Addiction

Addiction is a complex condition, a brain disease that is manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequence. People with addiction (severe substance use disorder) have an intense focus on using a certain substance(s), such as alcohol or drugs, to the point that it takes over their life. They keep using alcohol or a drug even when they know it will cause problems. Yet a number of effective treatments are available and people can recover from addiction and lead normal, productive lives.

Anorexia

Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness. It is an eating disorder characterized by restricting food, intense fears of weight gain, and distorted body image. Inadequate calorie intake and/or excessive energy expenditure result in potentially life-threatening damage to the body and metabolism. Supportive care by health care providers, structured behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, and anti-depressant drug therapy are some of the methods that are used for treatment. Despite stereotypes perpetuated by media, anyone, regardless of gender, race, or sexuality, can develop Anorexia.

Agoraphobia

A fear and avoidance of situations where you might feel unsafe or unable to escape if you have a panic attack

Anti-Social Personality Disorder

Persons with this disorder characteristically disregard the feelings, property, authority, and respect of others, for their own personal gain. This may include violent or aggressive acts involving or targeting other individuals, without a sense or remorse or guilt for any of their destructive actions

Anxiety

Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress. It is a feeling of fear and apprehension about what’s to come. Symptoms range from chronic, exaggerated worry, tension, and irritability and appear to have no cause or are more intense than the situation warrants. Physical signs, such as restlessness, trouble falling or staying asleep, headaches, trembling, twitching, muscle tension, or sweating, often accompany these psychological symptoms. Anxiety is among the most common, most treatable mental disorders.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders range from feelings of uneasiness to immobilizing bouts of terror. Most people experience anxiety at some point in their lives and some nervousness in anticipation of a real situation. However if a person cannot shake unwarranted worries, or if the feelings are jarring to the point of avoiding everyday activities, he or she most likely has an anxiety disorder.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADD-ADHD)

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, sometimes called ADHD, is a chronic condition and the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder among children and adolescents. It affects between 3 and 5 percent of school-aged children in a 6-month period (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999). Children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder have difficulty controlling their behavior in school and social settings. They also tend to be accident-prone. Although some of these young people may not earn high grades in school, most have normal or above-normal intelligence.

Asperger’s

Is often considered to be a developmental disorder that can usually be diagnosed prior to adolescence. People with Asperger’s experience repetitive and restrictive behaviours and interests that may lead to impaired functioning at work and socially. Asperger’s is considered one of the several disorders on the Autism Spectrum and is unique because there is no significant delay in language development. Many people with Asperger’s live full and productive lives without any (or minimal) treatment. Recent research is challenging the idea that Asperger’s is a disorder but much more study of this is needed.

Autism

Autism, also called autistic disorder, is a complex developmental disability that appears in early childhood, usually before age 3. Autism prevents children and adolescents from interacting normally with other people and affects almost every aspect of their social and psychological development.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Persons with this disorder are hypersensitive to rejection and thus, avoid situations with any potential for conflict. This reaction is fear-driven, however, persons with avoidant personality disorder become disturbed by their own social isolation, withdrawal, and inability to form close, interpersonal relationships.

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a severe, life-threatening, and treatable eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food (often very quickly and to the point of discomfort); a feeling of a loss of control during the binge; experiencing shame, distress or guilt afterwards; and not regularly using unhealthy compensatory measures (e.g., purging) to counter the binge eating. It is the most common eating disorder in the United States.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.

There are four basic types of bipolar disorder; all of them involve clear changes in mood, energy, and activity levels. These moods range from periods of extremely “up,” elated, and energized behaviour (known as manic episodes) to very sad, “down,” or hopeless periods (known as depressive episodes). Less severe manic periods are known as hypomanic episodes.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Symptoms of borderline personality disorder, a serious mental illness, include pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behaviour. The instability can affect family and work life, long-term planning, and the individual's sense of self-identity.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by excessive eating. People who have bulimia will eat an excessive amount of food in a single episode and almost immediately make themselves vomit or use laxatives or diuretics (water pills) to get rid of the food in their bodies. This behaviour often is referred to as the "binge/purge" cycle. Like people with anorexia, people with bulimia have an intense fear of gaining weight.

Compulsion

A compulsion is a behaviour designed to reduce psychic distress or discomfort due to factors such as depression or anxiety. Individuals engaging in compulsions typically feel an irresistible need to engage in the compulsive behaviour. Everyday behaviours such as hand-washing, praying, and counting can become compulsions.

Conduct Disorders

Children with conduct disorder repeatedly violate the personal or property rights of others and the basic expectations of society. A diagnosis of conduct disorder is likely when these symptoms continue for 6 months or longer. Conduct disorder is known as a "disruptive behaviour disorder" because of its impact on children and their families, neighbours, and schools.

Delusions

Delusions are bizarre thoughts that have no basis in reality.

Depression

Depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is a common but serious mood disorder. It causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. To be diagnosed with depression, the symptoms must be present for at least two weeks.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability. Dyslexia refers to a cluster of symptoms, which result in people having difficulties with specific language skills, particularly reading. Students with dyslexia usually experience difficulties with other language skills such as spelling, writing, and pronouncing words. Dyslexia affects individuals throughout their lives; however, its impact can change at different stages in a person’s life. It is referred to as a learning disability because dyslexia can make it very difficult for a student to succeed academically in the typical instructional environment, and in its more severe forms, will qualify a student for special education, special accommodations, or extra support services.

Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis is a term used to describe mental health issues experienced by people with a developmental disability. Sometimes, dual diagnosis identifies issues that are usually referred to as concurrent disorders, that is, psychiatric illness and addiction.

Developmental Disabilities

A disability of a person which is attributable to a condition closely related to mental retardation which results in impairment of intellectual functioning or adaptive behaviour.

Emotional Awareness

The ability to recognize and make sense of not just your own emotions, but also those of others

Emotional Regulation 

The ability to enhance or reduce your emotions as needed. 

Gender Dysphoria

Gender dysphoria, also known as gender incongruence, may be experienced by transgender individuals and others whose gender does not align with the gender they were assigned at birth. Some people may develop mental health concerns as a result of distress experienced with gender dysphoria, but this incongruence itself is not a mental health condition, just as being transgender is not a mental health condition.

Many—though not all—trans people experience dysphoria. Non-binary, agender, and other gender non-conforming individuals might also experience dysphoria, as may some intersex people. Anxiety, depression, stress, and feelings of isolation may develop in those who experience dysphoria, and a therapist or counsellor can offer support to individuals coping with these and other concerns.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

A mental disorder which is characterized by excessive anxiety

and worry about numerous possible events (not any single, specific event) that leads to problems with daily functioning. People with GAD worry all the time and experience many physical symptoms because of the worry (headaches, stomach aches, sore muscles, etc.) GAD can be effectively treated with psychological therapies or medications.

Grief

 A normal emotional suffering experienced by a person from a loss of a loved one (e.g. it is experienced when a family member dies). It is different from a depressive disorder. Grief is not a mental disorder.

Hallucinations

Hallucinations are experiences of sensations that have no source. Some examples of hallucinations include hearing nonexistent voices, seeing nonexistent things, and experiencing burning or pain sensations with no physical cause.

Learning Disability 

A condition giving rise to difficulties in acquiring knowledge and skills to the level expected of those of the same age, especially when not associated with a physical handicap

Learning Exceptionalities

This definition includes both students with disabilities and those with special gifts or talents.

Mania

A mood disorder which may be characterized by extreme elation, impulsivity, irritability, rapid speech, nervousness, distractibility, and/or poor judgment.

Mental Disorder

A disturbance of brain function that meets internationally accepted criteria (DSM or ICD) for a diagnosis. Mental disorders occur as a result of complex interaction between a person’s genetic makeup and their environment. Many effective treatments (provided by health professionals) for mental disorders are available. Sometimes people use the term “mental health disorder” when they mean mental disorder. This is not necessary.

Mental Health

A state of emotional, behavioural, and social wellbeing, not just the absence of mental or behavioural disorder. It does not mean lack of distress. A person can have a mental disorder and mental health at the same time. For example: a person may have a Major Depressive Disorder that has been effectively treated and is still taking treatment for the disorder. Now they have mental health as well as a mental disorder.

Mental Health Issue

A broad term used to describe mental distress, mental suffering or mental disorder. It is so broad that many researchers and health professionals think it is meaningless. We advise not using this term, but instead being clear about what you are talking about.

