Psychoanalysts

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Experts engaged in the interpretation of the unconscious to assist clients in understanding their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
2. Specialists who employ various therapeutic approaches to explore and address underlying psychological issues affecting mental health
3. Individuals trained in the method of psychoanalysis to help uncover unconscious conflicts influencing a person's mind and actions

Etymology: The plural "psychoanalysts" simply adds an "s" to "psychoanalyst," which is a compound of "psycho-" and "analyst." The first part comes from ancient Greek "psūkhḗ," meaning soul, breath or life, the root behind English words such as psychology. The second part traces to the Greek verb "analyein," to loosen or break up into parts, which gave English "analysis." Put together, the name describes a practice of loosening up the mind to examine what lies beneath conscious thought. The compound is modern. It was formed in English from those Greek elements, not handed down from classical antiquity, so the ancient Greeks never used the word for the therapy it names. Its sense of a professional who treats mental distress through talk-based exploration came later, as the practice itself developed.

Synonyms: psychologists