therapy
THEHR-uh-pee
Therapy (noun) means Treatment intended to relieve or heal a physical or mental condition. Example: “He started physical therapy after breaking his leg.”
noun
1
Treatment intended to relieve or heal a physical or mental condition.
"He started physical therapy after breaking his leg."
"Many people find talking therapy helpful for depression."
"After the accident, she needed months of therapy before she could walk without a stick."
How to use therapy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTreatment aimed at helping someone recover, whether physically or mentally.
Common pairings
go to therapy
physical therapy
speech therapy
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Word forms
- Plural
- therapies
- Third person singular
- therapies
- Past tense
- therapied
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He started physical _____ after breaking his leg.
Etymology
From Greek therapeia ("service, medical treatment"), from therapeuo ("to serve, treat medically").
Related words
Rhymes for therapy
See all rhymes for therapy →Frequently asked questions
What does “therapy” mean?
The word “therapy” means treatment intended to relieve or heal a physical or mental condition. In plain terms, treatment aimed at helping someone recover, whether physically or mentally.
How do you pronounce “therapy”?
“Therapy” is pronounced THEHR-uh-pee (/ˈθɛɹ.ə.pi/ in IPA).
How do you use “therapy” in a sentence?
Here is “therapy” used in a sentence: “He started physical therapy after breaking his leg.”
What is another word for “therapy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “therapy” include treatment.
What part of speech is “therapy”?
“Therapy” is a noun.
Where does the word “therapy” come from?
The word “therapy” comes from Greek. From Greek therapeia ("service, medical treatment"), from therapeuo ("to serve, treat medically").
Is “therapy” a common word?
“Therapy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between therapy and counseling?
The terms overlap and are often used interchangeably. Counseling tends to be shorter-term and focused on a specific issue or decision, offering guidance and support. Therapy, or psychotherapy, is often deeper and longer-term, exploring underlying patterns and mental health conditions. Both aim to help, and many professionals provide each.
What are the main types of therapy?
Therapy covers many fields. Physical therapy restores movement and strength, occupational therapy rebuilds daily skills, and speech therapy addresses communication. On the mental side, psychotherapy and talking therapies treat emotional conditions. There are also drug, radiation, and other medical therapies, all sharing the goal of relieving or healing a condition.
What is the difference between therapy and treatment?
Treatment is the broad term for anything done to manage or cure a condition, including surgery and medication. Therapy is a kind of treatment, usually one that is ongoing and often non-surgical, such as physical therapy or talking therapy. So all therapy is treatment, but not all treatment is called therapy.
Can therapy help with mental health?
Yes. Talking therapies are a well-established way to treat conditions such as anxiety, depression, and stress, helping people understand their thoughts and build coping strategies. Results vary from person to person and often depend on the approach and the relationship with the therapist, but for many people therapy brings real, lasting benefit.
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