Glossary of Common Psychology Terms
This glossary provides definitions of common mental health, therapy, and insurance-related terms. Our goal is to make information more accessible and help you better understand the concepts and services discussed throughout our website.
Acceptance
A therapeutic approach that encourages individuals to acknowledge their thoughts, emotions, and experiences without excessive judgment or avoidance.
Anxiety
A feeling of worry, fear, or unease that can range from mild to severe and may affect thoughts, emotions, and physical well-being.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
A form of therapy that helps individuals identify and change unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior.
Client
An individual, couple, family, or child receiving therapeutic services.
Coinsurance
The percentage of the cost of a covered healthcare service that you are responsible for paying after meeting your deductible.
Copay
A fixed amount you pay for a covered healthcare service, usually at the time of the appointment.
Deductible
The amount you must pay out of pocket for covered healthcare services before your insurance plan begins contributing to costs.
Depression
A mental health condition characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest, changes in mood, and other emotional or physical symptoms.
Empathy
The ability to understand and appreciate another person’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Grief
The emotional response to loss, which may include sadness, anger, confusion, longing, or other reactions.
Immigration Evaluations
Clinical assessments that document psychological, emotional, or trauma-related experiences for immigration-related legal proceedings.
Insurance
A contract between an individual and an insurance company that helps cover the cost of healthcare services.
IFS (Internal Family Systems)
A therapeutic approach that helps individuals understand and work with different aspects, or “parts,” of themselves to promote self-awareness, emotional healing, and personal growth.
Mindfulness
The practice of paying attention to the present moment with openness and awareness.
Person-Centered Therapy
A therapeutic approach that emphasizes empathy, collaboration, and respect while recognizing clients as the experts on their own experiences.
Psychotherapy
A form of treatment that helps individuals address emotional, mental, behavioral, and relationship concerns through conversations with a trained mental health professional.
Resilience
The ability to adapt to challenges, stress, and difficult life experiences.
Self-Care
Activities and practices that support an individual’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Session
A scheduled meeting between a client and a therapist.
Somatic Therapy
A therapeutic approach that incorporates awareness of the body and nervous system to support emotional regulation, stress management, and trauma recovery.
Social Work
A profession focused on supporting individuals, families, and communities through advocacy, counseling, resource coordination, and social services.
Stigma
Negative beliefs, attitudes, or stereotypes about mental health conditions or those who experience them.
Stress
The body’s physical and emotional response to demands, challenges, or changes.
Telehealth
The delivery of healthcare services, including therapy, through secure video, phone, or other communication technologies.
Therapist
A licensed or supervised mental health professional who provides therapeutic services and support.
Trauma
An experience or series of experiences that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope and may have lasting emotional, psychological, or physical effects.
Trauma-Informed Care
An approach to care that recognizes the impact of trauma and emphasizes safety, trust, collaboration, and respect throughout the therapeutic process.
Mental Health Matters
Articles & Resources
Borders Live in the Body: Immigration, Identity, and the Psychology of Belonging
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Burned Out or Just Tired? Understanding Burnout in Athletes
You can love your sport and still feel completely exhausted by it. Athletes are used to being tired. Hard practices, early mornings, long competitions, travel, school, and constant training are all part of being an athlete. So how do you know when you are simply tired...
A Body Worth Listening To: Moving from Correction to Connection
We live in a culture obsessed with optimization, renovation, and control. From a young age, we absorb a persistent message: your body is a problem to be solved. We are taught to fix it, shape it, quiet it, make it more productive, or alter its appearance. Even in...