Glossary
504 Plan
A plan developed to ensure that a child who has a disability and attends school in
kindergarten through 12th grade receives accommodations that will ensure their academic
success and access to the learning environment
Ableism
Discrimination and social prejudice against those who experience physical,
intellectual, or psychiatric disabilities.
Abstinence
Not engaging in any form at any time with a given behavior or substance; often used in
reference to sexuality or drugs
Abstract
Something that exists as a thought or an idea, but does not have a material or
physical existence; examples include beauty, friendship, truth, kindness, love,
time
Abstract Thinking
The ability to think in a way that applies concepts to different situations and
transfers patterns to generalizations
Abuse
The cruel or violent treatment of a person; abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional,
verbal, or a combination of these
ACEs
Adverse Childhood Experiences; common forms of abuse, neglect, and trauma experienced
before age 18
Adjust
The act or process of adapting to new conditions
Administrative Supervision
Supervision that provides you with information on the rules and requirements of your
Tribal Health Organization
Age of Consent
A legal term that means two people who are both 16 or older, or have no more than a
specific age gap under Alaska law, can agree to have sex with each other
Aggression
Hostile or violent behaviors or attitudes toward another person; aggression is often
the act of attacking without being provoked
Aggressive Communication
A form of communicating in which the communicator does not respect others’ rights to
be heard
Aggressor
The person who initiates acts of aggression
AIDS
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is the final stage of an HIV infection; not
everyone reaches this stage, and ART can help prevent it
Alaska Native Cultural Values
Beliefs that guide processes for gathering knowledge, living in a community and
ensuring social order
Alcohol
A colorless liquid made by the natural fermentation of sugars; the intoxicating part
of beer, wine, spirits (whisky, gin, tequila, vodka, etc.) and home brew; can be found in some
mouth washes, hand sanitizer, and some household cleaners, such as Lysol
Anger
A strong, uncomfortable feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility towards
someone or something
Anorexia
An eating disorder involving an obsessive focus on weight loss, inadequate weight for
the person's age, height, and body type, and distorted body image; includes calorie
restriction and may include purging
Antecedent
An event that happens before an emotional reaction
Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)
A combination of medicines used to treat HIV and prevent it from turning into
AIDS
Antisocial Personality Disorder
A personality disorder marked by a pattern of violating boundaries and disregarding
the rights of other people
Anxiety
Excessive worry that interferes with day to day living
ARCs
An emotional experience's antecedents (what happens before the emotional reaction),
responses, and consequences
Asexual
A sexual orientation involves never or not usually experiencing sexual attraction to
other people
Assertive Communication
A form of communicating in which communicators respect both their own right to be
heard and others’ right to be heard
Assessment
Screening a person for the presence of symptoms, problems, or difficulties related to
health and overall functioning
Assimilation
The process of becoming more similar to something; in colonization, being forced to
become like the colonizer and follow its cultural practices and not one's own
Attachment
The pattern and quality of interactions between a child and his or her
caregivers
Attention
In terms of ADHD, refers to the ability to concentrate or focus on one thing
without being easily distracted
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
A formal diagnosis involving a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity
and impulsivity
Authorization to Treat
A formal and documented process involving a client, or his legal guardian, giving
permission to a provider to treat him; also referred to as consent to treat
Autonomous
Having the right or power to self-govern; capable of making decisions
independently
Autonomy
Having a strong sense of self-determination, confidently making choices, and knowing
the self independent of others
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Is a developmental disorder that involves issues with social communication and
interactions or restricted or repetitive behaviors, interests or activities
Bereaved
To be deeply saddened by someone’s death; also, the family and close friends of
a person who died; the period of being bereaved is called "bereavement"
Binary
A term used in discussions of sexuality to refer to the two most common genders of
male and female; someone who does not identify with one of these genders may refer to
themselves as "nonbinary" and may use "they" as a pronoun instead of "he" or "she"
Bipolar Disorder
A formal diagnosis that involves moods alternating between depression and mania, or
depression and hypomania, at least once.
