Therapists

Therapists are professionals in the field of healthcare who are trained to provide treatment for physical, mental, and emotional disorders. They use a variety of techniques and therapies to help their patients improve their quality of life. Therapists can specialize in a number of different areas, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychotherapy, and counseling.

Types of Therapists

Physical Therapists

Physical therapists are healthcare professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the very oldest, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives.

Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists help people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). They help people recover from injury to regain skills, and provide support for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.

Speech Therapists

Speech therapists, also known as speech-language pathologists, diagnose and treat communication and swallowing disorders in patients. They work with people who have difficulty speaking, understanding, reading, writing, or swallowing.

Psychotherapists

Psychotherapists are mental health professionals who help patients understand and resolve their problems by increasing their level of self-awareness and understanding of their own mental and emotional processes.

Counselors

Counselors are professionals who assist individuals and groups with their personal problems in order to help them become more self-sufficient. They may specialize in areas such as substance abuse, marriage and family therapy, career counseling, and more.

Education and Training

Becoming a therapist requires a significant amount of formal education. Most therapists need a master's degree in their field of specialty, and many also require a period of supervised clinical experience. In addition, therapists must be licensed by the state in which they practice.

See Also

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Nursing