Psychotherapy in Mexico: practice, training, and regulation

Abstract

Psychotherapy conducted by psychologists in Mexico has a long history and shows promising developments but offers a relatively limited choice for health care recipients, especially in public facilities. Psychotherapy by psychologists occurs mainly in private practice, although it is spreading to public institutions such as hospitals and outpatient clinics. Most clinical psychologists in Mexico are trained in some type of psychodynamic approach, although the use of cognitive-behavioral treatments is spreading quickly. The probability that a patient will actually be seen by a psychologist depends mainly on such characteristics of the patient as socioeconomic status, place of residence, and insurance coverage, if any. These and other attributes of psychotherapy in Mexico are illustrated by the probable treatment of Mrs. A. Psychotherapy in Mexico continues to evolve toward both multidisciplinary work and evidence-based practices.