Frequently Used Terminology
Client Confidentiality is the legal principle that a psychiatric, psychologist, social worker, or counselor cannot not reveal information about their patients or clients to a third party without the consent of the individual or a clear legal obligation such as in the case of imminent suicide, homicide, child abuse, elder abuse, abuse of a disabled individual, inappropriate sexual relationship with a healthcare worker, or a court order signed by a judge.
Psychotherapy is an interpersonal, relational intervention used by trained psychotherapists to aid clients in problems of living. This usually includes increasing individual sense of well-being and reducing subjective discomforting experience. Psychotherapists employ a range of techniques based on experiential relationship building, dialogue, communication and behavior change and that are designed to improve the mental health of a client, or to improve group relationships (such as in a family).
Individual Psychotherapy involves one-on-one interaction between a therapist and a client. During psychotherapy, efforts are made to understand a client’s thoughts and feelings that are involved in behaviors and decision making. The psychotherapy also involves helping the client develop more effective strategies to manage stress and emotions, and to make more effective decisions about behaviors.
Relationship Therapy is a modality of choice when communication problems between two individuals involved in an intimate relationship are causing stress and disharmony. The client and focus of treatment, in this case, is on the relationship, not the individuals. Without “taking sides”, the therapist focuses on how the individuals involved in the relationship can better understand and express their needs within the context of better understanding the emotional needs and messages of the other. Development of problem resolution strategies is the goal so that the relationship, as a whole, is healthier and able to withstand the stresses of everyday life as well as crises.
Family Therapy involves a therapist meeting with two or more members of a family. Family psychotherapy helps individual family members better understand the thoughts, motivations, feelings, and behaviors of other family members. Communication improves and family members make more effective behavior choices.
Group Counseling involves a therapist meeting with a group of people with similar types of emotional issues. During group psychotherapy, individuals learn how other people react and cope. Together each individual in the group learns ways of presenting themselves, reacting, and coping which they may never have in the past realized or considered were possible. The group members learn and grow together by sharing their feelings and reactions in a safe, confidential environment led by a psychotherapist who is experienced in this type of treatment.
Life Coaching helps individuals to identify and make use of their own skills and wisdom to attain a goal and sustain success. The coaching process addresses specific personal projects, whereas therapy often looks to the past to resolve present symptoms of old wounds. Thus, life coaching focuses on the present aiming toward the future, and seeks to enhance your daily experience and overall life satisfaction.
Psychological Testing can be an assessment of intelligence, academic abilities, personality and emotional functioning as recommended by a licensed mental health professional. Additionally the purpose of psychological evaluation is often for diagnostic differentiation and treatment planning.