DX
This diagnosis is characterized by mood symptoms occurring during most of the illness along with at least two weeks of psychotic symptoms without mood symptoms.
Schizoaffective Disorder
This modality emphasizes unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence as the foundation for change.
Person-Centered Therapy
This legal concept allows clinicians to share information when necessary to prevent serious, foreseeable harm.
Duty to protect
LPS
Lanterman-Petris-Short Act
This term describes social, economic, and environmental conditions that influence mental and physical health outcomes.
Social Determinants of Health
This diagnosis is considered when emotional or behavioral symptoms develop in response to an identifiable stressor and do not meet criteria for another mental disorder.
Adjustment Disorder
This modality specifically targets emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
This ethical responsibility requires clinicians to recognize the limits of their competence and seek training or referral.
Scope of competence
ROI
Release of Information
This term describes how multiple social identities overlap and shape lived experience.
Intersectionality
This diagnosis involves mood instability, fear of abandonment, identity disturbance, and chronic interpersonal difficulties.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
This modality focuses on identifying unconscious patterns, defense mechanisms, and early relational experiences.
Psychodynamic Therapy
This advanced professional judgment skill involves balancing ethical principles, legal requirements, clinical risk, and client autonomy while documenting the rationale for decisions made.
Ethical decision-making with clinical justification
IOP
Intensive Outpatient Program
This term refers to being aware of and respectful toward cultural differences in beliefs, values, and practices.
Cultural sensitivity
This differential diagnosis must be ruled out when psychotic symptoms occur exclusively during periods of substance use or withdrawal.
Substance/Medication-Induced Psychotic Disorder
This modality helps clients separate themselves from the problem and re-author their personal story.
Narrative Therapy
Legally in the state a CA a person at this age can sign consent forms for therapy only, but not medication
What is age 12
MSE
Mental Status Examination
Acting to support client rights and reduce systemic inequities.
Advocacy
This diagnostic consideration requires evaluating duration, functional impairment, exclusion of medical or substance causes, and symptom consistency over time.
Differential diagnosis
This modality examines how family roles, boundaries, and communication patterns maintain symptoms.
Family Systems Therapy
This occurs when a clinician’s personal values conflict with a client’s choices or lifestyle.
Values conflict
DSM-5-TR
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision
Ongoing professional guidance and support.
Supervision