English Reference
noun

therapist

n.
US /ˈθɛɹəpəst/ UK /θˈɛɹəpˌɪst/ ther·a·pist UK spelling therapist's, therapist's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    a person trained to help you with your emotions, mental health, or personal problems by talking.

    a practitioner, such as a psychotherapist or counsellor, who treats mental or emotional disorders through dialogue and psychological techniques.

    Simple

    She decided to see a therapist to help her deal with the stress of her new job.

    In context

    After the traumatic event, the company provided a licensed therapist to help employees process their experiences in a safe environment.

    Usage

    Often used as a general term for anyone from a counsellor to a psychologist.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    a professional who helps you recover from a physical injury or a specific health issue.

    a specialist trained in a particular branch of rehabilitation or remedial treatment, such as physical or occupational therapy.

    Simple

    The physical therapist showed him several exercises to strengthen his injured knee.

    In context

    The occupational therapist worked closely with the patient to adapt their home environment for better accessibility after the surgery.

    Usage

    Usually preceded by a qualifying adjective like 'physical', 'speech', or 'occupational'.

    physiotherapistpractitioner

She sought help from a therapist who showed her how to box breathe.

BBC News· 29 Aug 2026

They will bring together existing teams of nurses, therapists and support workers.

BBC News· 6 Aug 2026

From therapy + -ist.

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated