Clinical Psychology

  1. Abnormal Psychology
    The study of unusual behavior, thoughts, and emotions that may indicate a psychological disorder. It explores causes, symptoms, and treatments.

  2. Clinical Psychology
    A field focused on diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders using evidence-based therapeutic techniques.

  3. DSM-5-TR
    A standardized manual used to classify and diagnose mental disorders based on specific criteria.

  4. ICD
    A global diagnostic tool used to classify diseases and mental health conditions, including behavioral and neurological disorders.

  5. Stigma
    Negative stereotypes about people with mental illness that lead to discrimination and discourage people from seeking help.

  6. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
    A condition with persistent, excessive worry about many things, often accompanied by restlessness, fatigue, and sleep issues.

  7. CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
    A structured therapy that helps people recognize and change negative thought patterns and behaviors.

  8. Exposure Therapy
    A technique that involves facing fears gradually in a safe setting to reduce anxiety over time.

  9. Person-Centered Therapy
    A supportive therapy where the therapist provides acceptance and empathy, allowing clients to explore and grow.

  10. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
    A medical treatment for severe depression that uses brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia.

  11. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
    A non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to activate brain areas involved in mood regulation.

  12. Antidepressants
    Medications that increase brain chemicals like serotonin or norepinephrine to improve mood in depression.

  13. Antipsychotic Medications
    Drugs used to reduce symptoms of severe mental illness like hallucinations and delusions.

  14. Lithium
    A mood stabilizer commonly used to treat bipolar disorder by reducing manic and depressive episodes.

  15. Therapeutic Alliance
    The trust and collaboration between a therapist and client, which supports positive treatment outcomes.

  16. Nonmaleficence
    The ethical principle of doing no harm to clients.

  17. Fidelity
    Ethical responsibility to maintain trust and honesty with clients.

  18. Respect for People's Rights & Dignity
    Upholding a client’s confidentiality, privacy, and autonomy in therapy.

  19. Integrity
    An ethical principle that requires therapists to be honest, responsible, and act with strong moral values in all professional roles.

  20. Biological Perspective
    Explains mental disorders as the result of genetics, brain chemistry, or structural problems in the brain.

  21. Behavioral Perspective
    Says mental disorders develop through learned behaviors and reinforcement from the environment.

  22. Psychodynamic Perspective
    Views psychological issues as rooted in unconscious conflicts, often formed during childhood.

  23. Humanistic Perspective
    Suggests disorders happen when people are blocked from reaching their full potential or don’t feel accepted.

  24. Cognitive Perspective
    Focuses on how distorted or negative thoughts contribute to mental health problems.

  25. Evolutionary Perspective
    Says some traits causing distress today may have once helped with survival.

  26. Sociocultural Perspective
    Explores how culture, community, and social expectations affect mental health.

  27. Eclectic Approach
    A flexible method that combines different therapy styles to fit a client’s needs.

  28. Biopsychosocial Model
    Explains mental illness as caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and social influences.

  29. Diathesis-Stress Model
    A theory that mental illness appears when a person with a genetic risk experiences major stress.

  30. Panic Disorder
    Sudden episodes of intense fear that include physical symptoms like chest pain or dizziness.

  31. Specific Phobia
    An intense, irrational fear of a specific thing (like spiders or flying) that causes people to avoid it.

  32. Acrophobia
    A specific phobia involving fear of heights.

  33. Arachnophobia
    A specific phobia involving fear of spiders.

  34. Agoraphobia
    Fear of being in public places where escape might be difficult, often leads to avoidance of crowds or travel.

  35. Social Anxiety Disorder
    Intense fear of social or performance situations due to fear of embarrassment or judgment.

  36. Taijin Kyofusho (TKS)
    A cultural disorder in Japan involving fear of offending or embarrassing others through appearance or behavior.

  37. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
    A condition with intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and ritual behaviors (compulsions) that try to reduce anxiety.

  38. Common Obsessions
    Repetitive, unwanted thoughts — like fear of germs, harming others, or needing perfect symmetry.

  39. Common Compulsions
    Repetitive behaviors — like handwashing, checking locks, or counting — done to ease anxiety.

  40. Hoarding Disorder
    Anxiety-related disorder where people feel a strong need to keep items and feel distress when discarding them.

  41. Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders
    Disorders that develop in response to traumatic or stressful events (e.g., PTSD).

  42. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
    A lasting mental health condition caused by trauma, with symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and avoidance.

  43. Ataque de Nervios
    A cultural stress reaction in Latin communities that includes crying, shouting, trembling, or aggression.

  44. Major Depressive Disorder
    A disorder marked by at least two weeks of deep sadness, loss of interest, and other symptoms like sleep and appetite changes.

  45. Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
    A chronic form of depression with less intense but long-lasting symptoms, often over two years.

  46. Cognitive Triad
    A pattern of negative thinking about the self, the world, and the future, often seen in depression.

