HBO has announced that it has renewed its Emmy-winning series “In Treatment” for a third season.

Critically acclaimed Irish actor Gabriel Byrne stars in the half hour-long drama as Dr. Paul Weston, a psychotherapist in his 50s. Byrne won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy for his performance in the series.

Michael Lombardo, president of HBO’s Programming Group and West Coast Operations, announced that “In Treatment” will begin shooting in New York in early 2010, and will premiere later in the year.

“‘In Treatment’ is synonymous with inspired writing and brilliant acting,” Lombardo said. “This is the kind of show that could only flourish on HBO, and we’re proud to bring it back.”

Dubliner Byrne is at the heart of the show, which has been praised by both the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times for its powerful acting.

The Irishman has opened up in the past about how preparing for his role in the hit HBO series changed his opinion about therapy.

The New York-based actor says his initial skepticism slowly faded as he learned more about therapy in preparation for taking on the role Dr. Weston.

"When I started, I was a bit resistant of the whole notion of therapy. You know how, in Europe, there's this idea that therapy is some kind of 'New Agey' American thing, even though it originated in Europe with Freud and Jung in the 19th century," he said.

"But now, when I look over the narrative of my life, I begin to understand how deeply affected I was by my culture, my religion, my upbringing and by my immigration into this country."