Mental Health Glossary

Anxiety

Anxiety is a natural emotional response characterized by feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.

Burnout

Burnout is a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion resulting from prolonged and excessive stress, particularly in work or caregiving contexts.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a structured, evidence-based form of psychotherapy that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to emotional distress.

Depression

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, and loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.

Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, manage, and effectively use emotions in oneself and in interactions with others.

Implementation Intention

An implementation intention is an if-then plan linking a recognizable situation to a specific action in support of a goal.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment with openness and curiosity.

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life, allowing adaptation to new experiences, learning, and recovery from injury.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event, characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

Resilience

Resilience is the psychological capacity to adapt, recover, and grow in the face of adversity, stress, trauma, or significant sources of challenge.

Self-Care

Self-care refers to deliberate activities and practices that individuals engage in to maintain and improve their physical, mental, and emotional health.

Sleep Latency

Sleep latency is the time between trying to fall asleep and actually falling asleep. It is different from total sleep time or time spent in bed.

Working Memory

Working memory holds and updates a limited amount of information while you use it for a current task, such as following instructions or calculating a total.

Acceptance

Allowing experience to be as it is without struggle.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

A 'third wave' CBT focused on psychological flexibility.

Action Potential

An electrical signal traveling along a neuron.

Action Stage

A stage of change involving active behavior modification.

Active Listening

A communication practice of fully attending to another.

Acute Stress

A short-term stress response to an immediate threat or demand.

Acute Stressor

A short-term demand or threat.

Adjustment Disorder

Emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor.

Adlerian Therapy

An approach emphasizing social interest and life goals.

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Stressful or traumatic events in childhood with long-term effects.

Adversity

A serious or persistent difficulty.

Aerobic Capacity

The maximum oxygen a body can use during exercise.

Aerobic Exercise

Sustained activity that improves cardiovascular fitness and brain function.

Affect

The observable expression of emotion.

Agoraphobia

Fear of situations where escape may be difficult, often linked to panic.

Alexithymia

Difficulty identifying and describing emotions.

Allostasis

The body's process of maintaining stability through change.

Allostatic Load

The wear and tear from chronic stress.

Anchoring

Mentally fixing on a single piece of information when deciding.

Anhedonia

Reduced ability to feel pleasure, common in depression.

Antidepressant

A class of medications used to treat depression and anxiety.

Anxiety In depth

Anxiety is a natural emotional response characterized by feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.

Aphantasia

The inability to form mental images.

Art Therapy

Therapeutic use of creative expression.

Astrocyte

A type of glial cell supporting neurons.

Attachment Style

Patterns of relating to close others, developed in early life.

Attribution

The process of explaining causes of behavior.

Atypical Antipsychotic

A newer class of antipsychotic medication.

Autism

A lifelong neurodevelopmental difference involving social, sensory, and processing differences.

Avoidance

Behavioral or cognitive strategies to escape distressing experiences.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

A persistent pattern of social inhibition and feelings of inadequacy.

Axon

The long projection of a neuron that carries signals away.

Basal Ganglia

Brain structures involved in movement and habit.

BDNF

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, a protein supporting neuronal growth.

Behavioral Activation

A depression treatment that schedules valued activities.

Behavioral Contract

A written agreement about behaviors and consequences.

Behavioral Inhibition

A temperament marked by withdrawal from novelty.

Benzodiazepine

A class of sedative medications with risk of dependence.

Bibliotherapy

Therapeutic use of reading material.

Binge Eating Disorder

Recurrent episodes of eating large amounts with loss of control.

Bipolar I Disorder

A bipolar disorder defined by full manic episodes.

Bipolar II Disorder

A bipolar disorder with hypomania and major depression.

Body Doubling

Working alongside someone for accountability and focus.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Preoccupation with perceived flaws in physical appearance.

Borderline Personality Disorder

A condition marked by emotional instability and intense relationships.

Brain Stem

The structure connecting the brain to the spinal cord.

Brief Therapy

A short, focused course of therapy.

Burnout In depth

Burnout is a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion resulting from prolonged and excessive stress, particularly in work or caregiving contexts.

Cardiovascular Health

Heart and blood-vessel function, closely linked to brain health.

Catastrophizing

A cognitive distortion that imagines the worst-case outcome.

Catatonia

A state involving abnormal movement and unresponsiveness.

Cerebellum

A brain region involved in coordination and learning.

Cerebral Cortex

The brain's outer layer, central to higher cognition.

Chronic Stress

Stress that persists over extended periods.

Chronotype

Individual variation in preferred sleep and wake times.

Circadian Rhythm

The body's roughly 24-hour internal clock.

Clinical Psychology

The branch of psychology focused on assessing and treating mental health.

Clinical Trial

A planned study testing an intervention in people under defined conditions.

Co-Regulation

Borrowing another nervous system's calm to settle your own.

Coaching

A non-clinical practice of supporting goals and growth.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) In depth

CBT is a structured, evidence-based form of psychotherapy that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to emotional distress.

Cognitive Bias

A systematic error in thinking that affects decisions.

Cognitive Decline

Gradual loss of cognitive function over time.

Cognitive Defusion

Stepping back from thoughts so they have less control.

Cognitive Dissonance

Discomfort from holding conflicting beliefs or behaviors.

Cognitive Distortion

An inaccurate pattern of thinking that maintains distress.

Cognitive Flexibility

The ability to switch perspectives or strategies.

Cognitive Hypnotherapy

An integration of CBT and hypnosis.

Cognitive Reserve

The brain's capacity to maintain function despite damage.

Cognitive Restructuring

Identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts.

Comorbidity

The presence of two or more conditions in the same person.

Compassion

Awareness of suffering with motivation to help.

Compassion-Focused Therapy

A therapy that cultivates self-compassion to reduce shame.

Compounded Medication

A medicine prepared by a pharmacy for a specific need; not an FDA-approved product.

Compulsion

A repetitive behavior or mental act done to reduce distress.

Conditioning

Learning that links stimuli with responses.

Conduct Disorder

A childhood pattern of violating norms and others' rights.

Confidentiality

The ethical and legal duty to protect client information.

Confirmation Bias

Tendency to favor information that confirms existing beliefs.

Containment

Holding difficult material in a way that feels safe.

Coping

Strategies for managing stressors.

Corpus Callosum

The fiber bundle connecting the two brain hemispheres.

Cortisol Awakening Response

A normal cortisol spike soon after waking.

Counseling

A relational practice supporting personal and emotional growth.

Counter-Conditioning

Replacing an unwanted response with a new one.

Countertransference

A therapist's emotional response to a client.

Couples Counseling

Counseling for partners on relationship dynamics.

Crisis Intervention

Short-term help in acute distress or danger.

Cue

A trigger that prompts a behavior.

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome

Episodes of severe vomiting, sometimes linked to migraine.

Cyclothymia

A milder, chronic form of bipolar disorder.

Deep Brain Stimulation

An implant-based treatment for severe psychiatric and movement conditions.

Default Mode Network

A brain network active during rest and self-referential thought.

Defense Mechanism

An unconscious strategy to protect from anxiety.

Delayed Sleep Phase

A pattern of later-than-typical sleep and wake times.

Delusion

A fixed false belief held despite contrary evidence.

Dementia

A broad category of conditions involving significant cognitive decline.

Dendrite

The branched projection that receives signals from other neurons.

Dependent Personality Disorder

A pervasive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive behavior.

Depression In depth

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, and loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.

Derealization

Feeling that the outside world is unreal or detached.

Dialectical Thinking

Holding apparently opposing truths at the same time.

Disorganized Attachment

An attachment pattern marked by lack of a coherent strategy.

Disorganized Speech

Speech that is hard to follow, sometimes seen in psychosis.