Borderline Personality Disorder
A personality disorder marked by a pattern of unstable emotions, relationships and
self-image
Boundaries
Limits that are set in the context of your interactions with another person, often
referring to limits set between providers (e.g., BHAs) and clients
Brief Intervention
A short, supportive, and nonjudgmental conversation with a client or patient about
their behavior; it is often educational and it is tailored to their specific
circumstances
Bulimia
An eating disorder characterized by the binge-and-purge cycle and distorted body
image
Bully (Bullying)
A form of aggression in which the aggressor uses strength or influence to intimidate a
victim
Burnout (Compassion Fatigue)
A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive stress, such
as at work; also known as "empathy fatigue"
Caregiver
Anyone who plays a significant role in the life of a child or adolescent, through
parenting, mentoring, providing guidance or support, and other forms of care giving
Case Management
A service provided to clients to help them manage daily activities and
functioning
Caseworker
Direct care providers who help clients with a wide range of care needs, which are
often related to daily living, health care, or other items on the client's treatment
plan
Central Nervous System (CNS)
The brain and the system of nerves throughout the body
Change Talk
When someone identifies how positive behavior changes look or the potential benefits
of new behaviors
Child Abuse
Repeated mistreatment or neglect of a child, resulting in damage or harm to that
child; this abuse can be physical, emotional, mental, verbal, sexual, or any combination of
these
Child Development
Guidelines for the stages of children’s’ development, growth, and learning
Cisgender
When a person's gender identity is the same as the gender they were assigned at birth
and their biological sex
Civil Commitment
A legal procedure to place a mentally ill person in a hospital against his or her
will, in order to protect that person or other people from harm because of the person’s mental
illness
Climate Change
Any major change in temperature, wind patterns, precipitation, and other climate
factors that lasts for a long time
Clinical
Refers to observations, assessments, treatments, and other treatment-related tasks
conducted for an actual (not theoretical) patient or client
Clinical Case Presentation
Verbal presentations of client cases during supervision; often with the intentions of
asking your supervisor or clinical team to discuss or recommend treatment options
Clinical Supervision
Supervision that supports you as you provide quality client services
Cognition
The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought,
experience, and the senses
Cognitive Changes
Changes in a person’s thinking and memory
Cognitive Disorder
A neurological (brainrelated) disorder that interferes with taking in, understanding,
and remembering information
Collateral Information
Client information that is gathered from sources other than the individual, such as
information from a child’s, family members, community members, school, or probation
officer
Colonization
Occurs when one nation subjugates another, conquering its population and exploiting
it, often while forcing its own language and cultural values upon its people
Communication
Verbal and nonverbal messages between people
Community Resources
Community-based individuals or organizations who can assist in providing or connecting
clients with resources necessary to meet basic needs, including housing, food, clothing, and
hygiene needs
Competencies
Refers to an individual having sufficient knowledge, skill, and abilities to
perform certain duties at specified level of performance
Complicated Grief
A chronic, stronger state of constant mourning that lasts longer than a year and
involves trouble accepting the loss even after a long time
Compulsive Behaviors
Behaviors that result from an irresistible urge to act a certain way, even if the
individual does not really want to act that way
Concrete
Something that has a physical existence or form; concrete things can be touched,
smelled, seen, heard, or tasted
Conduct
The way a person acts or behaves
Conduct Disorder
A diagnosis given to children who have repetitive and persistent conduct problems and
behave in a manner that demonstrates a lack of respect for self, others, and
property
Confidentiality
The act of protecting private information
Consent to Treatment
The process of a client (or his legal guardian) giving permission to a provider to
treat him
Consequence
The natural or logical result of an action; in parenting, allowing the result of a
child's action to happen or creating a response that makes sense in the context of that
action
Continuing Education (CE)
Courses required to maintain professional certificates or licenses
Crime
An illegal activity or action that a person takes against another individual or entity
and can be punished by the government
Custody
In family law, the right to make decisions about a child's health, education, and
wellness (legal custody) and the right to a certain number of overnights or certain scheduled
times with the child (physical custody)
Cyberbullying
A form of aggression in which someone uses electronic technology to influence or
intimidate a victim
Cyberstalking
The repeated use of electronic communications to harass or frighten someone, such as
by sending threatening emails or making aggressive social media comments
Cyclothymic Disorder
A formal diagnosis that involves moods alternating between dysthymia and
hypomania
Delirium Tremens
A severe, and possibly life-threatening, form of alcohol withdrawal that includes
sudden and severe mental or neurological changes
Delusions
Odd or bizarre thoughts or beliefs
Dementia
A severe, chronic mental condition involving changes in a person’s memory,
personality, reasoning, and ability to care for themselves
Dementias
A group of disorders characterized by reduction in cognitive functioning over time as
the result of an underlying brain condition. Symptoms may include: personality changes,
gradual loss of memory and decision-making abilities.
Dependence (Drug)
When the body becomes dependent on (or addicted to) a substance
Depressants (Downers)
A category of substances that temporarily decrease various activities and functioning
of the central nervous system
Depression
Extreme feelings of sadness, guilt, hopelessness and/or constant fatigue; often
includes a person’s withdrawal from others or a loss of interest in activities he would
usually enjoy
Designated Evaluation and Stabilization Facility
Specific hospitals that can evaluate and work to stabilize a person for up to seven
(7) inpatient days, sometimes 10 days
Designated Evaluation and Treatment Facility
Specific hospitals that can evaluate and treat persons for up to 30 inpatient days,
and more, if necessary
Detailed Ideations
Regular and long-lasting thoughts about killing oneself; these ideations may include
details of a plan for how and when the suicide will happen
Detoxification (Detox)
A process that helps to stop the intake of drugs or alcohol in people who are
dependent; the goal of detoxification is to safely rid the body of drugs or alcohol that
builds up
Development
Refers to the stages in growth, development, and learning that a person experiences
over time
Developmental Disability
A disorder present at birth or early in a person's life that is likely to impact them
throughout their life. It results in substantial impairment in a person's ability to care for
themselves and function independently in their community.
Developmental Disability Services (DD Services)
Community-based programs and services designed to enable individuals with
developmental disabilities to reside in their homes whenever possible and achieve the
potential for independence and self-sufficiency.
Developmental Disorders
Lifelong disabilities due to mental and/or physical impairments; these may cause a
person to have difficulty communicating with others, reading others’ body language, making and
keeping friends, learning basic life skills, or expressing emotions
Developmental Malformations
Problems with the development of parts of the body while the baby is in the
womb
Diaphragmatic Breathing
A conscious breathing exercise during which you use your diaphragm muscle to take deep
breaths; strengthens your diaphragm and fills your lungs with air more efficiently than normal
breathing
Direct Supervision
The process of consulting with your clinical supervisor before (sometimes during) and
after providing services to your client
Disability
A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life
activities
Discipline
A positive approach to correction that teaches a child why a behavior is unwanted and
helps the child make corrections
Diversion
When medications prescribed to one person are given to or taken by someone
else
Documentation
The process of keeping a permanent record of a client’s visit and treatment; this
record includes all documents, forms, and correspondence related to that client’s
treatment
Domestic Violence
A form of abuse involving power and control in an intimate parrtner relationship
between two peoeple of any gender(s); can include physical violence, sexual violence,
psychological violence, and emotional abuse
Dual Diagnosis
Having two or more disorders or diagnoses that are comorbid (co-occurring)
Dual Relationships
Situations where multiple roles exist between you and your client
Durable Power of Attorney
A formal document that gives a specific adult authority to make certain health care
decisions for a specific child or adult
Dyscalculia
A learning disorder involving difficulties with math
Dysgraphia
A learning disorder involving difficulties with writing
Dyslexia
A learning disorder involving difficulties with reading
Dysthymia
A chronic, though less severe, form of depression
Dysthymic Disorder
A formal diagnosis that involves symptoms of dysthymia, more often than not, for at
least one year.
Eating Disorder
A serious mental illness involving patterns of food restriction and/or purging that
can affect people in all walks of life
Educational Counseling
An intervention that provides clients with information and education related to their
presenting problems, such as issues related to medication, substance abuse, mental illness,
and family interactions
Emotional Abuse
A form of abuse that occurs when a child is repeatedly put down or made to feel
worthless or less than a person
Emotional Health
The ability to understand and be responsive to one's own emotional experiences and to
feel the full range of emotions, which makes it possible to fully enjoy life and be
flexible
Empathy
The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person; understanding why
our clients behave the way they do
Enable
To provide a person with the means or opportunity to continue their current
behavior (i.e., abusing substances) or to make possible, practical, or easy to continue their
current behavior.
Encopresis
A condition defined by stool or bowel movement accidents; can be retenive or
non-retentive
Enuresis
The inability to control urination; often results in urinary (peeing)
accidents
Environmental Influence
Traits that are learned based on a child’s experiences; overall environment's role in
development across the lifespan
Ethics
Standards that guide you in decision-making and action
Executive Functioning
Refers to how the brain uses what it has learned and remembers from past experiences
and makes connections to the present. It is the ability to plan, to organize oneself, to pay
attention, to remember details, to manage one’s time and space, and to reflect on oneself and
one’s work.
Extended Family
The family members who are part of a person's family tree through birth, blood,
marriage, remarriage, or adoption
Extinction in Discipline
Giving little to no attention to a negative behavior so that the person loses interest
in engaging in that behavior
Facial Features
Refers to the smooth philtrum, small palpebral fissures, and thin upper lip seen
together in individuals with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
Family Counseling/therapy
An intervention that may be used when a child or adolescent has a problem that impairs
or affects family and social functioning
Fetal Alcohol Disorders (FASDs)
A group of disorders caused by damage to the brain as a result of prenatal alcohol
exposure.
Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE)
A spectrum of neurological (brain-related) impairments that are a result of the child
having been exposed to alcohol while in utero
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
A cluster of symptoms directly related to a baby having been exposed to alcohol in
utero; problems may be evidenced in the child’s physical, mental, and social growth and
functioning
Fine Motor Skill
Small body movements (e.g., grasping a crayon)
Foster Child
A child who has been removed from the legal parents’ or guardians’ home and care due
to allegations of abuse, neglect, or inability to care for the child’s basic needs and, as a
result of these allegations, has become a ward of the state
Foster Family
Family members who may or may not be biologically related to a child who has been
placed in foster care, but who have committed to taking responsibility to provide shelter,
daily care, basic needs, and love to the child
Foster Home
The foster family's living quarters where a child in OCS custody is placed in order to
receive shelter and care
Gender (Assigned)
At birth, children are assigned a male, female, or nonbinary gender based on their
sexual organs, which may not be the gender they identify with as adults
Gender Identity
The gender a person identifies as, which may or may not match their assigned gender or
biological sex
General Supervision
The process of providing services independently AFTER your clinical supervisor has
consulted with you and authorized you to do so
Generalized Anxiety
Persistent worry about many things or everything
Genes (Genetics)
Traits passed down from parents to their children
Global Warming
An ongoing rise in the average temperature worldwide
Gravely Disabled
A condition in which a person, as a result of mental illness, is in danger of physical
harm (because the person is so ill they cannot take care of basic needs) or will, if not
treated, suffer (or continue to suffer) such severe distress that the distress will cause
significant impairment or impair their ability to function independently
Grief
Deep sorrow or distress caused by any form of loss, such as death, a breakup, loss of
work, or loss of a place to live
Gross Motor Skills
Large body movements (e.g., throwing a ball or running)
Group Counseling/therapy-
An intervention involving face-to-face meetings between a BHA/P or clinician and three
or more clients who have similar issues or concerns
Guardian
A person designated to take care of and provide basic needs for a minor
Guardian Ad Litem (GAL)
Someone whose job is to represent the best interests of a minor in court; GALs are NOT
legal guardians
Hallucinations
A sensory-based experience that others around the individual do not experience;
hallucinations can be seen, heard, felt, tasted or smelled
Harm Reduction
Practical strategies and ideas used to reduce negative consequences associated with
substance use.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 is a
federal law that established national standards to protect sensitive information from being
disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge
Health Record
A legal document that describes services provided to a client
High Risk Situation
A situation where a client or provider has the potential of being harmed
HIV
A sexually transmitted infection called Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which the body
can't get rid of completely, and which is treated through a combination of medicines to
prevent it from turning into AIDS
Human Trafficking
A form of modern-day slavery in which a trafficker uses force, fraud or coercion to
control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor
or services against their will
Hyperactivity
A state of too much muscle activity or energy; a hyperactive child may fidget or
squirm when seated, get up frequently to walk or run around, or run and climb excessively when
it is not appropriate to do so
Hypersensitivity
Unusually high sensitivity to sensory stimuli (visual, light, sound, touch, taste,
and/or smells)
Hypervigilance
Living in a constant state of heightened sensory sensitivity and intense responsive
behaviors
Hypomania
A persistent, though less severe, form of mania
Hyposensitivity
Unusually low sensitivity to sensory stimuli (visual, light, sound, touch, taste,
and/or smells)
Impulsivity
Acting suddenly on internal desires without thinking them through first
In-Home Services
Medical- and behavioral health-related services provided to patients in their home
setting rather than at a clinic or hospital
Incarcerated
Sentenced to jail or prison after being convicted of a crime
Incest
Any act of sexual activity between close relatives that is illegal, socially taboo, or
against religious norms, regardless of the person’s age or consent
Indian Child Welfare Act
A federal law that protects the interest of Indian children during placement
proceedings (custody, adoption, foster care, guardianships, etc.); the law also protects the
rights of American Indian and Alaska Native parents, families, and “Indian
custodians”
Indirect Supervision
The process of consulting with your clinical supervisor to plan for providing specific
services for a client
Individual Counseling/therapy
An intervention that helps clients better understand themselves and their problems in
order to cope with the stress of daily life
Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
A team approach to assessment and special education services
Inpatient Treatment
An intervention used for clients in crisis who have suicidal gestures, attempts or
thoughts with a plan, psychotic symptoms, or plans to harm someone else
Intellectual Disability
A disability characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning
and in adaptive behavior, which covers many everyday social and practical skills and appears
before age 18
Interventions
Different processes used to improve a client’s behavioral, thinking, or emotional
state; types and approaches vary according to the issue and severity of the problem
Intoxicated
A state of being physically, mentally, or emotionally affected by alcohol or another
substance
Involuntary Commitment
A legal procedure to place a mentally ill person in a hospital against his or her
will, in order to protect that person or other people from harm because of his or her mental
illness
Law Enforcement Officer
A peace officer, including an Alaska State Trooper (AST), a Village Police Officer
(VPO), a Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO), or a local city police officer.
Learning disorder
A neurological (brain-related) disorder characterized by problems with learning,
sorting, and storing information
Legal Guardian
Someone who is legally appointed to take care of and make decisions for someone
else
Legally Emancipated Minor
A minor who is living apart from his parents, managing his own financial affairs, and
has legal authority to consent to his own care
LGBTQIA+
An umbrella term for people who are not both cisgender and straight, which
stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other
groups
Libido
The drive and desire to engage in sexual activity; casually referred to as "sex
drive"
Life Skills
A person’s overall knowledge, skills, and abilities; life skills influence daily
functioning and an overall sense of health and wellbeing
Lying
Saying things that are not true or leaving out important information when telling a
story
Major Depressive Disorder
A formal diagnosis that involves multiple symptoms of depression, more often than not,
for at least two weeks.
