Counselling Glossary — Key Terms Explained
Browse 35 essential counselling terms and definitions used by professionals in Kochi.
A
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a psychological approach that helps people accept difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to actions aligned with their personal values. It combines mindfulness techniques with behavioral strategies to reduce suffering and improve quality of life.
ACT
ACT is a form of psychotherapy that helps people accept difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to actions aligned with their personal values. It combines mindfulness, acceptance strategies, and behavior change to reduce psychological suffering and improve quality of life.
ADHD Screening
ADHD Screening is a preliminary assessment process used to identify whether a person may have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder based on behavioral patterns, medical history, and standardized questionnaires. It helps determine if further diagnostic evaluation is needed.
Adult Counselling
Adult Counselling is a professional mental health service that helps adults address emotional, psychological, and behavioral challenges through confidential conversations with a trained counselor. It supports individuals in managing stress, relationships, work issues, grief, anxiety, and personal growth across various life stages and circumstances.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety Disorders are mental health conditions characterized by persistent, excessive worry and fear that interfere with daily life. Unlike normal anxiety, these disorders cause significant distress and impair work, relationships, and social functioning. They include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder, and are treatable through counselling and therapy.
Attachment Theory
Attachment Theory is a psychological framework explaining how early relationships between infants and caregivers shape emotional development, relationship patterns, and mental health throughout life. It emphasizes that secure bonds formed in childhood influence how individuals relate to others as adults.
B
Behavioral Activation
Behavioral Activation is a therapeutic technique that encourages people to engage in meaningful activities and positive behaviors to improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. By gradually increasing activity levels and participation in valued experiences, individuals break cycles of avoidance and inactivity that worsen emotional distress.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder is a mental health condition characterized by intense emotional instability, unstable relationships, impulsive behaviors, and a persistent fear of abandonment. People with this disorder often experience rapid mood changes and struggle with self-image and emotional regulation.
C
CBT
CBT is a form of psychotherapy that helps people identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to emotional distress. By working with a trained therapist, individuals learn practical techniques to manage anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges more effectively.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is a goal-focused counselling approach that helps people identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours. It works by connecting thoughts, feelings, and actions to improve mental health and solve current problems.
Cognitive Distortions
Cognitive Distortions are automatic, inaccurate thought patterns that make situations seem worse than they really are. These mental habits cause people to misinterpret events, leading to unnecessary stress, anxiety, and emotional pain. Recognizing and correcting these distortions is a key part of counselling and mental health improvement.
Couples Therapy
Couples Therapy is a form of counselling that helps two people in a romantic relationship improve communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen their emotional connection. A trained therapist works with both partners together to identify relationship patterns, address challenges, and build healthier ways of relating to each other.
D
Depression Treatment
Depression Treatment is a comprehensive approach combining therapy, counselling, and sometimes medication to help individuals manage and recover from depressive symptoms. It addresses emotional, cognitive, and behavioral patterns through evidence-based interventions tailored to each person's needs and circumstances.
E
Emotional Regulation
Emotional Regulation is the ability to manage and respond to emotions in healthy, constructive ways. It involves recognizing feelings, understanding their causes, and using strategies to stay calm and make good decisions even during difficult situations. This skill helps people cope with stress and maintain emotional balance.
F
Family Counselling
Family Counselling is a form of therapy that helps families work through conflicts, improve communication, and strengthen relationships by addressing problems that affect the whole family system. A trained counsellor meets with family members together or separately to identify issues and develop healthier patterns of interaction.
Family Systems Theory
Family Systems Theory is a counselling approach that views families as interconnected units where each member's behaviour affects the whole system. It focuses on understanding family dynamics, communication patterns, and relationships rather than treating individuals in isolation, helping families develop healthier interactions and resolve conflicts together.
G
Grief Counselling
Grief Counselling is a specialized form of therapy that helps individuals process and cope with the emotional pain of loss, whether from death, separation, or major life changes. A trained counsellor provides support, validation, and practical tools to navigate the grieving process and move toward healing and acceptance.
M
Marital Therapy
Marital Therapy is a form of counselling that helps married couples or long-term partners improve communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen their relationship. A trained therapist works with both partners together to address issues, rebuild trust, and develop healthier patterns of interaction.