Dissociation

A disconnection between thoughts, identity, memory, or perception.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

A condition involving two or more distinct identity states.

Distress

Negative, often overwhelming stress.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in motivation and reward.

Dyscalculia

A specific learning difference in math.

Dysgraphia

A specific learning difference in writing.

Dyslexia

A specific learning difference in reading.

Dysphoria

A profound state of unease or dissatisfaction.

Dysthymia

A persistent, chronic form of depression (now persistent depressive disorder).

Eating Disorder

Conditions marked by abnormal eating patterns that affect health.

Echolalia

The repetition of speech, often serving communicative or self-regulating functions.

Ego

In psychoanalytic theory, the mediating part of the self.

Ego-Dystonic

Experienced as inconsistent with one's sense of self.

Ego-Syntonic

Experienced as consistent with one's sense of self.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

A brain-stimulation treatment for severe depression.

Emotion-Focused Coping

Coping aimed at managing emotional response.

Emotion-Focused Therapy

A therapy emphasizing emotional processing and change.

Emotional Granularity

The ability to distinguish emotions precisely.

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) In depth

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, manage, and effectively use emotions in oneself and in interactions with others.

Emotional Regulation

Managing the intensity and expression of emotions.

Empathic Listening

Listening that conveys understanding of feelings.

Empathy

The capacity to sense others' feelings.

Episodic Memory

Memory of personally experienced events.

Eustress

Positive, motivating stress.

Existential Therapy

A therapy focused on meaning, freedom, and mortality.

Exposure and Response Prevention

An evidence-based OCD treatment.

Extinction

The gradual weakening of a conditioned response.

Extrinsic Motivation

Motivation arising from external rewards.

Family Systems Therapy

Therapy treating the family as an interconnected system.

Family-Based Treatment

An evidence-based therapy for adolescent eating disorders.

FDA Approval

A regulator's decision that a medicine's benefits outweigh its risks for a specific use.

Fight-Flight-Freeze

Automatic responses to perceived threat.

Flow

A state of full absorption in a challenging activity.

Frontal Lobe

The brain region behind the forehead, central to planning and self-control.

Functional Neurological Disorder

Neurological symptoms not explained by structural disease.

Fundamental Attribution Error

Overestimating disposition and underestimating context in others' behavior.

GABA

The brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Excessive, ongoing worry across multiple domains for at least six months.

Gestalt Therapy

A present-focused therapy emphasizing awareness and contact.

GHRH

Growth hormone releasing hormone, the signal that triggers growth hormone release.

GLP-1

A gut hormone released after eating that signals fullness and supports insulin release.

Glutamate

The brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter.

Glymphatic System

The brain's waste-clearance system, most active during sleep.

Gray Matter

Brain tissue composed mostly of neuron cell bodies.

Grief

A natural response to loss involving emotional and physical reactions.

Grounding Technique

A sensory or cognitive strategy to anchor in the present.

Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

CBT delivered in a group format.

Group Dynamics

Patterns of interaction within a group.

Growth Hormone Secretagogue

A compound that prompts the pituitary to release growth hormone.

Habit Loop

Cue-routine-reward pattern underlying habits.

Habit Reversal Training

Behavioral treatment for tics and habit disorders.

Habit Stacking

Anchoring a new habit to an existing one.

Habituation

Decreased response to a repeated stimulus.

Hallucination

A sensory experience without an external stimulus.

Hardiness

A personality style involving commitment, control, and challenge.

Health Psychology

The study of psychology applied to health behaviors and outcomes.

Hearing Health

Auditory function tied to long-term cognitive outcomes.

Heuristic

A mental shortcut used in decision-making.

Hippocampus

A brain region central to memory formation.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

A pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking.

Hoarding Disorder

Persistent difficulty discarding possessions, causing distress.

HPA Axis

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis that regulates stress hormones.

Humanistic Therapy

Therapy emphasizing growth, self-acceptance, and the therapeutic relationship.

Hydration

Adequate fluid intake supporting cognitive performance.

Hyperfocus

An intense, sustained focus on an engaging task.

Hypersomnia

Excessive sleepiness or sleep duration.

Hypervigilance

A heightened state of sensory sensitivity and threat scanning.

Hypomania

A milder, often more functional form of mania.

Hypothalamus

A small brain region regulating many body functions.

Identity-First Language

Language placing the identity first (e.g., 'autistic person').

Idiopathic Hypersomnia

Excessive sleepiness without an identified cause.

Imaginal Exposure

Confronting feared content through guided imagination.

Implementation Intention In depth

An implementation intention is an if-then plan linking a recognizable situation to a specific action in support of a goal.

Implicit Memory

Memory expressed in behavior without conscious recall.

Incretin

A gut hormone, such as GLP-1 or GIP, that amplifies insulin release after eating.

Informed Consent

Permission given with full understanding of risks and benefits.

Insight

Awareness of one's condition and patterns.

Insomnia

Persistent difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Insula

A brain region linked to interoception and emotion.

Integration

Making sense of and applying therapeutic insights to daily life.

Interoception

Awareness of internal body sensations.

Interoceptive Exposure

Inducing feared body sensations under controlled conditions.

Interpersonal Effectiveness

Skills for navigating relationships well.

Interpersonal Therapy

A therapy focused on relationships and life events.

Intrinsic Motivation

Motivation arising from internal satisfaction.

Jet Lag

Disruption from rapid travel across time zones.

Limbic System

A set of brain structures involved in emotion and memory.

Limit-Setting

Communicating and maintaining personal boundaries.

Lithium

A mood-stabilizing medication used in bipolar disorder.

Locus of Control

Beliefs about whether outcomes are within or outside one's control.

Long-Term Potentiation

A lasting strengthening of synapses underlying learning.

Maintenance Stage

A stage of change focused on sustaining new behavior.

Major Depressive Disorder

A diagnosable condition of persistent depression.

Mania

An elevated, expansive, or irritable mood with high energy.

Masking

Suppressing or camouflaging neurodivergent traits.

Meaning-Making

The process of finding significance in experiences.

Mediterranean Diet

A vegetable, fish, and olive-oil-rich pattern linked to cognitive benefits.

Melatonin

A hormone that signals nighttime to the brain.

Mentalization-Based Therapy

A therapy focused on understanding mental states.

Metacognition

Thinking about one's own thinking.

Microsleep

Brief, involuntary lapses into sleep.

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Cognitive changes greater than normal aging but below dementia.

MIND Diet

An eating pattern blending Mediterranean and DASH for cognitive health.

Mindfulness In depth

Mindfulness is the practice of maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment with openness and curiosity.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy

A relapse-prevention therapy combining MBSR and CBT.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

An eight-week program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn.

Mirror Neuron

A neuron active both when acting and when observing the same act.

Mitochondria

Cellular structures that produce energy, important for brain function.

Mixed Episode

A state with features of both mania and depression.

Mood Disorder

A category of conditions primarily affecting emotional state.

Motivational Interviewing

A collaborative style for strengthening motivation to change.

Myelin

A fatty sheath that speeds neural signal transmission.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

A pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and low empathy.

Narcolepsy

A neurological condition with excessive sleepiness and sometimes cataplexy.

Narrative Therapy

A therapy that separates the person from the problem.

Negative Reinforcement

Strengthening a behavior by removing an unwanted stimulus.

Neurodevelopmental Disorder

A condition that begins in development affecting brain function.

Neurogenesis

The formation of new neurons in the brain.

Neuroplasticity In depth

Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life, allowing adaptation to new experiences, learning, and recovery from injury.

Neuropsychology

The study of brain-behavior relationships.

Neurotransmitter

A chemical messenger between neurons.