Maladaptive Behavior
An inappropriate response, reaction, or adaptation to another person, situation, or
event that goes against common societal norms
Malpractice
A type of legal claim involving professional wrongdoing that results in harm or
injury
Mandatory Report
Situations that require you to make a formal report when you suspect a child, elder,
or vulnerable person is being abused or neglected or if he is at risk for harming himself or
others
Mandatory Reporter
Professionals and practitioners of the healing arts and public service providers who
are required by law to make mandatory reports
Mania
Extreme feelings of excitement, irritability, and racing thoughts; often involves
patterns of impulsivity and a decreased need for sleep
Mannerism
A habitual gesture or way of speaking or behaving
Mass Media (media)
A tool for accessing and communicating with large audiences of people
Master
The title given to court system personnel (usually attorneys) who can hear probate
matters, such as civil commitments, wills, and trusts.; almost every magistrate in Alaska has
been given a special appointment by the Alaska Supreme Court to handle civil commitment
matters, so when your local magistrate is hearing an involuntary commitment petition or
issuing an involuntary commitment order, the magistrate is sitting as a master, not a
magistrate
MC-100
A court document that must be completed and filed if a mentally ill person is to be
held for more than 24 hours
MC-105
A court document that must be completed and filed in order to take a mentally ill
person into protective custody to seek a mental health evaluation
MC-305
A court document issued by a judge or master, following the court’s finding that the
respondent is mentally ill or presents a danger to self or others
Media Technology
Includes the equipment, operating systems, and interactions that take place through
technology instead of face-to-face
Medicaid Waiver
An approval for money for home or community-based services for a child who experiences
severe learning disabilities or cognitive delays
Medical Necessity
A specific legal and health insurance term related to activities which may be
justified as reasonable, necessary, and/or appropriate, based on evidence-based clinical
standards of care
Medication Efficacy
A particular medication's effectiveness at treating the presenting problem
Medication Side Effects
Unwanted or unexpected events or reactions to a drug, ranging from mild to severe or
even life-threatening
Meltdown
An intense experience that happens when someone becomes overwhelmed by a situation and
loses control over their own emotional response to something; commonly seen in autistic
people; often confused with a temper tantrum, but is not the same thing
Mental Health
Knowledge, skills, and abilities related to a person’s emotions, thoughts, cognitive
functioning, behavioral functioning and ability to relate to others
Mental Illness
Presence of symptoms that inhibit a person’s emotional, thoughtful, cognitive or
behavioral functioning
Minimum Necessary
Sharing only the minimum amount of client information necessary to protect others from
harm or to coordinate services
Minor
Any client 17 years old or younger
Minor Consent Rule
A general rule that requires you to get written permission (consent) from a parent or
other adult who is legally responsible for a minor BEFORE beginning treatment
Mixed Message
When a person's verbal and nonverbal communication do not match
Mood
A person’s feelings, state of mind, or experience with emotions
Mood Disorder
Mental disorders that are characterized by mood problems
Mood Problem
A description of an individual’s difficulty managing or controlling his mood or
emotions
Mourning
The outward expression of the loss of a loved one
Motivational Interviewing
A client-centered therapeutic technique that encourages behavior change by helping
clients explore and resolve personal motivations for changing problematic behaviors
Neglect
A form of abuse that occurs when parents or caregivers do not take care of a child’s
basic needs, including providing the child with things needed for healthy physical and mental
growth
Night Terror
Frequent and recurring episodes of intense crying and fear while the child is
sleeping; it is usually difficult to wake the child during a night terror
Nightmare
Bad dreams that cause a child to experience fear, terror, or anxiety
Non-retentive Encopresis
A formal diagnosis involving the act of a child refusing to have a bowel movement
(poop) in the toilet
Nonverbal Communication
Any form of communicating a message from one person to another except words, including
eye contact, proximity, tone and volume of voice, body posture, gestures, and facial
expressions
Notice of Emergency Detention and Application for Evaluation
A court document that must be completed and filed in order to take a mentally ill
person into protective custody to seek a mental health evaluation
Obligation (Duty) to Warn
The act of warning another person if a client has made a credible threat to do
something that will put another person in immediate danger of serious harm
Office of Children's Services (OCS)
A state agency that “works in partnership with families and communities to support the
wellbeing of [Alaska’s] children and youth … to provide them (children) with safe and
permanent homes, to maintain cultural connections, and to help them realize their
potential”
Order on Petition for Involuntary Commitment for Evaluation
A court document issued by a judge or master, following the court’s finding that the
respondent is mentally ill or presents a danger to self or others
Outpatient Treatment
An intervention that is typically provided in local behavioral health offices;
typically accessed by individuals who are experiencing distress from behavioral health issues
at a level where less intensive methods are necessary
Overfishing and Over-hunting
What happens when so many of a type of fish or animal are taken from the population
that the species cannot keep up
Palpebral Fissure
The horizontal opening of the eye, from the inner tear duct to the outer tear duct; in
individuals with FAS, this fissure is much smaller than it is in a neurotypical
person
Panic Disorder
Causes panic attacks, which are sudden feelings of terror when there is no real
danger
Parallel Play
A developmental milestone during which time a child learns to play alongside other
children, but not always interact with them
Parent (Adoptive)
Someone who has completed all legal requirements as outlined by a court to become the
legal parent of a child; this parent may have met the child through the adoption process, as a
stepparent, as an extended family member, or in other ways before becoming the legal
parent
Parent (Biological)
The person who contributed the egg or sperm that combined to conceive the child and
whose genes are passed on to the child or the person who carried the child to term
Parent (Foster)
An adult who may or may not be biologically related to a child who has been removed
from their home, but who has committed to taking responsibility to provide shelter, daily
care, basic needs, and love to the child
Parent (Step)
A person who is not biologically related to the child and is married to or in a
long-term relationship with one of the child’s parents; may or may not take on a parenting
role
Parental Rights
The legal authority to make decisions about their children's health, education,
wellness, and religion and to spend time with the child
Parenting Style (Authoritarian)
Consists of rules that are identified and enforced by the parent with little to no
involvement from the child; deviation from the rules results in punishment
Parenting Style (Authoritative)
Rules provide structure and can be brainstormed, discussed, and questioned by the
child; consequences are meant to guide instead of punish
Parenting Style (Permissive)
Lacks rules and structure as parent tries to be a friend instead of a parent; causes
child to lack a sense of boundaries
Passive Communication
A form of communicating in which the communicator does not respect his own right to be
heard
Passive Ideations
Passing thoughts about suicide, such as wondering what it would be like if the
individual were not alive
Passive-aggressive Communication
A form of communicating in which the communicator does not respect his own right to be
heard, and he also does not respect others’ right to be heard
Patient Health Information (PHI)
Any patient health information (PHI) that is identifiable and used, maintained,
stored, or transmitted by a HIPAA-covered entity in relation to the provision of
healthcare or payment for healthcare services. HIPAA-covered entities include
healthcare providers, health plans or insurers, a healthcare clearing house, and business
associates of other HIPAA-covered entities.
Peer Support
A process of giving and receiving information and support between people who share
common experiences, situations, or problems
Perpetrator
A person who carries out a harmful, illegal, or immoral act
Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD)
A group of developmental disorders that typically cause a person to have difficulty
communicating with others, understanding social situations, or engaging in repetitive or
restrictive behaviors or activities
Petition for Involuntary Commitment for Evaluation
A court document that must be completed and filed if a mentally ill person is to be
held for more than 24 hours
Philtrum
The parallel groove between the bottom of the nose and the top lip; in individuals
with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, the groove is indistinct to nonexistent
Phobia
A persistent or obsessive fear of a specific object or situation, which may cause the
phobic person to avoid certain circumstances or places
Physical Abuse
A form of abuse that occurs when there has been physical (bodily) suffering or injury;
the most easily recognized form of abuse
Physical Health
The condition of a person's body and general health, from absence of disease to
fitness level, which is impacted by diet and nutrition, sexual health, physical activity, and
environmental health
Physical Illness
Presence of symptoms related to a person’s physical development and age appropriate
physical activity
Physical Sexual Aggression
Uninvited acts of sexual behavior; including molestation and rape
Play Therapy
An intervention that can help children and youth cope with emotional stress or trauma;
play therapy can help them express their feelings and bring emotions to the surface
Positive Reinforcement
When a person notices another person engaging in positive behavior and offers verbal
praise or rewards for that behavior; can occur in parenting, teaching, employment, or even
relationship and peer-to-peer settings
Postnatal
Refers to what happens to a baby after birth
Postpartum Anxiety
A form of anxiety that a woman can get in the first year after having a baby; can make
it difficult for her to eat or sleep and cause obsessive thoughts
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
A psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a
traumatic event, which may be in their personal lives, community, or other environment;
symptoms include re-experiencing, avoidance, arousal and reactivity, and cognition and
mood
Prenatal
The period of time before birth, during which the baby is growing and developing in
the mother’s womb
Prevention
Reducing the risk of developing various health-related illnesses, diseases, or
conditions before the onset of such circumstances; prevention involves education, personal
commitment and teamwork
Prevention (Primary)
Activities aimed at preventing a health-related problem before it happens
Prevention (Secondary)
Attempts to reduce the impact of a health-related problem that has already been
identified
Prevention (Tertiary)
Support provided to someone to lessen the impact of symptoms related to an ongoing or
chronic health problem
Primary Disabilities
Refers to those challenges that an individual experiences that are directly related to
a disorder or diagnosis
Private
The state of information being protected from public knowledge
Prolonged Grief
A reaction to loss that lasts more than six months and results in the person
experiencing an ongoing longing for the deceased loved one
Protective Factors
Positive influences that help protect a person or group against diseases and other bad
outcomes; these factors increase resiliency and help build positive relationships
Psychedelics
A category of substances that have properties of stimulants and depressants as well as
properties that alter a person’s perception of reality
Psychosis
Symptoms of a serious mental illness including hallucinations and/or
delusions
Psychosocial
Involving both psychological and social aspects along with mental health
Punishment
Creating a negative experience for a child in response to a behavior without teaching
the child how to do the right thing
Queer
A former slur that LGBTQIA+ people may choose to use for themselves but that straight,
cisgender people should not use
Referral
A formal process that directs a client to another agency, professional, or person for
a service
Referral Source
The person, agency, or organization that referred the client to you
Rehabilitation Services
Special health care services that help a person regain physical, mental, and/or
cognitive (thinking and learning) abilities that have been lost or impaired as a result of
disease, injury, or treatment and help people return to daily life and live in a normal or
near-normal way
Relationship
One person's connection, association, or involvement with another person
Release of Information
A formal document, completed by a client or client’s guardian, allowing you to
communicate with a referral source about specific information for a specified amount of
time
Residential Treatment
Long-term intervention that is helpful in changing behaviors that have not responded
to other types of treatment; it can take place in secure and unsecured facilities
Resiliency
The ability to “bounce back” or to recover from change or misfortune; resilient people
use their hard times to make themselves stronger for future hardships
Respite
A specific term for care provided to a child or elder so that the primary caregiver
can take a break
Retentive Encopresis
A formal diagnosis involving the involuntary condition in which a child is unable to
control his bowel movements
Revenue Cycle
The process of managing tasks and processes within the medical community to maximize
organizational compliance and optimize cash flow
Risk Management
A coordinated effort to identify and avoid risk, reduce risk to clients, contain and
correct problems that affect clients and providers, and reduce and manage legal risks to
providers and employers
Running Away
Leaving home for long periods of time (days) or leaving without approval from a
guardian
Safety Plan
An agreed upon plan for managing or treating symptoms that may arise outside the
context of a therapeutic setting; a safety plan may involve local and social
supports
Screening Tool
A set of questions that health professionals can ask to find out about a health
concern, such as a person’s alcohol drinking habits
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
A formal diagnosis that involves patterns of mood problems at certain times of the
year, such as experiencing depression once winter begins).
Secondary Disabilities
Challenges that are not present at birth, but instead develop from a lack of
recognition or support for the primary disabilities
Self-harm
The act of a person causing intentional harm to himself; also known as
self-injury
Self-injury
The act of a person causing intentional harm to himself; also known as
self-harm
Sensory Processing
How the brain takes in and makes sense of sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing, and
movement
Separation Anxiety Disorder
A formal diagnosis given to a child who experiences persistent fear related to being
separated from one or both caregivers or other family members
Setting Fires
Intentionally burning a person’s property or belongings
Severely Emotionally Disturbed
Refers to a child who is severely limited or impaired by a diagnosed
disorder
Sexual Abuse
A form of abuse that occurs when a person is used without consent for any sexual
activity or a child is used for any sexual activity regardless of consent
Sexual Aggression
Uninvited sexual behaviors or attitudes towards another person; physical sexual
aggression includes molestation and rape
Sexual Aggressor
The person who initiates acts of verbal or physical sexual aggression towards another
person
Sexual Assault
Unwanted sexual contact, including penetration or physical contact with intimate body
parts, or exposure of intimate body parts
Sexual Orientation
A way of describing the sex(es) and/or gender(s) a person is attracted to; this may
include the opposite sex, one's own sex, and/or one or more genders; also includes
asexual
Sexuality
The way(s) people express themselves as sexual beings, including sexual behaviors or
lack thereof, gender identity, and sexual identity and orientation
Sexually Reactive
A person acting out sexual behaviors that have been learned or observed; these
behaviors may be described as “inappropriate” for young children
Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)
An infection passed between people through sexual contact of any kind
Sibling Rivalry
Acts of jealousy, competition and fighting among siblings (children in the same
family)
Situational Problems
A problem or condition caused by a specific event or season of life, such as losing a
job or transitioning to retirement
Sleep Apnea
A medical condition that causes someone to stop breathing while sleeping; requires
medical attention
Sleep Walking
A sleep disorder that causes people to get up and walk around while
sleeping
Sober
Not intoxicated or under the influence; void of all substances
Social Anxiety
A formal diagnosis involving patterns of anxiety and excessive fear related to social
situations
Special Education
Specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of
a child with a disability, including: instruction delivered in the classroom, home, in
hospitals, and institutions, as well as other settings, for the purpose of assisting children
ages 3-22 with learning, cognitive, or developmental disorders that impact their ability to
learn.
