What was catharsis?

Catharsis (/kəˈθɑrsɪs/; Ancient Greek: κάθαρσις katharsis, "purification" or "cleansing") in philosophy, criticism and psychotherapy, is the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.

The term was first used by Aristotle in his Poetics, where he uses the term in reference to the emotional experience of watching tragedy. According to Aristotle, catharsis is the purgation of negative emotions, such as pity and fear, through art or other forms of emotional release.

In psychotherapy, catharsis is a technique that can be used to help patients access and express repressed emotions, such as anger, sadness, or grief. Catharsis is not a stand-alone therapy, but is more often used as part of a larger therapeutic process.