MindGlow Health Glossary

Also known as psychotherapy or talk therapy, therapy involves meeting with a trained mental health professional to explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, with the goal of improving well-being and coping with life’s challenges.

Psychiatry focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing mental health conditions through prescribing medication and follow-up medication management.

Medication management involves working with a healthcare provider to find the right medication, dosage, and ongoing plan to treat mental health conditions safely and effectively.

Counseling typically refers to short-term, solution-focused support provided by licensed professionals. While therapy can involve deeper exploration of emotional patterns over time, counseling often addresses specific challenges or transitions.

Coaching focuses on specific skills and goals and may also have an impact on an individual’s personal attributes such as social interaction or confidence. 

A physician trained in diagnosing and treating physical and mental health conditions, including prescribing medications. A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric and mental health conditions.

A registered nurse with advanced education and clinical training, able to diagnose conditions, treat illnesses, and prescribe medications.

A specialized nurse practitioner trained to diagnose, treat, and manage mental health disorders, including prescribing psychiatric medications.

A nurse practitioner who has met educational requirements and is certified to provide family care, including prescribing medication.

A registered nurse with specialized training who can diagnose and treat illnesses with medication support.

A mental health professional who has met educational, supervised practice, and licensure examinations, and provides counseling and therapy services for individuals, couples, and families facing emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues.

With a sharper focus on mental illness, these providers are also trained to provide different kinds of therapy and counseling.

A licensed therapist specializing in relationship dynamics, offering therapy for individuals, couples, and families.

A social worker with clinical training who provides therapy and support services for mental health and emotional well-being.

An additional certification that indicates a focus on substance abuse support.

With either a doctoral degree in philosophy or psychology, these mental health professionals provide therapy or focus on mental health research.

A structured, goal-oriented therapy focused on identifying and changing negative thinking and behavior patterns. 

Used primarily to treat PTSD, this therapy focuses on thoughts and feelings surrounding a traumatic event to help process it.

A therapy designed to help people manage intense emotions, develop healthy coping skills, and improve relationships, combining cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness. 

A therapy primarily used to treat trauma and PTSD, helping individuals process distressing memories through guided eye movements and other techniques. 

This therapy approach used to treat phobias gradually exposes an individual to fears in a safe way (in-person/virtual) guided by a therapist. 

Focuses on improving relationships as part of a more focused, time-limited process.

Therapy that incorporates mindfulness practices, such as meditation and breathing exercises, to increase awareness of the present moment and manage emotional distress. 

An approach to therapy that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and integrates this understanding into all aspects of care, prioritizing safety, empowerment, and healing.

An approach to therapy that uses your past experiences to understand how and why you interact with the world the way you do.

A group of mental health conditions marked by excessive worry, fear, or nervousness that can interfere with daily activities.
Learn more about Anxiety and how we can help. 

A mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities.
Learn more about Depression and how we can help. 

A condition involving extreme mood swings, including emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).
Learn more about Bipolar Disorder and how we can help. 

A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, leading to symptoms like flashbacks, severe anxiety, and intrusive thoughts.
Learn more about PTSD and how we can help. 

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties with attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
Learn more about ADHD and how we can help. 

A condition marked by recurring, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that the individual feels driven to perform.
Learn more about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and how we can help. 

A mental health condition involving intense moods and patterns of unstable relationships and vacillating emotions.
Learn more about Borderline Personality Disorder and how we can help. 

A condition in which someone becomes uncapable of controlling their use of substances like alcohol, drugs, or medications even when they know it’s causing them harm. Other behavioral addictions that cause similar behaviors include addictions to video games, gambling, eating, exercising, pornography, shopping, shoplifting, and sex.
Learn more about Substance Abuse Disorder and how we can help.

A personalized plan created with a provider to outline steps to take and contacts to call during a mental health emergency. 

A customized outline developed by you and your provider that sets goals and strategies for therapy or psychiatric care. 

A federal law that protects the privacy of your health information and ensures that your medical records are kept confidential.

Healthcare services delivered remotely via secure video or phone calls, allowing you to receive care from the comfort of your home.