Glossary of Terms

Therapeutic Approaches

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): A therapy approach that encourages individuals to accept their thoughts and feelings rather than fighting or feeling guilty for them, and commit to actions that align with their values.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A therapy approach that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors.

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): A type of CBT that focuses on teaching skills to manage emotions, handle stress, and improve relationships.

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): A therapy approach that focuses on improving attachment and bonding in relationships.

  • Gottman Method: A therapy approach designed to help couples strengthen their relationships by improving communication, conflict resolution, and intimacy.

  • Holistic Therapy: An approach that considers the whole person, including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects.

  • Humanistic Therapy: An approach that emphasizes the individual's capacity for self-realization and personal growth.

  • Integrative Therapy: A therapy approach that combines techniques from different therapeutic approaches to fit the needs of the individual.

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS): A therapy approach that focuses on understanding and addressing the different parts of oneself.

  • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT): A type of therapy that combines cognitive therapy with mindfulness practices.

  • Motivational Interviewing (MI): A counseling approach that helps individuals find the motivation to make positive decisions and accomplish goals.

  • Self-Compassion: A practice of being kind and understanding to oneself in times of failure or difficulty.

  • Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT): A short-term therapy approach that focuses on finding solutions in the present time and exploring one's hope for the future.

Common Issues in Therapy

  • ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder): A condition characterized by patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that are disruptive and inappropriate for a person's age.

  • Addiction: A condition characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences.

  • Anxiety: A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.

  • Burnout: A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.

  • Depression: A mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of deep sadness and loss of interest.

  • Eating Disorders: Disorders characterized by eating habits which negatively affect health and well-being.

  • Grief: The emotional response to loss, particularly to the loss of someone or something to which a bond was formed.

  • Identity Issues: Difficulties or conflicts related to understanding and accepting one's own identity, including: After a Major Life Change, Cultural Identity, Gender Identity, Parental Identity, Role Conflict, Relationship Identity, Self-Concept, Sexual Orientation, Work-Life Balance, etc.

  • LGBTQ+ Issues: Challenges faced by individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, non-binary, intersex, two-spirit, or other non-cis-heteronormative identities.

  • Life Transitions: Significant changes in a person's life, such as moving, changing jobs, or experiencing a major loss, that can cause stress and require adjustment.

  • Perinatal and Parenting Issues: Challenges related to pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting, including postpartum depression and anxiety.

  • PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder): A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

  • Relationship Issues: Problems that arise in interpersonal relationships, including romantic, familial, and platonic relationships.

  • Self-Esteem: An individual's subjective evaluation of their own worth.

  • Sexual Issues: Problems related to sexual function, desire, or performance, which can affect relationships and personal well-being.

  • Stress: A state of mental or emotional strain resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.

  • Trauma: A deeply distressing or disturbing experience.

  • Women's Issues: Challenges and conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect women, including reproductive health, gender discrimination, and work-life balance.

Therapy-Related Terms

  • Acceptance: The process of recognizing and embracing thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgment, often used as a therapeutic technique to foster emotional well-being.

  • Attachment Theory: A psychological model that describes the dynamics of long-term interpersonal relationships.

  • Boundaries: Guidelines, rules, or limits that a person creates to identify reasonable, safe, and permissible ways for other people to behave towards them.

  • Coping Mechanisms: Strategies people often use in the face of stress and/or trauma to help manage difficult emotions.

  • Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

  • Functional Impairment: Limitations in performing tasks and roles in daily life due to mental or physical conditions.

  • Insight: The capacity to gain an accurate and deep understanding of someone or something.

  • Mindfulness: A mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.

  • Projection: A defense mechanism in which individuals attribute characteristics they find unacceptable in themselves to another person.

  • Resilience: The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.

  • Self-Awareness: Conscious knowledge of one's own character, feelings, motives, and desires.

  • Self-Regulation: The ability to manage one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations.