Behavioral Health Glossary

A

Addiction A chronic disorder involving compulsive substance use despite harm.

Addiction Treatment Options Different levels of care used to treat substance use disorders.

Addiction Treatment Programs Learn about types of programs in California for addiction.

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) A neurodevelopmental disorder affecting focus and impulse control.

Adolescent Mental Health Mental health concerns affecting teens and young adults.

Adjustment Disorder Emotional distress triggered by a life change or stressor.

Anxiety Persistent worry or fear that interferes with daily life.

Anxiety Disorders A group of conditions involving excessive fear or worry.

Anxiety Treatment Learn about anxiety treatment in Southern California

Avoidant Behavior Avoiding situations that trigger distress or discomfort.

Acute Stress Disorder Short-term trauma response occurring soon after an event.

Aftercare Ongoing support following treatment to prevent relapse.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Traumatic events in childhood that impact long-term health.

Alcohol Detox Program Learn about alcohol detox in Southern California.

B

Bipolar Disorder Mood disorder with alternating manic and depressive episodes.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Instability in emotions, relationships, and identity.

Burnout Chronic workplace stress leading to exhaustion and detachment.

Behavioral Therapy Therapy focused on modifying harmful behaviors.

Benzodiazepines Medications used to treat anxiety and insomnia.

Biofeedback Technique teaching control over physiological functions.

Body Image How a person perceives their physical appearance.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) Recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food to the point of discomfort.

C

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Evidence-based therapy targeting thoughts and behaviors.

Coping Skills Strategies to manage stress and emotions.

Co-Occurring Disorders Mental health and substance use disorders occurring together.

Crisis Intervention Immediate support during mental health emergencies.

Clinical Depression Severe depressive disorder impacting daily functioning.

Codependency Excessive emotional reliance on another person.

Compulsive Behavior Repeated actions driven by urges or anxiety.

Case Management Coordination of community-based services for patient care.

D

Depression Persistent sadness and loss of interest in activities.

Detox Programs in California Learn about detox programs for drug withdrawal.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Therapy combining mindfulness and behavior change.

Dual Diagnosis Co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.

Detox The process of safely clearing substances from the body.

Dissociation Disconnection from thoughts, identity, or surroundings.

DSM-5 The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders used for diagnosis.

Drug Detox Program Learn about drug detox in Southern California.

E

Emotional Regulation Ability to manage emotional responses effectively.

Evidence-Based Treatment Therapies proven effective through clinical research.

Eating Disorders Serious conditions involving food behaviors and body image.

Exposure Therapy Gradual exposure to fears to reduce anxiety response.

EMDR Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for trauma recovery.

F

Family Therapy Therapy involving family members to improve dynamics.

Flashbacks Re-experiencing traumatic events vividly.

Functional Impairment Difficulty performing daily tasks due to mental health issues.

Fentanyl A potent synthetic opioid with a high risk of overdose.

G

Group Therapy Therapy conducted with multiple participants for shared support.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Chronic, excessive worry about daily life events.

Grief The deep emotional response to loss.

Grounding Techniques Exercises used to reconnect a person to the present moment.

H

Holistic Therapy Treatment addressing mind, body, and spirit.

Hypervigilance Heightened awareness often linked to trauma or PTSD.

Harm Reduction Strategies aimed at reducing the negative effects of substance use.

I

Inpatient Treatment Residential care for intensive mental health support.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) Structured treatment without an overnight stay.

Intervention A planned process to help a person seek help for addiction.

J

Journaling Writing down thoughts for emotional processing.

Joint Commission Accreditation A gold standard of safety and quality in healthcare facilities.

K

Ketamine Therapy Clinical treatment for depression using controlled ketamine doses.

Kiddie Schedule (Behavioral) A structured routine used to help neurodiverse children manage anxiety.

L

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) A licensed professional providing clinical therapy services.

Long-Term Care Extended support for chronic behavioral health conditions.

Lived Experience Personal knowledge gained through first-hand experience with mental health.

M

Mindfulness The practice of present-moment awareness.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) Severe depression impacting daily functioning.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Use of FDA-approved medications combined with therapy.

Mental Health Treatment Learn about mental health treatment in Southern California.

N

Neuroplasticity The brain’s ability to adapt and change over time.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder Mental condition involving an inflated sense of self-importance.

Neurodiversity Recognition of different brain functions as normal variations.

O

Outpatient Treatment Non-residential therapy and counseling services.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Intrusive thoughts (obsessions) followed by repetitive behaviors (compulsions).

Opioid Detox Program Learn about opioid detox in Southern California.

Opioid Use Disorder A chronic condition involving the problematic use of opioids.

P

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Condition triggered by exposure to a traumatic event.

Panic Disorder Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and the fear of future attacks.

Psychiatrist A medical doctor specialized in prescribing psychiatric medications.

Psychologist A mental health professional providing therapy and testing.

Q

Quality of Life The overall well-being and life satisfaction of a patient.

Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) A provider meeting specific state standards for behavioral care.

R

Relapse A return to substance use after a period of recovery.

Resilience The ability to recover and adapt after adversity.

Residential Treatment Live-in facilities providing 24/7 care and structure.

S

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Problematic use of drugs or alcohol leading to impairment.

Self-Care Activities and habits that support mental well-well-being.

Somatic Therapy Body-focused therapy used to release stored trauma.

Schizophrenia A disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking.

T

Trauma The emotional response to a distressing or life-threatening event.

Trauma-Informed Care A treatment framework that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma.

Trauma Treatment Learn about trauma and PTSD treatment in Southern California.

Transference When a patient redirects feelings for others onto their therapist.

U

Unipolar Depression Major depression without episodes of mania.

Urgent Mental Health Care Immediate care for non-life-threatening mental health crises.

Underlying Trauma Past unresolved trauma that influences current behaviors.

Urine Drug Screen A test used to detect the presence of substances in the system.

V

Vicarious Trauma The emotional impact of witnessing or hearing about others’ trauma.

Virtual Therapy Online counseling services conducted via video or phone.

Vocational Rehabilitation Support services helping individuals return to the workforce.

Vulnerability The willingness to be emotionally open and honest in therapy.

W

Wellness The active pursuit of overall physical and mental health.

Withdrawal Physical and mental symptoms experienced when stopping substance use.

Wraparound Services A collaborative team approach to support complex patient needs.

Women’s Mental Health Mental health issues and treatments specific to women’s experiences.

X

Xanax (Alprazolam) A benzodiazepine used for anxiety, often with a high risk of dependence.

Xanax Addiction Dependence on alprazolam leading to misuse or withdrawal symptoms.

XML Health Records Structured data formats used for interoperability in EHR systems.

Y

Youth Mental Health Mental health issues affecting children and adolescents.

Youth Therapy Counseling services tailored specifically for younger populations.

Yoga Therapy Using yoga practices to support mental health and trauma release.

Z

Zero Suicide A healthcare framework focused on preventing suicide within systems.

Zoloft (Sertraline) An SSRI antidepressant used for depression, anxiety, and OCD.

Zoning Out A common term for dissociation or mental disengagement during stress.

Zoom Therapy Telehealth services specifically using video conferencing software.