therapist

noun

ther·a·pist | \ ˈther-ə-pist

Definition of therapist

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 Isaacs plays Jay, who agrees to the meeting at the urging of his wife’s therapist. — Angela Dawson, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2021 Scoring a therapist at a good price is just the first step. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, 5 Oct. 2021 Last week's subpoenas directed officials to meet with him at an office suite in a co-working space that is also listed as the address for a liposuction clinic and couple's therapist. — Natalie Eilbert, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5 Oct. 2021 The patient received counseling from a therapist paid for by her Aetna plan, and the suicidal thoughts are gone. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2021 The couple's music therapist played 1940s-era hits on his saxophone and guitar throughout the celebration, where Frankie and Royce took photos embracing and kissing in front of an archway decorated by St. Croix staff. — Isabella Rosario, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2021 Mira knows her anger is normal because Ava’s therapist told her so. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2021 To complete the moment, the facility's music therapist played 1940s songs as King walked toward her husband. — Jason Duaine Hahn, PEOPLE.com, 1 Oct. 2021 Despite Lawson-McCants and another Black employee who no longer works for Alabama Mentor reporting the conduct to their bosses, the co-worker who caused the therapist anguish was not fired. — Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, 1 Oct. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'therapist.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

10 Oct 2021

Cite this Entry

“Therapist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/therapist. Accessed 17 Oct. 2021.

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More Definitions for therapist

therapist

noun

English Language Learners Definition of therapist

: a person trained in methods of treating illnesses especially without the use of drugs or surgery

: a person who helps people deal with mental or emotional problems by talking about those problems : a person trained in psychotherapy

See the full definition for therapist in the English Language Learners Dictionary

therapist

noun

ther·a·pist | \ ˈther-ə-pəst

Kids Definition of therapist

: a person specializing in treating disorders or injuries of the body or mind especially in ways that do not involve drugs and surgery a speech therapist

therapist

noun

ther·a·pist | \ ˈther-ə-pəst