supportive therapy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “supportive therapy” mean?
A form of psychological or medical treatment aimed at providing comfort, encouragement, and strength to a patient, rather than directly curing a disease or condition.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A form of psychological or medical treatment aimed at providing comfort, encouragement, and strength to a patient, rather than directly curing a disease or condition.
Any therapeutic approach that focuses on bolstering a person's coping mechanisms, resilience, and emotional well-being during illness, recovery, or stress. It can also refer to less intensive medical treatments that manage symptoms and maintain function.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical or conceptual differences. Spelling of related words may differ (e.g., 'behavioural' vs. 'behavioral').
Connotations
Identical connotations in professional healthcare contexts in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in medical and psychological literature in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “supportive therapy” in a Sentence
[Patient] received supportive therapy for [condition].[Practitioner] provides supportive therapy to [patient].Supportive therapy was initiated alongside [definitive treatment].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “supportive therapy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team decided to support the patient therapeutically while monitoring his progress.
- We should support her recovery with regular counselling sessions.
American English
- The clinic will support the patient therapeutically during this difficult period.
- They decided to support his treatment with therapy sessions.
adverb
British English
- The nurse acted supportively, providing both practical help and a listening ear.
- The treatment was designed to function supportively.
American English
- The staff worked supportively with the patient's family.
- The medication is used supportively in this protocol.
adjective
British English
- The consultant recommended a supportive therapeutic approach.
- She has a very supportive therapist.
American English
- The doctor ordered supportive therapeutic measures.
- He is in a supportive therapeutic relationship.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; might appear in employee assistance program (EAP) literature.
Academic
Common in medical, nursing, psychology, and psychotherapy journals and textbooks.
Everyday
Uncommon; typically used by laypeople only when discussing specific medical/psychological treatment.
Technical
Core term in clinical medicine, oncology, psychiatry, and counselling.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “supportive therapy”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “supportive therapy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “supportive therapy”
- Using 'support therapy' (incorrect omission of '-ive').
- Confusing it with 'physical therapy' or 'occupational therapy', which are specific disciplines that may be supportive.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. While counselling can be a form of supportive therapy, 'supportive therapy' is a broader clinical term that can also include medical, nursing, and nutritional care aimed at supporting a patient.
Typically, no. Its main goal is not to cure but to alleviate symptoms, provide comfort, and help the patient cope with an illness or its treatment. It is often used alongside curative treatments.
It can be provided by a multidisciplinary team including doctors, nurses, psychologists, counsellors, social workers, physiotherapists, and dietitians.
Yes, palliative care is a specialized form of supportive therapy focused on relieving suffering and improving quality of life for people with serious, often life-limiting illnesses.
A form of psychological or medical treatment aimed at providing comfort, encouragement, and strength to a patient, rather than directly curing a disease or condition.
Supportive therapy is usually formal, technical in register.
Supportive therapy: in British English it is pronounced /səˈpɔːtɪv ˈθɛrəpi/, and in American English it is pronounced /səˈpɔːrtɪv ˈθɛrəpi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SUPPORT beam holding up a structure. SUPPORT-ive THERAPY holds up a patient's emotional and physical state.
Conceptual Metaphor
TREATMENT IS SUPPORT (providing a foundation or structure).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary goal of supportive therapy?