Nonviolent Communication

A framework for empathic, needs-based dialogue.

Nootropic

A substance claimed to improve cognition; most such claims lack strong human evidence.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter involved in arousal and stress response.

Obsession

A persistent, intrusive thought, urge, or image.

Occipital Lobe

The brain region central to visual processing.

Occupational Therapy

Therapy focused on engagement in meaningful daily activities.

Off-Label Use

Prescribing an approved medicine for a use outside its approved indication.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Polyunsaturated fats important for brain structure and function.

Open Awareness

A meditation practice of noticing experience without focus.

Operant Conditioning

Learning shaped by consequences.

Optimism

An outlook that expects favorable outcomes.

Outpatient Treatment

Treatment that does not require overnight stay.

Panic Attack

A sudden episode of intense fear with physical symptoms.

Paranoia

Persistent suspicious thinking, sometimes part of broader conditions.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The 'rest and digest' branch of the autonomic system.

Parietal Lobe

The brain region central to sensory integration.

Peptide

A short chain of amino acids the body uses as a signalling molecule.

Person-Centered Therapy

Carl Rogers' therapy emphasizing empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard.

Person-First Language

Language placing the person first (e.g., 'person with autism').

Personality

Enduring patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior.

Personality Disorder

A long-standing pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates from cultural norms.

Perspective-Taking

Imagining another's viewpoint.

Phobia

Persistent, excessive fear of a specific object or situation.

Play Therapy

Use of play as the primary medium of therapy with children.

Polyphenols

Plant compounds with antioxidant properties.

Polysomnography

A diagnostic sleep study.

Polyvagal Theory

A model of nervous-system regulation centered on the vagus nerve.

Positive Reinforcement

Strengthening a behavior by adding a pleasant stimulus.

Post-Traumatic Growth

Positive psychological change following adversity.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) In depth

PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event, characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

Postpartum Depression

Clinical depression following childbirth.

Pre-Contemplation

A stage where change is not yet considered.

Preclinical Research

Cell and animal studies conducted before an intervention is tested in people.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Severe mood symptoms tied to the menstrual cycle.

Priming

Exposure to one stimulus influencing response to a later one.

Problem-Focused Coping

Coping aimed at changing the stressor.

Procedural Memory

Memory for skills and habits.

Prolonged Exposure

An evidence-based PTSD treatment using imaginal and in-vivo exposure.

Protective Factor

An influence that reduces the likelihood of negative outcomes.

Psychiatric Medication

Prescription medication used to treat mental health conditions.

Psychiatry

The medical specialty focused on mental health.

Psychoanalysis

An in-depth therapy exploring unconscious patterns.

Psychodynamic Therapy

Therapy exploring how past experience shapes present functioning.

Psychoeducation

Teaching about a condition and its treatment as part of care.

Psychosis

A break from shared reality, often involving hallucinations or delusions.

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

An early CBT approach by Albert Ellis.

Reality Therapy

A solution-focused therapy emphasizing personal choice.

Recovery Capital

The internal and external resources that support recovery.

Recovery Model

A framework emphasizing hope, agency, and meaning in mental health care.

Reflective Listening

Restating a speaker's message to confirm understanding.

Relapse

A return to a previous behavior pattern.

REM Sleep

A sleep stage associated with dreaming and emotional processing.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Acting out dreams during REM sleep.

Research Chemical

A compound sold for laboratory use only, without approval or oversight for human use.

Resilience In depth

Resilience is the psychological capacity to adapt, recover, and grow in the face of adversity, stress, trauma, or significant sources of challenge.

Resilient Mindset

A pattern of belief that supports adaptation to adversity.

Restless Legs Syndrome

An urge to move the legs, often disrupting sleep.

Reward

A consequence that reinforces a behavior.

Risk Factor

An influence that increases the likelihood of negative outcomes.

Rumination

Repetitive, passive focus on distress and its causes.

Schema

A mental framework for organizing information.

