therapist
Americannoun
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a person trained in the use of physical methods, as exercises, heat treatments, etc., in treating or rehabilitating the sick or wounded or helping patients overcome physical defects.
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a person trained in the use of psychological methods for helping patients overcome psychological problems.
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Also therapeutist a person, as a doctor, skilled in therapeutics.
noun
Etymology
Origin of therapist
Compare meaning
How does therapist compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
An expert at a specific kind of healing practice is called a therapist. A massage therapist is trained to soothe sore muscles, for example. The first thing many people think of when they see the word therapist is a psychotherapist, a mental health practitioner whose job is to diagnose and treat psychiatric conditions. This kind of therapist might listen to a patient's thoughts, fears, problems, and dreams and offer helpful techniques or even medication. Other types of therapists include physical therapists and occupational therapists, both of whom help clients with mobility and quality of life issues presented by their physical disabilities or challenges.
Vocabulary lists containing therapist
"Fears and Phobias," Vocabulary from the article
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Out of My Mind
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Guts
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Stay away from comments that center on you or your feelings, says Brandon Smith, a counselor known as The Workplace Therapist.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 2, 2026
Therapist Loraine Moorehead of Lorain Moorehead Therapy and Consultation told Barron’s that while this update isn’t a perfect fix to the problem of children’s interactions with AI chatbots, it’s a start.
From Barron's • Oct. 17, 2025
I saw a Forest Therapist at — of all places — the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2023
Therapist Arielle Cook-Shonkoff broke down those divergent responses for Salon last year when discussing patients in Sonoma County, California coping with that state's now-frequent wildfires.
From Salon • Aug. 24, 2023
It didn’t take Dad long to morph into Therapist Dad.
From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
