Welcome to our Mental Health Glossary. Below you’ll find definitions for common terms, conditions, and therapy approaches you may hear in treatment or conversations about mental health.
Abuse is a pattern of behavior used to gain control over another person. It can be physical, emotional, sexual, or psychological and often leads to long-term emotional harm.
Addiction is a chronic condition where a person compulsively uses substances or engages in behaviors despite harmful consequences. It affects brain function, behavior, and emotional regulation.
Anxiety is a mental health condition involving excessive fear or worry that interferes with daily life. It may include symptoms such as restlessness, rapid heart rate, and difficulty concentrating.
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that causes intense mood swings between emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). These shifts can affect sleep, energy, activity, and decision-making.
CBT is a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps you identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It’s commonly used to treat anxiety, depression, and many other mental health issues.
Neurodivergent refers to people whose brains function differently from what's considered typical. This includes conditions like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia—and recognizes these differences as variations, not deficits.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a specialized therapy for trauma that uses eye movements or tapping to help the brain process and heal distressing memories.
Trauma refers to emotional wounds caused by distressing events. It can be a single incident or long-term exposure and may result in symptoms like anxiety, hypervigilance, or emotional numbness.
Depression is a common mood disorder involving persistent sadness, lack of interest, changes in sleep or appetite, and difficulty functioning. It affects both emotional and physical health.
DBT is a form of therapy that teaches skills like mindfulness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance. It’s especially helpful for individuals struggling with intense emotions or borderline personality disorder.
PTSD is a condition that can develop after a traumatic event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, and heightened anxiety.
Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment. It’s used in therapy to help reduce stress, anxiety, and reactivity.
Dual diagnosis refers to someone who has both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder. Treatment involves addressing both conditions simultaneously.
Dissociation is a disconnection from thoughts, feelings, or surroundings, often as a protective response to trauma or overwhelming stress.
Trauma-Informed Care is an approach that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and ensures that services are delivered in a way that promotes safety, trust, and empowerment.
Coping skills are healthy strategies used to manage stress, emotions, or mental health challenges. Examples include deep breathing, journaling, exercise, and setting boundaries.
Exposure therapy is a treatment used to reduce fear or anxiety by gradually and safely exposing a person to the source of their distress in a controlled setting.
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear or discomfort, often with physical symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and dizziness. They can feel overwhelming but are not life-threatening.
Person-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, unconditional positive regard, and helping clients trust their own capacity for growth. The therapist offers support rather than direction.
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, often distressing thoughts or images that pop into your mind. They are common in conditions like OCD, anxiety, and PTSD.
Vicarious trauma refers to emotional exhaustion or distress experienced by those who work closely with trauma survivors, such as therapists, first responders, or caregivers.
We’re here to support your mental health journey. If you come across a term you don’t understand, feel free to ask your therapist—or contact us here for clarification.
Our mission at Solutionist Counseling is to end the stigma surrounding mental health by approaching the therapeutic process with compassion and understanding based on the individual needs of each of our clients.
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