Mood Disorder 

A group of mental disorders related to problems in how the brain is controlling emotions. A person with a mood disorder experiences an abnormal change in mood. These include: MDD, Bipolar Disorder, and Dysthymia.

Obsessions

A repetitive, persistent, unwanted thoughts that the person cannot stop and which cause significant distress and impair the person’s ability to function. Mild and occasional obsessive thoughts are normal, but when they become severe and persistent they can be part of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) 

A mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life, and occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings. Compulsions are behaviours an individual engages in to attempt to get rid of the obsessions and/or decrease his or her distress.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

An ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behaviour toward authority figures that seriously interferes with the youngster’s day to day functioning.

Orthorexia Nervosa

Orthorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a fixation on the consumption of healthy foods and the avoidance of those perceived to be unhealthy. Those who have this condition may experience physical and emotional health issues, social isolation, and other issues as a result of their desire to maintain a pure diet.

Panic Attack

A sudden experience of intense fear or psychological and physical discomfort that develops for no apparent reason and that includes physical symptoms such as dizziness, trembling, sweating, difficulty breathing or increased heart rate. Occasional panic attacks are normal. If they become persistent and severe, the person can develop a Panic Disorder.

Panic Disorder

A person with panic disorder has panic attacks, expects and fears the attacks and avoids going to places where escape may be difficult if a panic attack happens. Sometimes, people with Panic Disorder can develop Agoraphobia. Panic Disorder can be effectively treated with psychological therapies or medications.

Paranoia

Symptoms of paranoia include feelings of persecution and an exaggerated sense of self-importance. The disorder is present in many mental disorders and it is rare as an isolated mental illness. A person with paranoia can usually work and function in everyday life since the delusions involve only one area. However, their lives can be isolated and limited.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse occurs when a person responsible for a child or adolescent’s welfare causes physical injury or harm to the child.

Phobias

Irrational fears that lead people to altogether avoid specific things or situations that trigger intense anxiety.

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression affects women after childbirth, typically within the first year. Mild and major depression is estimated to affect more than 19% of women in the first few months after childbirth. Symptoms of depression often go unrecognized, though, because women experience dramatic shifts in hormones during pregnancy and postpartum. Most new moms are likely to show signs of fatigue, for example, along with changes in appetite and sleep patterns, as they adjust to caring for a new baby.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is an anxiety disorder that develops as a result of witnessing or experiencing a traumatic occurrence, especially life threatening events. PTSD can cause can interfere with a person's ability to hold a job or to develop intimate relationships with others.

Pre-Existing Condition

A medical condition that is excluded from coverage by an insurance company because the condition was believed to exist prior to the individual obtaining a policy from the insurance company. Many insurance companies now impose waiting periods for coverage of pre-existing conditions. Insurers will cover the condition after the waiting period (of no more than 12 months) has expired.

Perception

The mental process of becoming aware of or recognizing information that comes from the five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch or taste. Proprioception (knowing where your body parts are without looking) is also a type of perception.

Personality Disorders

A general term for a group of behavioural disorders characterized by lifelong behaviour patterns. People with Personality Disorders don’t adjust or function well in changing social environments. Signs of these patterns may include poor judgment, emotional control, impulse control, relationship functioning, etc.

Psychosis

A mental state in which a person has lost the ability to recognize reality. Symptoms can vary from person to person but may include changes in thinking patterns, delusions, hallucinations, changes in mood, or difficulty completing everyday tasks (like bathing or shopping). Mental disorders such as Schizophrenia can include psychosis as a symptom. Psychosis can be effectively treated with medications and other additional treatments.

Schizoaffective Disorder

A psychotic disorder that has symptoms of both Schizophrenia and a major mood disorder. People with Schizoaffective disorder can be effectively treated with medications and other additional treatments.

Schizophrenia

A mental disorder that can usually be diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 25. People who have Schizophrenia experience delusions and hallucinations (psychotic symptoms) and many other problems that can make day to day living difficult. While Schizophrenia runs in families some people can get Schizophrenia without a family history of the disorder. Schizophrenia can be treated with medications and additional interventions that can improve the lives of people with the disorder.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

A type of Major Depressive Disorder that usually happens to people only or mostly at certain times of year (for example: winter).