  47. Bipolar I Disorder
    Involves extreme mood swings, including at least one full manic episode and possible depression.

  48. Bipolar II Disorder
    Includes depression and hypomania, a less intense form of mania that does not cause full impairment.

  49. Mania
    A period of abnormally high energy, mood, and activity levels, with impulsivity and risky behavior.

  50. Depressive Episode
    A period of low mood, low energy, and loss of interest or pleasure in most activities.

  51. Neurodevelopmental Disorders
    Disorders that start in childhood and affect brain development, learning, behavior, and social skills.

  52. ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
    A condition with trouble focusing, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior that affects school or work.

  53. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
    A developmental disorder with difficulties in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors.

  54. Feeding and Eating Disorders
    A group of disorders involving unhealthy eating habits or preoccupations with food, weight, or body shape.

  55. Anorexia Nervosa
    An eating disorder with intense fear of gaining weight and severe restriction of food, even when underweight.

  56. Bulimia Nervosa
    A disorder with repeated episodes of binge eating followed by purging through vomiting, fasting, or excessive exercise.

  57. Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
    Severe mental illnesses involving distorted thinking, emotions, and behavior — including hallucinations or delusions.

  58. Schizophrenia
    A serious disorder where people may have delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and lack of emotion.

  59. Positive Symptoms (Schizophrenia)
    Symptoms that add something, like hallucinations, delusions, or disorganized speech or behavior.

  60. Negative Symptoms (Schizophrenia)
    Symptoms that involve loss, such as reduced emotion, motivation, or speech.

  61. Delusions
    False beliefs that are strongly held despite clear evidence, such as thinking people are out to harm you.

  62. Hallucinations
    Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t really there — most commonly hearing voices.

  63. Disorganized Thinking
    Thoughts that jump around or don’t make sense, often shown in confused or jumbled speech.

  64. Disorganized Motor Behavior
    Unusual or unpredictable body movements or postures, like agitation or complete stillness (catatonia).

  65. Flat Affect
    Lack of emotional expression in voice, face, and behavior even in emotional situations.

  66. Dopamine Hypothesis
    The theory that too much dopamine activity in the brain may be related to symptoms of schizophrenia.

  67. Dissociative Disorders
    Mental disorders involving disruptions in memory, identity, or awareness, often linked to trauma.

  68. Dissociative Amnesia
    Inability to recall important personal info, usually related to trauma or stress.

  69. Dissociative Fugue
    A form of dissociative amnesia where a person may travel or wander and forget their identity.

  70. Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
    A disorder where a person has two or more distinct identities or personality states, often with memory gaps.

  71. Personality Disorders
    Enduring patterns of thinking and behavior that are inflexible and cause distress or problems in life.

  72. Cluster A Personality Disorders
    Involve odd or eccentric behaviors, such as paranoia or social withdrawal.

  73. Paranoid Personality Disorder
    Distrust and suspicion of others without clear reason.

  74. Schizoid Personality Disorder
    Prefers being alone, shows little emotion, and avoids relationships.

  75. Schizotypal Personality Disorder
    Unusual beliefs or behaviors and discomfort in close relationships.

  76. Cluster B Personality Disorders
    Involve dramatic, emotional, or unpredictable behaviors.

  77. Antisocial Personality Disorder
    Disregard for others’ rights, lying, rule-breaking, and lack of remorse.

  78. Borderline Personality Disorder
    Intense emotions, unstable relationships, and fear of abandonment.

  79. Histrionic Personality Disorder
    Overly emotional, attention-seeking behavior and need to be the center of attention.

  80. Narcissistic Personality Disorder
    Exaggerated self-importance, need for admiration, and lack of empathy.

  81. Cluster C Personality Disorders
    Involve anxious and fearful thinking or behavior.

  82. Avoidant Personality Disorder
    Extreme social discomfort and fear of rejection, leading to isolation.

  83. Dependent Personality Disorder
    Strong need to be taken care of and fear of being alone.

  84. Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)
    Rigid need for order, perfection, and control that interferes with flexibility and relationships.

  85. Deinstitutionalization
    The shift from long-term psychiatric hospitals to community-based mental health care.

  86. Evidence-Based Interventions
    Treatments that are supported by research to be effective and safe.

  87. Cognitive Therapy
    A type of therapy that helps people recognize and change faulty or distorted thinking.

  88. Maladaptive Thinking
    Unhelpful thought patterns that worsen emotional or behavioral problems.

  89. Cognitive Restructuring
    The process of identifying and changing negative thoughts into more balanced ones.

  90. Cognitive Triad
    A pattern of thinking in depression involving negative views of the self, the world, and the future.

  91. Free Association
    Therapy method where clients say whatever comes to mind to uncover unconscious thoughts.

  92. Dream Interpretation
    Analyzing dreams to reveal hidden thoughts or unresolved conflicts.

  93. Group Therapy
    A therapist-led session involving multiple clients who share experiences and support each other.

  94. Individual Therapy
    One-on-one treatment between a therapist and a client.

  95. Unconditional Positive Regard
    Accepting and supporting a client without judgment, no matter what they say or do.

  96. Active Listening
    A therapist technique involving full attention, repeating, and summarizing to show understanding.

