Origin: Greek suffix -ist
Therapist has 2 different meanings across 1 category:
Someone who provides therapy, usually professionally.
"After months of anxiety, Sarah finally booked an appointment with a licensed therapist to help her manage stress."
In plain English: A therapist is someone who helps you talk through your problems and feel better about yourself.
"She visited her therapist every week to discuss how she was feeling about life changes."
Usage: A therapist is any professional trained to treat mental or physical health issues through counseling or rehabilitation techniques. While the term often refers specifically to psychologists or counselors in everyday conversation, it technically encompasses a wider range of specialists including physiotherapists and occupational therapists depending on their specific field.
The word therapist is formed from therapy and the suffix -ist to denote a person who practices it. It entered English directly through these components rather than evolving from an older native term.