AAQ - Therapy

Active Listening

a communication technique used in counseling where the listener fully concentrates, understands, responds, and then remembers what is being said

Antianxiety Drugs

reduce nervous system activity; are addictive and highly synergistic (benzodiazepines)

Antidepressants

increase access to serotonin by blocking reuptake (SSRIs)

Antipsychotic Medications

manage symptoms blocking dopamine receptors; risk of tardive dyskinesia

Applied Behavior Analysis

a scientific approach to understanding and modifying behavior; focuses on applying behavioral principles and techniques to improve socially significant behaviors in individuals, particularly those with developmental disabilities or other behavioral challenges

Aversion Therapy

a form of behavior therapy that replaces favorable response to a stimulus with an aversive response

Behavior Therapy

a type of psychotherapy that aims at changing maladaptive behaviors through learning new responses or skills

Benzodiazepines

a class of psychoactive drugs that enhances the activity of GABA in the brain; work by increasing the inhibitory effects of GABA, resulting in relaxation and sedation

Biofeedback

a method that uses physiological feedback to control bodily functions

Biomedical Approach

the scientific study and treatment of mental and behavioral disorders from a biological perspective

Biopsychosocial Approach

an approach that considers the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding and explaining human behavior and health; recognizes that physical health and well-being are influenced by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors

Classical Conditioning

learned associations between vents and automatic behavioral responses

Client-Centered Therapy

a non-directive form of talk therapy developed by Carl Rogers that emphasizes understanding the client's experience from their perspective

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

a type of psychotherapy that helps patients understand the thoughts and feelings that influence behaviors; often used to treat a wide range of disorders, including phobias, addiction, depression, and anxiety

Cognitive Restructuring

a therapeutic approach that aims to identify and change negative or irrational thoughts and beliefs

Cognitive Triad

negative views of self, world, and future

Confidentiality

anonymity must be protected unless subjects give permission to identify them; data security must be limited and confidential

Counterconditioning

a behavioral technique used in therapy which involves replacing an unwanted response to a stimulus with a desired response

Cultural Competence

the ability to understand, appreciate, and interact effectively with individuals from different cultures

Cultural Humility

adapting therapy to diverse populations

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

a surgical procedure in which electrodes are implanted into specific regions of the brain

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

a type of psychotherapy that focuses on teaching individuals skills to manage their emotions

Dream Interpretation

the process of interpreting the hidden meaning of dreams in order to gain insight into unconscious thoughts and desires

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

a procedure, done under general anesthesia, in which small electric currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

rapidly moving one’s eyes while recalling traumatic events

Empty Chair Technique

involves a client speaking to or engaging in a dialogue with an imagined person or part of themselves, represented by an empty chair, to explore unresolved issues or gain insight

Evidence-Based Interventions

treatments supported by empirical research

Exposure Therapies

guided exposure (or flooding) to the feared situation can reverse reinforcement; often use virtual reality to stmulate exposure

Family Therapy

a type of psychotherapy that can help family members improve communication and resolve conflicts within the family unit

Fear Hierarchies

gradually exposing individuals to feared situations in a structured way, helping them reduce anxiety through controlled exposure

Flooding

a type of exposure therapy that involves immediate and intense exposure to the fear-inducing stimulus without any gradual buildup or hierarchy

Free Association

a method used in psychoanalysis where patients are encouraged to share whatever comes into their mind

Group Therapy

a form of psychotherapy where one or more therapists treat a small group of clients together as a group

Humanist Approach

a psychological perspective that emphasizes the study of the whole person and believes individuals have free will

Hypnosis

a state of consciousness characterized by focused attention, increased suggestibility, and heightened mental relaxation

Informed Consent

participants must be informed of risks of study and choose to participate

Insight Therapies

forms of psychotherapy that aim to help clients gain awareness and understanding of the underlying causes of their problems, often focusing on unconscious motivations and past experiences

Lesioning

modern targeted destruction of small brain areas; uses MRI

Lithium

a medication commonly used to treat Bipolar Disorder; works by stabilizing mood swings and reducing the intensity of manic episodes

Lobotomy

severing the link between the frontal lobes and limbic system

Meta-Analysis

assessment of effectiveness of various therapies

Nonmaleficence

avoiding harm from medications and procedures

Operant Conditioning

learning of associations between responses and consequences in situations where behavior is voluntary

Person-Centered Therapy

a type of therapy developed by Carl Rogers that focuses on creating a supportive and non-judgmental environment for clients, where the therapist provides empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness

Psychodynamic Perspective

a perspective in psychology that asserts our behaviors are largely influenced by unconscious drives and experiences from our past

Psychosurgery

a type of brain surgery used to treat mental disorders; involves removing or destroying parts of the brain in an attempt to change a person's behavior or ease severe mental symptoms

Psychotherapy

a general term for treating mental health problems by talking with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health provider

Psychotropic Medication

drugs that are prescribed to treat mental health disorders, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

identifying irrational beliefs and modifying them to resolve emotional and behavioral problems and disturbances

Self-Actualization

how an individual perceives, thinks about, or evaluates themselves; it's essentially one's mental image of oneself

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

a type of antidepressant medication that increase the level of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of well-being and happiness

Systematic Desensitization

create a list of anxiety producing stimuli, use graduated steps to get closer and closer until the fear stimulus can be tolerated

Tardive Dyskinesia

chronic involuntary muscle movements

Therapeutic Alliance

the collaborative relationship between a therapist and their client, where both work together to achieve the client's therapeutic goals

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in specific areas of the brain

Token Economies

behavior modification through tokens/points to reward behaviors

Transference

a phenomenon characterized by unconscious redirection of feelings from one person to another

Unconditional Positive Regard

attitude of total acceptance toward another person in which value is shown despite failings