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Catharsis - A Definition of Catharsis

By , About.com Guide

Created: August 18, 2009

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Definition: Catharsis comes from the Greek word for “cleansing.” In psychotherapy, the term refers to an emotional release that is experienced after feeling and expressing one's emotions about an event. This term was first popularized by Freudian therapists (or psychoanalysts), but is now used widely in the field.
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