  97. Cultural Humility
    The practice of recognizing and respecting each client’s cultural background and experiences.

  98. Problem-Focused Coping
    Dealing with stress by taking action to change or eliminate the source of the stress.

  99. Emotion-Focused Coping
    Managing emotional responses to stress when the source can’t be changed.

  100. Therapeutic Alliance
    The collaborative and trusting relationship between a therapist and their client that improves treatment success.

  101. Psychotropic Medication Therapy
    Use of prescribed drugs to manage or reduce symptoms of mental disorders by changing brain chemistry.

  102. Psychoactive Medications
    Drugs that affect mood, thoughts, or behavior by altering neurotransmitters in the brain.

  103. Antianxiety Drugs
    Medications that reduce symptoms of anxiety by calming the central nervous system.

  104. Mood Stabilizers
    Medications used to treat mood swings, especially in bipolar disorder, to prevent both mania and depression.

  105. Tardive Dyskinesia
    A serious side effect of long-term antipsychotic use that causes involuntary facial or body movements.

  106. Psychosurgery
    Surgical procedures on the brain used as a last resort for severe mental illness that doesn’t respond to other treatments.

  107. Lobotomy
    An outdated and rarely used surgery that cut connections in the brain’s frontal lobes, often causing severe side effects.

  108. Lesioning
    Surgical destruction of small areas of brain tissue used in rare cases to relieve symptoms of certain disorders.

  109. Transference
    In therapy, when a client projects feelings from past relationships onto their therapist.

  110. Countertransference
    When a therapist projects their own personal feelings onto the client, which can affect therapy.

  111. Positive Psychology
    The study of strengths and traits that help people thrive, such as gratitude, hope, and resilience.

  112. Subjective Well-Being
    How people evaluate their own happiness and life satisfaction.

  113. Resilience
    The ability to recover quickly from difficulties and adapt well to change.

  114. Posttraumatic Growth
    Positive changes that occur after struggling through major life challenges or trauma.

  115. Positive Emotions
    Feelings like joy, gratitude, and love that improve well-being and promote growth.

  116. Gratitude
    Appreciating what you have, which is linked to better mental health and relationships.

  117. Signature Strengths and Virtues
    Core personal traits like kindness, curiosity, and honesty that help people feel fulfilled and function well.

  118. Wisdom
    Ability to use knowledge and experience to make thoughtful decisions and solve complex problems.

  119. Courage
    The strength to face fear, pain, or adversity while staying true to one’s values.

  120. Humanity
    Caring for and helping others through love, compassion, and empathy.

  121. Justice
    Acting fairly and supporting equality within relationships and society.

  122. Temperance
    Practicing self-control and moderation, especially in emotions and behavior.

  123. Transcendence
    Finding meaning beyond oneself through experiences like awe, spirituality, or beauty.

  124. Therapist Confidentiality
    The ethical duty to protect a client’s personal information unless there’s a risk of harm.

  125. Informed Consent
    The process where clients agree to treatment after being fully informed of what it involves and their rights.

  126. Dual Relationships
    When a therapist has another role with a client outside therapy (like friend or coworker), which can create conflicts.

  127. Diagnosis
    Identifying a mental disorder based on a pattern of symptoms and standardized criteria like DSM-5-TR.

  128. Comorbidity
    When a person has more than one mental disorder at the same time (e.g., depression and anxiety).

  129. Remission
    A reduction or disappearance of symptoms, either temporarily or permanently.

  130. Relapse
    Return of symptoms after improvement or recovery.

  131. Client-Centered Goals
    Therapy goals created with the client’s input that reflect their values, preferences, and desired outcomes.

  132. Behavioral Activation
    A CBT technique that encourages people with depression to engage in meaningful, enjoyable activities.

  133. Crisis Intervention
    Short-term therapy focused on immediate stabilization and coping after a traumatic event or emergency.

  134. Mindfulness-Based Therapy
    Therapy that combines meditation and awareness techniques to reduce stress and improve emotional regulation.

  135. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
    A therapy for intense emotional issues that combines CBT with mindfulness and focuses on balancing acceptance and change.

  136. Schema
    Mental frameworks or beliefs that influence how people interpret experiences, especially in cognitive therapy.

  137. Validation
    Recognizing and accepting a client’s feelings and experiences without judgment.

  138. Systematic Desensitization
    A step-by-step technique used in exposure therapy where clients gradually face fears while staying relaxed.

  139. Token Economy
    A behavior therapy system that uses rewards (tokens) for good behavior, often used in structured settings.

  140. Contingency Management
    A strategy that rewards desired behaviors and discourages unwanted ones using a structured reward system.