therapist
Americannoun
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therapists
plural
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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
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of therapist
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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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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.
See Examples For:
Hamon has been going to therapist Sally Agathangelou as part of her work to improve her wellbeing.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026
Explore your options with the help of a financial adviser, a couples therapist, or both.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 24, 2026
She’s a therapist, so she doesn’t need to ask how I’m doing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
“The question parents are asking after Cornell is really how to raise a boy who will take the risk and leave the room,” says Diana Chu, a licensed marriage and family therapist.
From Salon ● Oct. 18, 2026
“You can do this,” he said, just louder than a whisper, and he ran through the ritual that his therapist had taught him.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
It certainly keeps advisers, lawyers, doctors, therapists, courts and prisons in business.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026
Two of its 10 or so therapists were related by marriage, and the practice helped clients work through relationships and conflict.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Staff were not trained therapists, she said, so it was hard to know how to navigate these discussions with students.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
Staff were not trained therapists so it was hard to know how to navigate a moment like this, she said, and many of her colleagues felt at a loss for words.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
When we do what the teachers and therapists call “group” activities, it’s hard for Ashley to participate.
From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
