Therapist

In terms of infrastructure and engineering, few feats are as impressive as a bridge, which defies gravity in order to connect distant points in spite of obstacles, including earth, air and water.

When you’re a Therapist, you’re a lot like a bridge, helping people overcome challenges to get from point A — impairment — to point B: recovery.

When most people think of Therapists, they think of someone who helps patients overcome mental illnesses, including serious conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, as well as mild emotional issues related to depression, anxiety or anger. If that describes you, you’re a Psychologist, a Psychotherapist or — if you have a medical license that allows you to prescribe medication — a Psychiatrist.

That’s not the only type of Therapist there is, however. If you’re an Occupational Therapist or a Physical Therapist, for instance, you help people overcome mental, physical and emotional disabilities or injuries so they can perform everyday tasks at home or at work. If you’re a Recreational Therapist, on the other hand, you help people overcome impairments using techniques that involve art, sports, dance and music. If you’re a Massage Therapist, meanwhile, you use massage to help people overcome physical pain and injury. Finally, you help people overcome speech disorders if you’re a Speech Therapist, breathing conditions if you’re a Respiratory Therapist, and cancer if you’re a Radiation Therapist.

No matter what type of Therapist you are, your objective and methods are fundamentally the same: You use exercises and treatments — therapies — to help people build bridges that improve their health and well-being.