Believer accepting criticism, as one purporting to bring healing? (9)
I believe the answer is:
therapist
'one purporting to bring healing?' is the definition.
The answer is a person as well as being a singular noun. This is suggested by the definition.
'believer accepting criticism' is the wordplay.
'believer' becomes 'theist' (someone who believes in a god).
'accepting' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters are accepted).
'criticism' becomes 'rap' (as in taking the rap for a mistake).
'theist' placed around 'rap' is 'THERAPIST'.
'as' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for therapist that I've seen before include "Medical practitioner" , "Health worker" , "Healer of disease" , "healing type" , "provider of treatment" .)