Glossary

A state of dependence produced by the habitual taking of drugs, including alcohol, characterized by compulsion, loss of control and continued patterns of use despite negative consequences.

Development of significant emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to a psychological stressor such as a death in the family or end of a significant relationship.

An extreme fear of being in public places or open spaces.

A disease characterized by confusion, memory failure, disorientation, restlessness, speech disturbances, and an inability to carry out purposeful movements.

The process of recognizing signs that one is becoming angry and taking action to calm down and deal with the situation in a positive way instead of lashing out or holding anger in.

An eating disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat.

An emotion characterized by feelings of tension, agitation, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure.

A psychological treatment that uses the creative process, pieces of art created in therapy to help people in treatment develop self-awareness, explore emotions, address unresolved emotional conflicts, improve social skills, and raise self-esteem.

A disorder with a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity.

A branch of medicine that deals with the control and treatment of obesity and related disorders.

A mood disorder characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania.

The subjective experience of the appearance of one's body.

An eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by measures to purge the body of the excess calories.

A therapist with specific clinical training in alcohol and drug abuse. Trained to diagnose and provide individual and group counseling.

The development of personal and external resources to address ongoing or recurrent pain, lasting beyond the usual course of acute illness or injury or more than 3 to 6 months, and which adversely affects the individual’s well-being.

An individual who has earned a doctorate in psychology and whose training is in the assessment and treatment of psychological problems.

A mental health professional whose specialized training prepares him or her to consider the social context of people's problems.

A short-term, problem-focused form of treatment that helps people see the relationship between beliefs, thoughts, and feelings, and subsequent behavior patterns and actions. People learn that their perceptions directly influence their responses to specific situations.

The process of dealing with internal or external demands that are perceived to be overwhelming.

A mental state characterized by excessive sadness and feelings of worthlessness. There are usually disruptions to sleep, appetite and concentration.

Abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person

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A psychological treatment which combines talking to a therapist about traumatic experiences with a technique where one makes rapid rhythmic eye movements. The rapid eye movements are intended to create a similar effect to the way brains process memories and experiences while sleeping.

A form of treatment which helps a person establish a heightened relationship with his/her higher power as a way to find greater purpose or meaning.

Treatment of the familial unit to clarify and modify the ways they relate together and communicate.

The normal process of reacting to a loss whether physical (such as a death), social (such as divorce), or occupational (such as a job). Emotional reactions of grief can include anger, guilt, and sadness. Physical reactions of grief can include sleeping problems, changes in appetite, or illness.

The legal (not clinical) designation for the state of an individual judged to be legally irresponsible or incompetent.

A clinician with a master’s degree in psychology, counseling or a related field. Trained to diagnose and provide individual and group counseling.

A form of therapy that helps a person live a life that aligns with his/her values without overemphasizing any one area of life (work, family, personal, etc.).

A state of mind characterized by extreme elation, unbounded euphoria without sufficient reason, and grandiose thoughts or feelings about personal abilities.

A form of treatment that focuses on how people behave together and identify relationship problems. The therapist then works with the couple so that each individual has his or her needs met and the relationship can work for the benefit and happiness of all.

Physical, cognitive, affective, behavioral and social patterns that interact dysfunctionally with the environment.

A condition when one’s emotional state is either inconsistent with current circumstances or distorted

A mental disorder characterized by obsessions (recurrent thoughts, images, or impulses that persist despite efforts to suppress them) and compulsions (repetitive, purposeful acts performed according to certain rules or in a ritualized manner).

A sudden, unpredictable, intense episode of anxiety characterized by a fear of losing one’s mind, being unable to control one’s behavior, a sense of impending doom, and helplessness.

A chronic, inflexible, maladaptive pattern of perceiving, thinking, and behaving that seriously impairs an individual's ability to function socially or personally.

A persistent and irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that is excessive and unreasonable, given the reality of the threat.

A form of treatment used with children to help them express or act out their experiences, feelings, and problems by playing with dolls, toys, and other play material, under the guidance or observation of a specially-trained practitioner.

An anxiety disorder characterized by the persistent reexperience of traumatic events through distressing recollections, dreams, hallucinations, or dissociative flashbacks; develops in response to severe traumas such as rape, war, severe injuries, and natural disasters.

An individual who has obtained an M.D. degree and also has completed postdoctoral specialty training in mental and emotional disorders; a psychiatrist may prescribe medications for the treatment of psychological disorders, unlike psychologists, social workers, and counselors.

A professional specializing in diagnosing and treating diseases of the brain, emotional disturbance, and behavior problems.

The clinical use of a collection of miniatures in a sand tray to allow a person to construct his/her own microcosm. The scene created acts as a reflection of the person’s own life and allows her/him the opportunity to resolve conflicts, remove obstacles, and gain acceptance of self.

A mental health professional trained to make diagnoses, provide individual and group therapy, and work with school staff to maximize efficiency in the schools setting.

A generalized evaluative attitude toward the self that influences both moods and behavior and that exerts a powerful effect on a range of personal and social behaviors.

A persistent, irrational fear that arises in anticipation of a public situation in which an individual can be observed by others.

Any factor that threatens the health of the body or has an adverse effect on its functioning such as injury or worry.

The harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs.

An adaptive state that develops from repeated drug use which results in withdrawal upon cessation of use.

Any injury - either physical or emotional.

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