LOS ANGELES — Isaiah Washington, who does the healing as a doctor on “Grey’s Anatomy,” is the patient now.He’s in therapy for his use of an anti-gay slur against a castmate.

“With the support of my family and friends, I have begun counselling. I regard this as a necessary step toward understanding why I did what I did and making sure it never happens again,” Washington said in a statement yesterday. “I appreciate the fact that I have been given this opportunity and I remain committed to transforming my negative actions into positive results, personally and professionally.”

Washington took a break from filming Tuesday to meet with gay rights activists and offer help in educating the public about the cruelty of such words, an offer the activists called sincere.

Whether Washington was receiving outpatient counselling or had entered a facility was not specified, and the statement did not indicate whether he would miss work on the show.

Washington’s publicist, Kelly Mullens, declined to comment further. A call to ABC about the effect on production of the hit TV show was not immediately returned yesterday.

Series creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes issued her own statement, at once criticising Washington for his use of the word “faggot” about co-star T.R. Knight and lauding Washington’s decision to seek help.

“I speak for all the executive producers here at `Grey’s Anatomy’ when I say that Isaiah Washington’s use of such a disturbing word was a shocking and dismaying event that insulted not only gays and lesbians everywhere, but anyone who has ever struggled for respect in a world that is not always accepting of difference,” Rhimes said.

She said she’s been working within “the `Grey’s family” and with ABC and the Touchstone Television studio to address the issue “in a way that underscores the gravity of the situation while giving us all a foundation for healing.”