It still amazes me when I hear about some of the stereotypes that people have about psychotherapy, especially, it seems, with older adults who have ideas about psychotherapy that come straight out of the 1950s. Fortunately, psychologists now have a number of different "tools" to use in order to facilitate change. These days, psychotherapy can range from really brief (e.g., lasting for just a few sessions) to long-term (e.g., lasting several years). The focus of treatment is very often on what is currently happening in the client's life, rather than early relationships (depending on the therapist's specific orientation).
I recently discovered a handy website, put together by APA Division 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology), which lists a number of psychological disorders and the research that provides evidence of effectiveness of specific treatments for those disorders. The site is written so that the general public can learn from it, but it seems like a useful tool for psychologists-in-training as well. Click here to view the website.