therapy
gb/θˈɛɹəpi/ us/θˈɛɹəpi/
B1
English
~ 2100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
action
1
Treatment to improve health
Treatment to help someone get better from an illness, injury, or mental problem.
Usage pattern:
[someone] receives [type of] therapy
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'therapy' with 'therapist'. 'Therapy' is the treatment itself, while 'therapist' is the person who provides it.
Synonyms
treatment (A broader term that can include any method used to address a medical condition, not just therapeutic processes.)
Antonyms
neglect (Refers to failing to care for or treat a condition, which is the opposite of providing therapy.)
Collocations
physical therapy
|speech therapy
|occupational therapy
|receive therapy
|undergo therapy
Themes
health
|medicine
|wellness
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She is undergoing physical therapy after her knee surgery.
- Therapy sessions helped him manage his anxiety.
- Many patients benefit from art therapy.
- The doctor recommended speech therapy for the child.
- After the accident, he needed months of occupational therapy.
Learner examples
- I go to therapy once a week.
- She needs therapy for her back pain.
- He is in therapy to feel better.
- My friend has speech therapy every Tuesday.
- Therapy helps people get well.
Noun
B2
action
2
Activity for emotional healing
Something you do to make yourself feel happier or less stressed.
Usage pattern:
[something] is [someone's] therapy
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with medical treatment; here it can refer to personal activities that are not prescribed by a doctor.
Synonyms
counseling (Usually refers to structured talking sessions with a professional; 'therapy' here can be broader and include informal activities.)
Antonyms
stress (Stress has a harmful effect on well-being, opposite to the healing role of therapy.)
Collocations
music therapy
|writing as therapy
|gardening as therapy
|find therapy in [activity]
Themes
emotions
|mental health
|health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- For her, painting is a form of therapy.
- He finds gardening to be great therapy after a stressful day.
- Writing in a journal can be very therapeutic.
- Some people use exercise as a kind of therapy.
- Cooking is her personal therapy.
Learner examples
- Drawing is my therapy.
- I find music is good therapy for me.
- Walking in the park is my therapy.
- Reading books is my therapy.
- Cooking helps me feel better. It is my therapy.
Grammar
Dictionary form
therapy
IPA
GB/θˈɛɹəpi/
US/θˈɛɹəpi/
Syllables & stress
ther - apy (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ther)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: therapy
- Plural: therapies, therapy
Word family
Forms
therapies
noun
Core family
therapist
noun B2
therapeutic
adjective B2
Related words
Advanced or less common
therapeutically
adverb
Expressions
art therapy
1/ˈɑɹt θˈɛɹəpi/
fixed phrase
Healing through making art
Making art to help with feelings and mental health.
Examples
- Art therapy gave him a new way to express emotions.
- Children in the hospital enjoy art therapy sessions.
music therapy
1/mjˈuzɪk θˈɛɹəpi/
fixed phrase
Healing through music activities
Using music to make people feel better in body or mind.
Examples
- Music therapy helped reduce her anxiety before surgery.
- They use music therapy with patients who have dementia.
speech therapy
1/spˈit͡ʃ θˈɛɹəpi/
fixed phrase
technical
Treatment for speech problems
Help to make speaking and communication better.
Examples
- The child goes to speech therapy twice a week.
- Speech therapy improved his pronunciation and confidence.
occupational therapy
1/ɑkjəpˈeɪʃənəl θˈɛɹəpi/
fixed phrase
technical
therapy for daily living skills
A type of treatment that helps people learn or relearn everyday skills they need at home, at school, or at work.
Examples
- Occupational therapy taught him how to dress himself again.
- After the stroke, he started occupational therapy to improve his hand movements.
- She received occupational therapy to adapt to life after her stroke.
- Children with developmental delays often benefit from occupational therapy.
physical therapy
1/fˈɪzɪkəl θˈɛɹəpi/
fixed phrase
Treatment using movement/exercise
A type of treatment that uses exercise and movement to help the body heal after injury or illness.
Examples
- She needed months of physical therapy after her surgery.
- Physical therapy helped him walk again.
physical therapy
2/fˈɪzɪkəl θˈɛɹəpi/
fixed phrase
technical
Treatment with physical exercises
Special exercises and care to help someone move better after an injury or illness.
Examples
- He started physical therapy two days after his operation.
- Physical therapy helped her walk again after the accident.