Social Anxiety

Social anxiety, also known as social phobia, can be described as a fear of social situations or of interacting with people other than one’s close friends and family. When social anxiety is persistent or has a detrimental effect on one's daily life, therapy may be helpful in addressing this issue and exploring treatment and coping methods.

Stress

Stress is primarily a physical response. When stressed, the body thinks it is under attack and switches to ‘fight or flight’ mode, releasing a complex mix of hormones and chemicals such as adrenaline, cortisol and norepinephrine to prepare the body for physical action. This causes a number of reactions, from blood being diverted to muscles to shutting down unnecessary bodily functions such as digestion. Mild levels of stress are beneficial, however, excessive stress can have negative mental and physical health consequences.

Suicide

A death that occurs as a result of an action designed to end one’s life.

Suicide Attempt 

A purposeful act with the intent to end one’s life that does not cause death.

Suicidal Ideation 

Refers to thoughts, images or fantasies of harming or killing oneself.

Suicidal intent 

Is the commitment and expectation of death by suicide. (Future tense: the person intends to take their life. Past tense: the person intended to take their life).

Suicidal Plan

Is the mentally created plan to attempt to end one’s life

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Is an Anxiety Disorder that can be diagnosed in children which makes it very hard for them to be away from their parent. People with Separation Anxiety Disorder can be helped with psychological treatments

Social Phobia (also known as Social Anxiety Disorder)

Is an anxiety disorder regarding the fear of having to be in social situations. A person with Social Anxiety Disorder also avoids the situations that make them feel anxious. Examples include, the fear of public speaking, the fear of going to a party because other people are “judging” them, performing in front of other people. People with Social Anxiety Disorder can be effectively treated with psychotherapy or medication.

Self–harm

Is any injury that a person inflicts on themselves without the intent to die. Examples of self- harming behaviours include: burning or cutting following an emotionally upsetting event, burning or cutting as a method of manipulation or threat, burning or cutting as a way of solving a problem.

Sociopath (or psychopath)

Is a person with antisocial personality disorder.

Sociopathy 

Are the behaviour patterns and personality traits a sociopath displays such as superficial (fake) charm, having a lack of remorse (doesn’t feel badly/guilty about doing something wrong), and others.

Social Skills 

The skills we use to communicate and interact with each other, both verbally and non-verbally, through gestures, body language and our personal appearance.

Separation and Divorce

The legal dissolution of a marriage by a court or other competent body or the physical separation of a family prior to the legal dissolution.

Substance Abuse / Dependence

Use and abuse of drugs and alcohol.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse occurs when a person is used for gratification of another persons sexual needs or desires. Severity of sexual abuse can range from fondling to forcible rape.

Trauma 

Is any painful or damaging injury or event that harms a person’s physical or mental health.

Violence 

Is emotional, sexual and/or physical abuse towards someone usually in an effort to gain power or control of another person or group of people.

Art Therapy 

An integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.

Behavioral Therapy

As the name implies, behavioral therapy focuses on behaviour-changing unwanted behaviours through rewards, reinforcements, and desensitization. Desensitization, or Exposure Therapy, is a process of confronting something that arouses anxiety, discomfort, or fear and overcoming the unwanted responses. Behavioral therapy often involves the cooperation of others, especially family and close friends, to reinforce a desired behaviour.

Clinical Social Worker

Clinical social workers are health professionals trained in client-centered advocacy that assist clients with information, referral, and direct help in dealing with local, State, or Federal government agencies. As a result, they often serve as case managers to help people "navigate the system." Clinical social workers cannot write prescriptions.

Couples Counseling and Family Therapy

These two similar approaches to therapy involve discussions and problem-solving sessions facilitated by a therapist-sometimes with the couple or entire family group, sometimes with individuals. Such therapy can help couples and family members improve their understanding of, and the way they respond to, one another. This type of therapy can resolve patterns of behaviour that might lead to more severe mental illness. Family therapy can help educate the individuals about the nature of mental disorders and teach them skills to cope better with the effects of having a family member with a mental illness- such as how to deal with feelings of anger or guilt.