Special Needs
A broad term encompassing anyone who needs support, services, or accommodations due to
a mental illness, medical need, cognitive disability, or physical disability
Specific Anxiety
Fears or worries about a specific event or object
Spiritual Health
Knowledge, skills, and abilities related to a person’s personal code of morals,
values, beliefs and ethics, sense of self-worth, self-identity, practice self-care, connect
with people and the environment, and to engage in continued sharing, learning and internal
discovery
Stalking
Unwanted and/or repeated surveillance by an individual or group toward another person;
behaviors are related to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in
person or monitoring them
Stealing
Taking something that does not belong to you
Stimulants (Uppers)
A category of substances that temporarily increase different aspects of physical and
mental functioning
Stressor
Any object, person, event or other stimulus that is a source of stress
Subsistence
Traditional culture and way of life; subsistence encompasses all the practices,
beliefs and values associated with hunting and gathering to provide resources for family and
community
Substance
A term commonly referring to alcohol and other substances, such as prescribed and
over-the-counter medicines, legal and illegal drugs
Substance Abuse
When a person uses a substance in a way that it was not intended to be used, including
excessive use of a substance
Substance Dependence
When a person is addicted to a substance
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
The sudden and unexpected death of an infant; the cause for the child’s death is often
uncertain or unexplained
Suicidal Ideations
Ideas or thoughts about killing oneself; also referred to as suicidal
thoughts
Suicidal Thoughts
Thoughts and ideas about killing oneself; also referred to as suicidal
ideations
Suicide
The act of a person intentionally killing himself; also referred to as “taking” or
“ending” a person’s own life
Suicide Attempts
A person’s unsuccessful effort to kill himself
Suicide Mortality Rate
The total number of deaths due to suicide per 100,000 people
Suicide Plan
A person’s plan to kill themselves; it may include information about when, where, and
how the act will take place, attempts to prepare others, or thoughts of killing someone else
too
Suicide Postvention
Assistance to the bereaved, the community, and first responders following a
suicide
Supervision
A process for providing professional support and learning, while also monitoring and
supporting clients’ health and wellbeing
Supervision Visit
Formal and informal meetings with your supervisor to discuss matters related to your
clinical practice or training
Temper Tantrum
An emotional outburst that is characterized by stubbornness, crying, screaming,
yelling, defiance, or angry rants
Teratogen
Refers to any substance that can cause developmental malformations. The effects of a
teratogen are dependent on how much of it is consumed (dose) and how often (frequency);
alcohol is a teratogen
Termination of Parental Rights
A parent's rights are transferred to the state or an adoptive parent or granted solely
to one parent
Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC)
A clinical intervention provided by trained foster parents to foster children
experiencing severe mental, emotional, and/or behavioral needs
Thin Upper Lip
Refers to the very small upper lip that occurs in individuals with FAS
Threaten
To show intent to cause harm to others and make others feel vulnerable or at
risk
Tic
An involuntary, sudden, repetitive movement or sound the person cannot
control
Tobacco Cessation Services
Tobacco cessation, usually called quitting tobacco or stopping tobacco, is the process
of discontinuing tobacco use
Tolerance
A person's diminished response to a drug or substance, which occurs when it is used
repeatedly and the body adapts to the continued presence of the drug or substance
Traditional Practices
Historically valued ways of living, being, and interacting with people and an
environment, that is grounded in cultural values and beliefs
Transgender
When a person's gender identity is not the same as their biological sex and/or gender
assigned at birth
Transitional Situation
Significant life changing events or circumstances that often affect a person’s daily
functioning and may be evidenced by his difficulty adjusting to the new conditions
Trauma
A cluster of symptoms caused by experiencing or witnessing an event or situation that
leaves the individual feeling intensely threatened, overwhelmed, or otherwise unable to
function in a healthy manner
Trauma (Complex)
An adult diagnosis for people whose untreated developmental trauma continues to affect
them in adulthood
Trauma (Developmental)
Trauma that occurs before a person turns 18
Trauma (Historical)
A wounding that occurs across generations from massive group trauma
experiences
Trauma (Mental)
The mind’s response to a serious injury or threat; may include frightening thoughts
and painful feelings
Trauma (Physical)
The body’s response to a serious injury or threat
Trauma (Secondary)
Occurs when a provider or other person hears or sees traumatic events occurring or
hears about them in detail; also known as indirect exposure to trauma
Trauma-Informed Care
An approach to treating a whole person, taking into account past trauma and the
resulting coping mechanisms when attempting to understand behaviors and treat the patient,
based on principles of safety and security
Traumatic Brain Injury
Damage to brain, resulting from an injury
Traumatic Stress
The manner in which the body reacts to extreme stress
Trial
A formal examination of evidence before a judge, and typically before a jury, in order
to decide guilt in a case of criminal or civil proceedings
Trigger (Trauma)
Something that brings up the memory of a traumatic event, causing the person’s high
alert switch to turn on
Unconditional Positive Regard
A term coined by Carl Rogers meaning showing complete support and acceptance of a
person no matter what that person says or does
Under the Influence
A state of being physically, mentally, or emotionally affected by alcohol or another
substance
Unexpected Outcome
A situation that results in a client having an unexpected response or reaction to
their treatment or treatment processes
Universal Screening
The process of using a screening tool to screen every person on a specific topic, such
as alcohol drinking habits
Vandalizing
Damaging or defacing someone else’s property or belongings
Verbal Communication
Conveying a message through words, whether written, over the phone, or in
person
Verbal Sexual Aggression
Sexually explicit talk, including sexual messages sent or received via cell phones or
internet-based social media
Victim
The person who is the target of acts of aggression
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
State-specific programs that provide funds, training, and support to help individuals
with disabilities successfully engage in productive activities in their community.
Wellbeing
The state of being happy, healthy, or physically and financially secure
Wellness
A healthy balance of the mind, body and spirit; this balance results in an overall
feeling of wellbeing
Wellness Activities
Activities that nurture a healthy mind, body and spirit
Withdrawal
A cluster of symptoms that develop when a person has stopped using a substance;
withdrawal symptoms can be life threatening and may require medical attention
