English Reference
Noun

psychotherapist

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌsaɪkəˈθɛɹəpɪst/ UK /sˈaɪkəʊθˌɛɹəpˌɪst/ psy·chother·a·pist UK spelling psychotherapists

n.a professional who helps people deal with mental health problems and emotional difficulties. They use talking and listening to help patients feel better.

n.a professional trained to treat mental health disorders and emotional distress through psychological methods. Often used to distinguish from psychiatrists, who may also prescribe medication.


SIMPLE

She sees a psychotherapist once a week to talk about her stress.

CONTEXTUAL

After the accident, he worked with a psychotherapist to manage his anxiety and regain his confidence.

COMPLEX

The clinic employs a team of psychotherapists who specialize in cognitive-behavioral techniques to help patients reframe their negative thought patterns over several months of structured sessions.

Abi Booth, a psychotherapist who works with children and young people, said some were in a “catastrophic situation” in which they were hurting themselves to keep their place in therapeutic facilities.

The Guardian· 27 Aug 2026

In person, there is nothing wafty about this steely but softly spoken 65-year-old former academic and psychotherapist, who is clearly more used to asking the questions.

The Guardian· 18 Jul 2026

From psycho- + therapist or psychotherapy + -ist.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated