# therapist

Pronunciation: US say "THER-uh-pist" /ˈθɛɹəpɪst/; UK

## Noun

1. A person who provides therapy, usually as a professional, to treat illness, injury, or distress.
   - Simple: A trained person who helps people heal or feel better through treatment.
   - _Her therapist designed a recovery plan after the knee operation._
   - _Occupational therapists teach patients to manage daily tasks after a stroke._
2. A mental-health professional who provides psychotherapy to treat emotional and psychological problems through talking rather than physical treatment.
   - Simple: A trained person who helps people with their feelings and mental health by talking.
   - _The therapist used cognitive behavioral techniques to address her depression._
   - _Many therapists encourage clients to keep a journal between sessions._

## Origin

Formed from "therapy" combined with the suffix "-ist," which names a person who does something.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/therapist (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).