What's your antonym?
- Fe Robinson
- Nov 24, 2025
- 2 min read
I learned a new word...and I love learning about language and meanings.
So, my word today is antonym. It means the opposite. So, the opposite of dark is light, of up is down, of left is right. Simple, right?
Well, not always. Oftentimes in psychotherapy it is very useful to find out what the antonym is for words clients use. For example, a client tells me they do not want to be anxious any more. What does that mean? For one person it may mean they want to be calm. For another it may be relaxed. Another peaceful. For someone else it may be they want to be excited instead. Or adventurous.
The thing is, I really don't know yet, and to assume may be harmful. The role of a psychotherapist is to help the client elicit more and more of their own experience, bringing into consciousness that which was unconscious in relation to what they want to have happen that is not yet happening.
So, when you find yourself clear what you want to move away from, ask yourself, what's your antonym? If you do not know which direction you want to take, any path will do. In my opinion, that's not enough. Moving away from something is a powerful initial motivation, but it is not sufficient to live fully. Having clarity about what you want to create in your life and how you want to be and to live is of crucial importance.
Uncovering your deep assumptions and the rules you live by beyond awareness is an enlivening and freeing process. If you want to give this a go, psychotherapy may be for you.
I really enjoyed reading your text and reflections on words and their antonyms. It's really interesting how one word can have so many different opposites, and how this is applied in psychology to better understand people. For example, when a client wants to stop feeling anxious, it can mean something different for everyone — from calmness to a sense of adventure. Similarly, modern approaches to health seek individual paths to recovery. For example, I recently learned about stem cell therapy on the website https://ways2well.com/blog/the-rise-of-stem-cell-treatments-among-actors-and-stunt-performers , which explains how even actors and stunt performers use the latest methods to recover from injuries. This inspires me to look for personalised solutions for myself and others, because every body is unique.