Cognitive/Behavioral Therapy

A combination of cognitive and behavioral therapies, this approach helps people change negative thought patterns, beliefs, and behaviours so they can manage symptoms and enjoy more productive, less stressful lives.

Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive therapy aims to identify and correct distorted thinking patterns that can lead to feelings and behaviours that may be troublesome, self-defeating, or even self- destructive. The goal is to replace such thinking with a more balanced view that, in turn, leads to more fulfilling and productive behaviour.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) 

This is a specific blend of cognitive and behavioural therapies developed to share acceptance-based strategies. Comprehensive DBT focuses on four ways to enhance life skills: Distress tolerance, Emotion regulation, Mindfulness, Interpersonal effectiveness.

Emotional Regulation Training

The learning and practice of emotional regulation strategies and skills in a group setting with peers and trained professionals. 

Executive Functioning Coaching

A set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. We use these skills every day to learn, work, and manage daily life. Trouble with executive function can make it hard to focus, follow directions, and handle emotions, among other things.

Evidence Based Practice

Is the standard of care that happens when the health provider uses the best available scientific information to provide the kind of care the patient needs.

Group Therapy

This form of therapy involves groups of usually 4 to 12 people who have similar problems and who meet regularly with a therapist. The therapist uses the emotional interactions of the group's members to help them get relief from distress and possibly modify their behaviour.

Individual Therapy

Therapy tailored for a patient/client that is administered one-on-one.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Through one-on-one conversations, this approach focuses on the patient's current life and relationships within the family, social, and work environments. The goal is to identify and resolve problems with insight, as well as build on strengths.

Life Coaching 

A person who counsels and encourages clients on matters having to do with careers or personal challenges.

Mindfulness Training

The teaching or learning of practices designed to help participants increase their ability to live fully in the present moment.

Motivational Interviewing 

A counseling method that helps people resolve ambivalent feelings and insecurities to find the internal motivation they need to change their behaviour. It is a practical, empathetic, and short-term process that takes into consideration how difficult it is to make life changes.

Narrative Therapy

A method of therapy that separates a person from their problem. It encourages people to rely on their own skills to minimize problems that exist in their lives. It brings awareness to how we give stories meaning, and how these stories shape a person's identity.

Play Therapy

Geared toward young children, play therapy uses a variety of activities-such as painting, puppets, and dioramas-to establish communication with the therapist and resolve problems. Play allows the child to express emotions and problems that would be too difficult to discuss with another person.

Psychiatrist 

A doctor who specializes in the practice of psychiatry (the treatment of people who have a mental disorder and the prevention of mental disorders). Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have had many years of additional training in psychiatric medicine.

Psychiatry

Is the medical specialty focused on understanding, diagnosing and treating mental disorders.

Psychologist 

A Ph. D level specialist in psychology licensed to practice professional psychology (e.g. clinical psychology), or qualified to teach psychology as a discipline (academic psychology), or whose scientific specialty is a subfield of psychology (research psychology).

Occupational Therapist 

A trained health professional that focuses on increasing a person’s independent functioning, improving social skills, and preventing disability using self-care, employment, and recreational (fun) activities. For example, helping someone with a mental or physical disability develop job competencies or improve their daily living skills.

Psychotherapy 

A type of treatment for emotional, behavioural, personality, and other psychiatric disorders based mainly on person to person communication. Psychotherapies can be evidence based (supported by many good research studies) or non-evidence based (not supported by many good research studies). It is important for a patient to know what the evidence to support the psychotherapy that they are being treated with is.

Parent Coaching

A certified professional who helps you cultivate a better relationship with your children. A parent coach assists the parents in creating parenting plans and then supports the parents as they practice these plans.

Therapist

A person who is professionally trained and/or skilled in the practice of a particular type of therapy.

Therapy

The treatment of disease or disorder by any method.

Tele-therapy 

The online delivery of speech, occupational, and mental health therapy services via high-resolution, live video conferencing.

Social Skills Training

A type of behavioral therapy used to improve social skills in people with mental disorders or developmental disabilities. ... It is delivered either individually or in a group format, usually once or twice a week, and is often used as one component of a combined treatment program.

Solution Focused Therapy (SFT)

A goal-focused evidence-based therapeutic approach which helps clients change by constructing solutions rather than dwelling on problems. 

Speech and Language Pathologist 

Work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.