MBSR
MBSR is Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, an eight-week structured program that teaches people to use mindfulness meditation and body awareness to manage stress, pain, and emotional difficulties. Participants learn to observe thoughts and feelings without judgment, helping them develop greater calm and resilience in daily life.
Meditation Techniques
Meditation Techniques are structured methods and practices used to train the mind to focus, calm thoughts, and achieve mental clarity. These techniques include breathing exercises, body scans, mindfulness, and visualization, helping individuals reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, and enhance overall well-being through regular practice.
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction is an eight-week program that teaches people to manage stress and anxiety through meditation, body awareness, and mindful movement. Participants learn to observe thoughts and feelings without judgment, reducing the physical and emotional effects of chronic stress on the mind and body.
Mindfulness Practices
Mindfulness Practices are techniques that train the mind to focus on the present moment without judgment, helping people observe their thoughts and feelings with calm awareness. These evidence-based methods reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, and enhance overall mental wellbeing through regular practice.
N
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a mental health condition characterized by an excessive need for admiration, a lack of empathy for others, and an inflated sense of self-importance. People with this disorder often have difficulty maintaining healthy relationships and may manipulate others to meet their own needs.
O
Online Counselling
Online Counselling is a form of mental health support delivered through digital platforms such as video calls, phone, or messaging, allowing clients to connect with qualified counsellors from their home or preferred location. It provides the same therapeutic benefits as in-person sessions while offering flexibility and accessibility.
P
Parental Training Program
Parental Training Program is a structured educational intervention that teaches parents evidence-based strategies to improve child behavior, emotional regulation, and family relationships. These programs equip parents with practical skills to address developmental challenges, reduce conflict, and foster healthy communication within the family system.
Personality Disorder Counselling
Personality Disorder Counselling is a specialized form of mental health treatment that helps individuals with persistent patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that differ significantly from cultural norms. This counselling approach uses evidence-based techniques to address maladaptive personality traits, improve relationships, and enhance emotional functioning and quality of life.
Postpartum Counselling
Postpartum Counselling is professional mental health support provided to mothers and families after childbirth to address emotional challenges, adjustment difficulties, and psychological concerns such as postpartum depression, anxiety, and relationship changes during the early parenting period.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum Depression is a serious mood disorder that affects some mothers after childbirth, characterized by persistent sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, and difficulty bonding with the baby. It differs from baby blues and requires professional treatment to help mothers recover and care for themselves and their infants.
Psychologist Consultation
Psychologist Consultation is a professional meeting between a trained psychologist and a client to assess mental health concerns, identify psychological patterns, and develop personalized treatment plans. It forms the foundation of evidence-based mental health care.
S
SFBT
SFBT is Solution Focused Brief Therapy, a counselling approach that helps people identify and build on their strengths to solve problems quickly. Rather than exploring past difficulties in depth, SFBT focuses on creating realistic goals and discovering what already works in a person's life to create positive change.
Social and Emotional Maturity
Social and Emotional Maturity is the ability to understand, manage, and express emotions appropriately while building healthy relationships with others. It involves recognizing feelings in oneself and others, making responsible decisions, and responding to social situations with empathy and self-awareness.
Solution Focused Brief Therapy
Solution Focused Brief Therapy is a goal-oriented counselling approach that helps people identify and build on their existing strengths to solve problems quickly. Rather than exploring past difficulties, it concentrates on creating a preferred future and practical steps to achieve it within a limited number of sessions.
Stress Management
Stress Management is a set of techniques and strategies used to help people identify, reduce, and cope with stress in healthy ways. It involves recognizing stress triggers, developing coping skills, and implementing lifestyle changes to improve emotional and physical well-being. Effective stress management helps individuals maintain balance and resilience in daily life.
T
Therapeutic Alliance
Therapeutic Alliance is the collaborative relationship and mutual trust built between a counsellor and client, forming the foundation for effective therapy. It encompasses agreement on goals, shared understanding of methods, and emotional connection that enables healing and positive change in the counselling process.
Trauma Informed Therapy
Trauma Informed Therapy is a counselling approach that recognizes how trauma affects a person's thoughts, feelings, and behavior. It creates a safe, supportive environment where therapists understand trauma's impact and help clients heal without re-traumatization.
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