced with the multiplicity of approaches, how to navigate? What type of therapy for what type of problem? This article is your practical guide.
1. Psychologist, psychiatrist, psychoanalyst: who does what?
My general practitioner is the first point of contact: he can assess my situation, exclude an organic cause and direct me to the right professional. In the event of a proven psychiatric disorder (severe depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis), a psychiatrist is essential.
| Professional | Training | What he or she does | Prescribed medication? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatrist | Doctor specialized in psychiatry (bac+10) | Diagnosis, drug treatment, psychotherapy | Yes |
| Clinical Psychologist | Master in Clinical Psychology (bac+5) | Evaluation, psychotherapy, psychological assessment | No |
| Psychotherapist | Title regulated since 2012 (specific training required) | Psychotherapy in the approach to its formation | No |
| Psychoanalyst | Specific training in psychoanalysis (unregulated) | In-depth work on the unconscious and life history | No |
| General practitioner | Bac+9 | First resort, orientation, global follow-up | Yes |
2. The main therapeutic approaches
CBT (Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy): structured approach, oriented on the present, which works on the links between thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Reference treatment for anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, OCD, PTSD, TCA. Typical duration: 12 to 25 sessions. Effectiveness most documented in the scientific literature.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): technique for reprocessing traumatic memories using bilateral stimulation. Recommended by WHO for PTSD. Increasingly used for complex trauma, phobias and certain depressions.
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy): developed for borderline disorder, it teaches skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance and relational effectiveness. Very useful also for hypersensitive people or with impulsive behavior.Psychodynamic therapy: inspired by psychoanalysis but shorter and more focused. She explores repetitive patterns, unconscious conflicts and life history to understand the present. Particularly useful for personality disorders, chronic relationship difficulties and identity questions.
Humanist/person-centered therapy (Rogers): the emphasis is on unconditional listening, empathy and trust in the person's own resources. Widely used for existential crises, personal development and grief support.
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): third wave therapy focused on psychological acceptance and commitment to actions aligned with one's values. Effective for anxiety, depression, chronic pain and burnout.
| Situation or disorder | Recommended approach(es) |
|---|---|
| Anxiety, phobias, OCD | CBT (treatment of reference), EMDR for Post-Traumatic Phobias #B2DFDB;color:#374151;vertical-align:top;background:#F4FBFA">CBT, interpersonal therapy, ACT |
| Severe or recurrent depression | CBT + drug treatment (psychiatrist) |
| PTSD, trauma | EMDR, trauma-focused CBT (exposure extended) |
| Borderline Disorder | DBT (reference processing), MBT, TFP |
| Burn-out, exhaustion | CBT, ACT, humanistic therapy |
| Relationship difficulties, identity | Psychodynamic therapy, schema therapy, systemic therapy |
| Mourning, existential crisis | Humanistic therapy, grief therapy (Worden) |
3. Which therapy for which situation?
4. How to find the right therapist and how to prepare for it
Where to start: my general practitioner can refer me. Reference directories include Doctolib, the directory of the Order of Psychologists (ordres.psychologues.fr), and directories specialized by approach (AFTCC for CBT, EMDR France for EMDR).
The first session: it is a reciprocal meeting. I can ask questions about the therapist's approach, their qualifications, their way of working. If after two or three sessions the link is not created, it is legitimate to look for another professional, the quality of the therapeutic alliance is one of the best predictors of effectiveness.Reimbursement: since 2022, the MonPsy system allows partial reimbursement of 8 sessions with an approved psychologist, on prescription from the attending physician. Psychiatric consultations are reimbursed like any medical procedure.
Duration: CBT for a specific phobia can take 8 to 15 sessions. Psychodynamic work on underlying patterns can take several years. The duration depends on the objective, the depth of the work and the pace of each person.
💡 tips to remember
- Going to see a therapist is not reserved for severe cases: psychotherapy is as effective as medication for depression and anxiety disorders, with a more lasting long-term effect.
- I choose the approach according to my objective: CBT for anxiety and phobias, EMDR for trauma, DBT for intense emotional regulation, psychodynamic therapy for relational patterns.
- The quality of the therapeutic alliance is one of the best predictors of effectiveness. If after two or three sessions the link is not created, changing therapist is legitimate, not a failure. Since 2022, the MonPsy system allows partial reimbursement of 8 sessions with an approved psychologist on prescription from the treating physician. It's an accessible first step.
- My general practitioner is the first point of contact: he can direct me to the right professional according to my situation. I don't wait until it becomes unbearable to take this first step.
