Therapy: meaning, definitions and examples

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therapy

[ ˈθɛrəpi ]

Noun

Oxford 3000

^{Context #1 | Noun}

mental health

Therapy is the treatment of mental or psychological disorders by psychological means. It involves talking to a trained therapist to work through issues and develop coping strategies.

Synonyms

counseling, psychotherapy, treatment.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
therapy	General term used for any kind of treatment aimed at addressing medical or psychological issues. She is undergoing therapy for her anxiety. Physical therapy helped him recover after his surgery.
counseling	Usually refers to professional guidance in resolving personal or psychological problems, often provided by a licensed counselor. The school offers counseling services for students who need support. Marriage counseling helped them improve their communication.
psychotherapy	A type of therapy specifically focused on mental health, usually involving talking with a trained therapist to explore emotional issues. She started psychotherapy to deal with her depression. Psychotherapy sessions have been beneficial for his mental health.
treatment	A broad term for medical care to cure or manage diseases and health conditions. He is receiving treatment for his diabetes. The treatment plan includes medication and lifestyle changes.

Examples of usage

Jane attends therapy sessions to manage her anxiety.
Therapy has helped John overcome his depression.
The therapist recommended cognitive behavioral therapy for the patient.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

physical health

Therapy can also refer to physical treatment, such as physiotherapy or occupational therapy, aimed at improving physical health and functionality.

Synonyms

healing, rehabilitation, treatment.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
therapy	Suitable to describe the process of receiving mental health care or support for emotional challenges. Common in contexts involving psychological counseling or physical treatment for recovery. She goes to therapy once a week to talk about her feelings The doctor suggested physical therapy to help with her leg injury
rehabilitation	Appropriate in situations where there is a structured program aimed at restoring someone's health or abilities after illness, injury, or substance abuse. Often used in medical or clinical contexts. He is undergoing rehabilitation after his car accident The addiction rehabilitation program has helped many people recover
treatment	A general term for the medical care given to a patient for an illness or injury. It can be used in a wide variety of health contexts. The doctor prescribed a new treatment for her condition She is receiving treatment for her cancer
healing	Best used when referring to the natural process of recovery from an injury or illness. It can also metaphorically describe emotional or spiritual recovery. Time is the best medicine for emotional healing The wound is healing nicely after the surgery

Examples of usage

After his surgery, Mark underwent physical therapy to regain strength.
The athlete's injury required extensive therapy to recover.

Translations

Translations of the word "therapy" in other languages:

🇵🇹 terapia

🇮🇳 चिकित्सा

🇩🇪 Therapie

🇮🇩 terapi

🇺🇦 терапія

🇵🇱 terapia

🇯🇵 治療

🇫🇷 thérapie

🇪🇸 terapia

🇹🇷 terapi

🇰🇷 치료

🇸🇦 علاج

🇨🇿 terapie

🇸🇰 terapia

🇨🇳 治疗

🇸🇮 terapija

🇮🇸 meðferð

🇰🇿 терапия

🇬🇪 თერაპია

🇦🇿 terapiya

🇲🇽 terapia

Etymology

The word 'therapy' originates from the Greek word 'therapeia', which means 'healing' or 'curing'. The concept of therapy has been practiced for centuries, evolving from ancient methods to modern psychological and physical treatments.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,090, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.

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2087 instruments
2088 sit
2089 wait
2090 therapy
2091 desirable
2092 namely
2093 devices
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