therapist

noun

ther·​a·​pist ˈther-ə-pist 

1

: an individual specializing in the therapeutic medical treatment of impairment, injury, disease, or disorder

especially : a health care professional trained in methods of treatment and rehabilitation other than the use of drugs or surgery

These simple range-of-motion exercises are often prescribed by physical, occupational, or hand therapists for people with hand OA [=osteoarthritis].

—Food & Fitness Advisor

To help the baby interact with his family, a speech therapist taught everyone—including Justin's twin brother, Jeffery—hand signals and games.

—Michele Blecher

2

: a practitioner of psychotherapy : a psychotherapist

Again, it is important for the therapist to recognize that regression is normative due to the extreme stress of separation and divorce.

—Nathan W. Turner

Examples of therapist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Notably, Illinois banned AI therapy after research found chatbot therapists fuel delusions, and California is close to becoming the first state to restrict companion bots to protect kids. —Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025

Postings from those in positions of institutional authority—educators, healthcare workers, therapists, government employees—reveling in the vile and the sinister with the most chilling glee. —Nick Mordowanec jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025

Her therapist – who Heming Willis accidentally referred to her as her own caregiver – explained how normal these feelings were. —David Oliver, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025

For 10 months, a Hollywood mental health center allowed an employee to act as a licensed mental health therapist, including treating people after diagnosing them as dealing with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and parent-child conflict among other mental health issues. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing therapist

• behavioral therapist
• massage therapist
• physical therapist

Rhymes for therapist

• physiotherapist
• psychotherapist

Kids Definition

therapist

noun

ther·​a·​pist ˈther-ə-pəst 

: a person who specializes in therapy

especially : a person trained in methods of treatment other than the use of drugs or surgery

a speech therapist

Medical Definition

therapist

noun

ther·​a·​pist ˈther-ə-pəst 

: a person specializing in therapy

especially : one trained in methods of treatment and rehabilitation other than the use of drugs or surgery