Mental health conversations often include terms that may feel unfamiliar at first. From therapy approaches like CBT and DBT to clinical terms such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or diagnosis, understanding the language of mental health can make it easier to navigate care and feel more confident when seeking support.
This glossary was created as a simple reference guide for anyone who wants to better understand common mental health terms. Whether you are exploring therapy, supporting a loved one, reviewing workplace mental health resources, or simply learning more about emotional wellbeing, these definitions can help make complex language feel more approachable.
The terms included here are for educational purposes only and are not meant to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have questions about your mental health or a specific condition, speaking with a licensed mental health professional can help you receive personalized guidance and support.
A
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
A type of therapy that helps people accept difficult thoughts and emotions while taking actions aligned with their values and goals.
Acute
A condition or symptom that appears suddenly, is often intense, and typically lasts for a short period.
Addiction
A condition involving physical, emotional, or behavioral dependence on a substance or activity despite harmful consequences.
Adjustment Disorder
An emotional or behavioral response to a stressful life event that causes significant distress or difficulty functioning.
Agoraphobia
An anxiety disorder involving fear of situations where escape may feel difficult or help may not be available.
Alzheimer’s Disease
A progressive neurological condition that affects memory, thinking, and daily functioning.
Anorexia Nervosa
An eating disorder characterized by extreme food restriction, fear of weight gain, and a distorted body image.
Antidepressants
Medications commonly prescribed to help treat depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental health conditions.
Antisocial Personality Disorder
A personality disorder characterized by a persistent disregard for the rights, safety, and feelings of others.
Anxiety
A feeling of worry, nervousness, or fear about future events or uncertain situations.
Anxiety Disorder
A group of mental health conditions involving excessive fear, worry, or anxiety that interferes with daily life.
Art Therapy
A therapeutic approach that uses creative activities such as drawing, painting, or sculpting to support emotional expression and healing.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
A neurodevelopmental condition involving difficulties with attention, focus, impulse control, and/or hyperactivity.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
A neurodevelopmental condition that affects communication, social interaction, behavior, and sensory processing.
Avoidant Personality Disorder
A personality disorder characterized by social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and extreme sensitivity to criticism or rejection.
B
Behavioral Therapy
A type of therapy focused on identifying and changing unhealthy or self-destructive behaviors.
Benzodiazepines
A class of medications commonly prescribed to treat anxiety, panic disorders, and insomnia.
Binge Eating Disorder
An eating disorder involving recurring episodes of eating large amounts of food accompanied by feelings of loss of control.
Biological Therapy
Treatment approaches that target biological processes, including medications and medical interventions.
Bipolar Disorder
A mood disorder characterized by shifts between depressive episodes and periods of elevated mood, energy, or activity.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
A mental health condition involving excessive concern about perceived flaws in physical appearance.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
A personality disorder characterized by emotional instability, intense relationships, impulsive behaviors, and difficulties with self-image.
Boundaries
Personal limits that help protect emotional, physical, and psychological wellbeing.
Bulimia Nervosa
An eating disorder involving binge eating followed by behaviors such as vomiting or excessive exercise.
C
Case Manager
A healthcare professional who helps coordinate treatment, services, and support for individuals receiving care.
Chronic
A condition or symptom that persists over an extended period and may require ongoing management.
Clinical Psychologist
A licensed mental health professional trained to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions.
Cognition
Mental processes involved in thinking, learning, remembering, reasoning, and problem-solving.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
A widely used therapy that helps people identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors.
Comorbidity
The presence of two or more mental or physical health conditions occurring at the same time.
Compulsion
A repetitive behavior or mental action performed to reduce anxiety or distress.
Coping Mechanisms
Strategies people use to manage stress, difficult emotions, or challenging situations.
D
Delusion
A fixed belief that remains strongly held despite evidence showing it is not based in reality.
Dementia
A condition involving a decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning severe enough to affect daily life.
Depression
A mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest, low energy, and difficulty functioning.
Diagnosis
The process of identifying a mental health condition based on symptoms, assessments, and professional evaluation.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
A therapy approach that combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness and emotional regulation skills.
Distress
A state of emotional, psychological, or physical suffering caused by stress or difficult experiences.
Dual Diagnosis
The presence of both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder at the same time.
Dyslexia
A learning difference that affects reading, spelling, and language processing skills.
E
Eating Disorder
A mental health condition involving unhealthy relationships with food, eating behaviors, or body image.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
A therapy often used to help individuals process and recover from traumatic experiences.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
A therapy commonly used for OCD that helps individuals face fears without engaging in compulsive behaviors.
F
Family Therapy
A type of therapy focused on improving communication, relationships, and functioning within families.
G
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
A condition involving excessive and persistent worry about everyday situations.
Grief
The emotional response to loss, often associated with the death of a loved one but not limited to it.
Group Therapy
A form of therapy where multiple participants meet with a therapist to share experiences and receive support.
H
Hallucination
A sensory experience that feels real but occurs without an external source, such as hearing or seeing things that are not present.
I
Individual Therapy
A one-on-one therapeutic relationship between a client and a licensed mental health professional.
Intervention
A structured conversation designed to encourage someone to seek help for a mental health or substance use concern.
M
Major Depressive Disorder
A clinical form of depression involving persistent low mood and loss of interest that significantly affects daily functioning.
Mental Health
A person’s emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing.
Mindfulness
The practice of paying attention to the present moment with awareness and without judgment.
Mood Disorder
A category of mental health conditions primarily affecting emotional state and mood regulation.
N
Neurodiversity
The concept that neurological differences such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and others are natural variations of the human experience.
Nervous System Regulation
The process of helping the body and mind return to a state of balance after stress or activation.
O
Obsession
An unwanted and intrusive thought, image, or urge that causes distress.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
A condition involving recurring obsessions and compulsions that interfere with daily life.
P
Panic Attack
A sudden episode of intense fear or discomfort accompanied by physical and emotional symptoms.
Panic Disorder
A condition characterized by recurring panic attacks and fear of future attacks.
Phobia
An intense and persistent fear of a specific object, situation, or activity.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
A mental health condition that may develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.
Psychiatrist
A medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions, including prescribing medication.
Psychologist
A licensed professional trained to assess and treat mental health concerns through therapy and psychological evaluation.
Psychotherapy
A broad term for therapeutic conversations and treatments designed to improve mental health and wellbeing.
S
Self-Care
Intentional activities and habits that support physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing.
Social Anxiety Disorder
A condition involving intense fear of social situations and being judged by others.
Stress
The body’s emotional and physical response to challenges, demands, or pressure.
Substance Use Disorder
A condition involving the repeated use of substances despite harmful consequences.
T
Therapist
A licensed mental health professional who provides therapy and emotional support.
Trauma
An emotional response to a deeply distressing or overwhelming experience.
Trauma-Informed Care
An approach that recognizes the impact of trauma and prioritizes safety, empathy, and support.
V
Vicarious Trauma
Emotional strain that can result from hearing about or witnessing the traumatic experiences of others.
Vicarious Racism
The emotional and psychological impact of witnessing or repeatedly being exposed to racism affecting others.
W
Workplace Mental Health
The emotional and psychological wellbeing of employees within the work environment.
Workplace Wellbeing
A broader concept that includes mental, emotional, physical, social, and financial wellbeing in the workplace.
Work-Life Balance
The ability to maintain healthy boundaries between work responsibilities and personal life.
