ther ‧ a ‧ pist /ˈθerəpəst, ˈθerəpɪst/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
someone who has been trained to give a particular form of treatment for physical or mental illness:
a speech therapist
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THESAURUS
■ a doctor who treats mental illness
▪ psychiatrist /saɪˈkaɪətrəst, saɪˈkaɪətrɪst $ sə-/ a doctor who is trained to treat people with mental illnesses:
In order to become a psychiatrist, you first need a medical degree.
▪ psychologist /saɪˈkɒlədʒəst, saɪˈkɒlədʒɪst $ -ˈkɑː-/ a scientist who studies and is trained in ↑ psychology (=the study of the mind) :
Many psychologists believe that aggression is a learned behaviour.
▪ shrink informal a humorous word for a ↑ psychiatrist
▪ therapist a trained person whose job is to help people with their emotional problems, especially by talking to them and asking them to talk about their feelings