therapist
gb/θˈɛɹəpɪst/ us/θˈɛɹəpɪst/
B2
English
~ 9800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
mental health professional for talk therapy
A person who helps people with their thoughts and feelings by talking with them in a professional way.
Usage pattern:
[someone] sees a therapist
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "therapy" and "therapist". "Therapy" is the treatment or process (e.g., "I am in therapy"), while a "therapist" is the person who gives the treatment (e.g., "I see a therapist"). Another common confusion is between "therapist" and "psychiatrist"; a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can usually prescribe medication, while a therapist focuses mainly on talk-based treatment.
Synonyms
counselor (Often used for someone who gives emotional or psychological help, but can also mean someone who gives general advice, not only mental health care.)
|
psychotherapist (More technical and specific; always refers to a mental health professional who provides psychotherapy.)
Antonyms
patient (The person receiving mental health treatment, instead of the professional giving it.)
|
client (In therapy, the person who gets help rather than the person who provides it.)
Collocations
see a therapist
|talk to a therapist
|licensed therapist
|mental health therapist
|therapist's office
|family therapist
Themes
health
|emotions
|relationships
Examples
- After the breakup, she decided to see a therapist to work through her feelings.
- My therapist suggested that I start keeping a journal to track my mood.
- He has been meeting with the same therapist every week for over a year.
- Couples often go to a therapist when communication in their relationship breaks down.
- The school hired an on-site therapist to support students struggling with anxiety.
Learner examples
- I talk to a therapist once a week.
- Her therapist helps her deal with stress.
- He found a new therapist in his city.
- The therapist listens and asks many questions.
- They went to a therapist to save their marriage.
Noun
B2
entity
2
rehabilitation professional (physical, speech, etc.)
A health worker who helps people move, speak, or use their bodies better after injury, illness, or disability.
Usage pattern:
[someone] works as a [type] therapist
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "therapist" always means a mental health professional. In medical or hospital contexts, it often refers to physical, occupational, or speech therapists who work on the body or practical skills. The type is usually clear from a word before it, like "physical therapist" or "speech therapist".
Synonyms
physiotherapist (Common in British and international English for a physical therapist; refers mainly to physical movement and function.)
|
rehabilitation specialist (More formal and broader; can include different types of therapists and sometimes non-therapy roles.)
Antonyms
surgeon (A medical doctor who treats problems by operating, rather than by exercises and non-surgical therapies.)
|
untrained caregiver (Someone who helps with daily care but does not have professional therapeutic training.)
Collocations
physical therapist
|occupational therapist
|speech therapist
|massage therapist
|rehabilitation therapist
|sports therapist
Themes
health
|body
|daily life
Examples
- The physical therapist gave him exercises to strengthen his knee after surgery.
- Her speech therapist is helping her son overcome a stutter.
- An occupational therapist showed him how to adapt his kitchen after his accident.
- The team includes a doctor, a nurse, and a respiratory therapist.
- She wants to become a sports therapist and work with professional athletes.
Learner examples
- A physical therapist helped me walk again.
- The child sees a speech therapist twice a week.
- Her therapist showed her how to move her hand safely.
- He works as an occupational therapist in a hospital.
- The therapist gave him simple exercises to do at home.
Noun
informal
C1
entity
3
person who informally plays therapist
In casual speech, a person who is not a real therapist but often listens to your problems and gives you advice, like a therapist would.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is my therapist
Common mistake:
Learners may think people using "therapist" this way are talking about a real professional. In informal talk, it is often a joke or exaggeration, usually meaning a friend or partner who listens a lot. In writing or serious contexts, "therapist" almost always means a trained professional.
Synonyms
confidant (More formal and less humorous; focuses on trust and sharing secrets, not on giving advice like a therapist.)
|
sounding board (Metaphorical; someone you talk to in order to test ideas, not necessarily someone who gives emotional guidance.)
Antonyms
unsympathetic friend (A friend who does not listen or offer emotional support, the opposite of someone acting like a therapist.)
|
stranger (Someone with no close, supportive relationship, unlike an informal "therapist" friend.)
Collocations
be my therapist
|act as my therapist
|play therapist
|free therapist
|unpaid therapist
|like a therapist
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|humor
|daily_life
Examples
- Thanks for listening to me complain all night—you’re basically my therapist.
- I don’t want to be your therapist; you should talk to a professional about this.
- Group chat has become my therapist whenever I’m stressed about work.
- He jokes that his dog is his therapist because he tells it everything.
- Stop making your partner your therapist; it’s too much pressure on one person.
Learner examples
- She is like my therapist because I tell her everything.
- My best friend is my therapist when I feel sad.
- He said, "I am not your therapist. Please talk to a real one."
- I don’t want to be your therapist all the time.
- We joke that our cat is our therapist.
Grammar
Dictionary form
therapist
IPA
GB/θˈɛɹəpɪst/
US/θˈɛɹəpɪst/
Syllables & stress
ther - ap - ist (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ther)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: therapist
- Plural: therapists
Word family
Forms
therapists
noun
Core family
therapy
noun B1
therapeutic
adjective B2
Related words
Advanced or less common
therapeutically
adverb
Expressions
be my therapist
1/bˈi mˈaɪ θˈɛɹəpɪst/
fixed phrase
informal
act like my therapist (informal)
To listen to someone’s problems and give them emotional support like a therapist, usually said in a joking or casual way.
Examples
- Can you just be my therapist for a minute while I rant about work?
- Thanks for being my therapist tonight; I really needed to talk.
- I don’t want my friends to be my therapists anymore—I’m going to find a professional.
marriage therapist
1/mˈɛɹɪd͡ʒ θˈɛɹəpɪst/
fixed phrase
therapist for couples’ relationships
A therapist who works with couples to help them solve problems in their relationship or marriage.
Examples
- They started seeing a marriage therapist after years of constant arguments.
- Our marriage therapist gave us communication exercises to do at home.
- The couple credits their marriage therapist with saving their relationship.
my therapist says
1/mˈaɪ θˈɛɹəpɪst sˈɛz/
fixed phrase
introducing therapist’s advice or view
Used before you tell someone what your therapist told you or advised you.
Examples
- My therapist says I need to set clearer boundaries with my family.
- My therapist says it’s okay to feel angry as long as I express it safely.
- My therapist says I should slow down and take more breaks.
see a therapist
1/sˈi ə θˈɛɹəpɪst/
fixed phrase
go to a therapist for help
To visit and talk with a therapist, usually many times, to get help with mental health or personal problems.
Examples
- If you feel overwhelmed all the time, it might help to see a therapist.
- Her doctor suggested she see a therapist for her anxiety.
- He finally agreed to see a therapist after months of sleepless nights.
talk to a therapist
1/tˈɔk tə ə θˈɛɹəpɪst/
fixed phrase
speak with a therapist
To speak with a therapist in order to get help, advice, or support with emotional or mental problems.
Examples
- You don’t have to handle this alone; you could talk to a therapist.
- She decided to talk to a therapist about her fear of flying.
- He finds it easier to talk to a therapist than to his family.