Schema Therapy

A therapy that targets early maladaptive schemas.

Schizoaffective Disorder

A condition combining features of schizophrenia and a mood disorder.

Schizophrenia

A chronic condition affecting thinking, perception, and behavior.

Selective Mutism

A consistent failure to speak in specific social situations.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor

A class of antidepressant medications (SSRIs).

Self-Awareness

Recognition of one's emotions, patterns, and impact.

Self-Care In depth

Self-care refers to deliberate activities and practices that individuals engage in to maintain and improve their physical, mental, and emotional health.

Self-Compassion

Treating oneself with kindness during difficulty.

Self-Efficacy

Belief in one's ability to succeed at specific tasks.

Self-Monitoring

Tracking behavior to support change.

Semantic Memory

Memory for facts and general knowledge.

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

A body-oriented therapy for trauma.

Sensory Diet

A planned set of sensory activities supporting regulation.

Sensory Overload

Distress from sensory input exceeding tolerance.

Sensory Seeking

Seeking specific sensory input to feel regulated.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter involved in mood, sleep, and digestion.

Sleep Apnea

A breathing disorder causing repeated sleep disruption.

Sleep Architecture

The structure and pattern of sleep stages across the night.

Sleep Debt

The cumulative deficit from insufficient sleep.

Sleep Hygiene

Behaviors and conditions that support quality sleep.

Sleep Latency In depth

Sleep latency is the time between trying to fall asleep and actually falling asleep. It is different from total sleep time or time spent in bed.

Sleep Onset

The transition from wakefulness to sleep.

Slow-Wave Sleep

Deep, restorative non-REM sleep important for memory.

SMART Goal

A specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound goal.

Social Awareness

Sensitivity to others' emotions and social context.

Social Support

Resources provided by other people.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

A short-term therapy focused on solutions, not problems.

Somatic Experiencing

A body-based therapy developed by Peter Levine for trauma.

Spaced Repetition

A learning method that schedules review at increasing intervals.

Special Interest

A deeply focused area of interest, common in autism.

Stimming

Self-stimulatory movement or sound that regulates the nervous system.

Stress Inoculation

Preparation that builds tolerance for future stressors.

Stress Inoculation Training

A structured therapy to build stress tolerance.

Substance Use Disorder

A condition involving problematic use of substances.

Suicidal Ideation

Thoughts of, plans for, or preoccupation with suicide.

Survivor Mission

Drawing meaning from past adversity to help others.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The 'fight or flight' branch of the autonomic system.

Synapse

The junction between two neurons where signals are transmitted.

Synaptic Pruning

The removal of unused neural connections.

Temporal Lobe

The brain region central to hearing, language, and memory.

Thalamus

A brain structure that routes sensory information.

Theory of Mind

The ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others.

Therapeutic Alliance

The collaborative bond between therapist and client.

Tic Disorder

A condition involving involuntary movements or sounds.

Time Blindness

Difficulty perceiving and estimating time.

Tiny Habit

A very small behavior used to build a routine.

Tourette Syndrome

A neurodevelopmental disorder with motor and vocal tics.

Transference

Redirection of feelings from past relationships onto the therapist.

Trauma-Focused CBT

An evidence-based therapy for children and adolescents after trauma.

Trauma-Informed Care

A framework that recognizes and responds to the impact of trauma.

Treatment Plan

A documented set of goals and methods guiding therapy.

Twice-Exceptional

Being both gifted and having a disability or learning difference.

Universal Design

Design that aims to be usable by as many people as possible.

Vagus Nerve

A long cranial nerve central to parasympathetic regulation.

Validation

Acknowledging the legitimacy of another's experience.

White Matter

Brain tissue composed mostly of myelinated axons.

Window of Tolerance

The optimal arousal zone for handling experience.

Working Memory In depth

Working memory holds and updates a limited amount of information while you use it for a current task, such as following instructions or calculating a total.