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psychotherapist

psychotherapist

27 5.5
A person who helps others with mental and emotional problems by talking and giving support
  • noun
  • /ˌsaɪkoʊˈθɛrəpɪst/
translation icon : psicoterapeuta
  • The psychotherapist listened patiently as he shared his feelings about the stressful situation at work.
  • psychoanalytic psychotherapists
  • psychotherapist and teacher

But we live in a country of, as my psychotherapist wife says, denial.

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Examples

  • After struggling with anxiety for years, she finally decided to see a psychotherapist for help.

  • So I went to a psychotherapist at last, took myself to one and they said you have depersonalization.

  • This psychotherapist saved our marriage.

  • In the process, he became a master teacher and psychotherapist.

    Academic text (2011)
  • But we live in a country of, as my psychotherapist wife says, denial.

  • A writer and psychotherapist, she is the author of Private Matters

    Academic text (2011)
  • And obviously we need all the help we can get, as evidenced by having the psychotherapist on our show, right?

  • John, you'd need to find either a good psychotherapist or a good martial arts teacher.

    Blog text (12)
  • Benjamin L. Sells is a Chicago psychotherapist who practiced law at the Chicago firm of Jenner & Block.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Beck, in turn, is today arguably the most well-known psychotherapist alive.

    Academic text (2009)

Synonyms

therapist
vspsychotherapist
508 3.7

A trained person who helps people with physical or mental health problems

limits practice to psychological methods not medical interventions
counselor
vspsychotherapist
  • US
311 3.2

A trained person who listens and gives advice for personal or emotional problems

treats disorders with psychological therapies rather than mainly giving advice
psychologist
vspsychotherapist
309 4.2

A person who studies the mind and helps people with feelings or behavior

applies therapeutic methods to treat disorders rather than only study behavior
shrink
vspsychotherapist
  • Slang
240 8.9

A doctor who helps people with their mental health

uses nonmedical psychological treatment instead of medical diagnosis or drugs
analyst
vspsychotherapist
56 5.6

A trained therapist who helps people understand their feelings and past through talk

covers general psychological treatment rather than only psychoanalysis approach
clinical psychologist
vspsychotherapist
  • Specialized
20 4.1

A trained person who helps people with mental or emotional problems by talking with them

focuses on psychological methods rather than medical or physical treatment
psychoanalyst
vspsychotherapist
  • Specialized
12 7.0

A doctor or therapist who treats mental and emotional problems by talking about thoughts and dreams

offers broader psychological therapy beyond only psychoanalysis methods
hypnotherapist
vspsychotherapist
  • Specialized
4 7.2

A person who uses hypnosis to help people change habits and overcome fears

uses psychological methods more broadly, not only hypnotic technique
shrinker
vspsychotherapist
  • Slang
3 9.0

A person who helps people with mental or emotional problems

refers specifically to psychological therapy given without medical procedures

How Clinical

psychiatrist
  • Specialized
453 5.1
clinical psychologist
  • Specialized
20 4.1
psychotherapist
27 5.5
therapist
508 3.7
counselor
  • US
311 3.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

psychotherapist = therapist (semi-transparent) = psycho + therapist

The word is transparently built from 'psycho-' and 'therapist', but the specialized meaning is a little more technical than a simple everyday combination.

Etymology

The word psychotherapist comes from the Greek parts psych- meaning 'mind' as in psychology, and therapy meaning 'healing' or 'care'. So a psychotherapist is like a 'mind-healer' who helps people with their thoughts and feelings by talking and other non-medical methods.