Mental health glossary for parents of teens

This glossary gives plain language definitions of the terms parents meet when a teen needs mental health care: clinician credentials, therapy types, levels of care, school supports like 504 plans and IEPs, and common diagnoses. Blackburn Clinical Services in Los Angeles wrote it so you can follow any conversation with a school or clinician.

Key facts

• 65 terms, grouped by topic.
• Terms that have a full guide on this site link to it.
• Definitions are general. Your teen’s clinician can explain how a term applies to your family.
• Questions about a term? Phone (888) 870-7405 on weekdays, 9 AM to 5 PM.

Who are the clinicians?

Psychiatrist. A medical doctor (MD or DO) who specializes in mental health, can diagnose conditions and can prescribe medication. See how to choose a psychiatrist for your teen.

Child and adolescent psychiatrist. A psychiatrist with two extra years of training focused on children and teens after general psychiatry residency.

PMHNP. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. An advanced practice nurse trained to evaluate mental health conditions and prescribe medication.

Psychologist. A clinician with a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) who provides therapy and psychological testing. Psychologists do not prescribe in California.

LMFT. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. A master’s level therapist licensed in California to provide individual, couple and family therapy.

LCSW. Licensed Clinical Social Worker. A master’s level clinician licensed in California to provide therapy, often with added knowledge of community resources.

LPCC. Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. A master’s level therapist licensed in California to provide individual and group counseling.

Associate clinician. A therapist who has finished a graduate degree and is completing supervised hours toward a license. In California, titles include AMFT, ASW and APCC.

Therapist. A general term for a licensed mental health professional who provides talk based treatment. See psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist.

What are the types of therapy?

CBT. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. A structured therapy that helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and patterns and practice new ways of responding.

DBT. Dialectical Behavior Therapy. A skills based therapy for handling intense emotions, distress and relationships. DBT informed therapy uses its skills without a full program.

ACT. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. A therapy that helps people make room for hard feelings while acting on what matters to them.

EMDR. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. A structured trauma therapy that pairs memories with side to side eye movements or tapping.

Brainspotting. A trauma therapy, developed from EMDR, that uses a fixed eye position to help process strong feelings. At Blackburn Clinical Services it is offered in our office only. See what is Brainspotting.

Family session. A therapy session that includes the teen and one or more family members, focused on communication and working together.

Parent-only session. A session for parents without the teen present, used to plan, get support and learn ways to respond at home.

Individual therapy. One-on-one sessions between a client and a therapist.

Group therapy. Therapy delivered to several clients together, common in IOP and PHP programs. Blackburn Clinical Services does not run groups.

Psychoeducation. Teaching a client and family about a condition and its treatment, so they understand what is happening and what helps.

Video therapy. Therapy delivered by secure video instead of in person. Also called telehealth. Blackburn Clinical Services offers therapy in the office and by secure video for clients located in California.

What are the levels of care?

Level of care. How much treatment and structure a person receives, from weekly sessions up to round the clock care. See levels of care for teens.

Outpatient therapy. Scheduled sessions while the person lives at home and goes to school or work, usually about once a week.

Concierge outpatient. An individualized, one-on-one alternative to a traditional IOP. The Blackburn program is typically 3 to 5 hours a week, with no groups.

IOP. Intensive Outpatient Program. A structured program of several hours a day, a few days a week, usually with group therapy.

PHP. Partial Hospitalization Program. A full day treatment program, usually five days a week, where the person goes home at night.

Residential treatment. Treatment in which the person lives at the program and receives care around the clock.

Inpatient hospitalization. A short hospital stay for psychiatric care, usually during a safety crisis.

Wilderness therapy. An outdoor program that combines therapy with time in nature, usually for several weeks or longer.

Step down. Moving from a more intensive level of care to a less intensive one, such as from residential care to outpatient therapy.

Aftercare. The plan for ongoing support after a program ends, such as weekly therapy and family sessions.

What are the terms for assessment and treatment?

Biopsychosocial assessment. An intake that looks at biological, psychological and social factors, such as health, mood, school, family and friendships.

Psychiatric evaluation. A detailed assessment by a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner that leads to a working diagnosis and options. See teen psychiatric evaluation.

Neuropsychological testing. A set of tests that measures attention, memory, learning and problem solving, often used to understand ADHD or learning differences.

Psychoeducational evaluation. Testing focused on learning and academic skills, often used to plan school supports.

Screening. A short set of questions used to check whether a fuller evaluation is needed.

Diagnosis. The name a clinician gives to a pattern of symptoms, based on standard criteria.

Working diagnosis. A first diagnosis that may change as the clinician learns more.

DSM. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association. Clinicians use it to define diagnoses.

Comorbid. Two or more conditions present at the same time, such as anxiety and depression.

Dual diagnosis. A substance use problem and a mental health condition at the same time. Also called co-occurring disorders. See teen dual diagnosis treatment.

Treatment plan. The written or agreed plan for care: goals, type of therapy, how often, and how progress will be checked.

Medication management. Ongoing visits with a prescriber to check how a medication is working and adjust the plan.

Informed consent. Agreement to treatment after the clinician explains what it involves, its benefits and its risks.

Release of information. A signed form that allows a clinician to share specific information with a named person, such as a school counselor or pediatrician.

Confidentiality. The rule that what a client shares in therapy stays private, with limits around safety. See teen therapy privacy in California.

What are the school terms?

504 plan. A school plan that provides accommodations, such as extra time or breaks, for a student with a disability that affects learning or school life.

IEP. Individualized Education Program. A plan that provides special education services and goals for an eligible student. See IEPs and 504 plans in private schools.

Accommodations. Changes to how a student learns or is tested, such as extended time, without changing what is expected.

Executive function. The mental skills used to plan, organize, start tasks, manage time and shift between tasks.

School refusal. When anxiety or distress makes it very hard for a student to go to school or stay there.

Leave of absence. Time away from school for health reasons. For college students, a clinician may write a letter supporting a leave when clinically appropriate.

Return letter. Documentation from a clinician that a student is ready to return to school after a leave, provided when clinically appropriate.

What are the common conditions?

Anxiety disorder. Worry or fear that is strong, lasting and gets in the way of daily life.

Panic attack. A sudden surge of intense fear with physical symptoms such as a racing heart, shortness of breath or dizziness.

Depression. A lasting low mood or loss of interest, often with changes in sleep, appetite, energy and concentration.

ADHD. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Ongoing problems with attention, impulsivity or hyperactivity that affect school, work or relationships.

OCD. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Unwanted, repeated thoughts and urges to do certain actions to relieve distress.

PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder. Lasting distress after a traumatic event, such as nightmares, avoidance and feeling on edge.

Bipolar disorder. A condition with episodes of unusually high or irritable mood and energy, often alternating with depression.

Substance use disorder. A pattern of alcohol or drug use that causes problems and is hard to control.

Self-harm. Hurting oneself on purpose, often to cope with overwhelming feelings. See if your teen talks about self-harm or suicide.

Suicidal ideation. Thoughts about ending one’s life. Always a reason to reach out for help right away, including by calling or texting 988.

What are the safety terms?

988. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988 any time, day or night, for support in a mental health crisis.

Safety plan. A written plan, made with a clinician, listing warning signs, coping steps and who to contact in a crisis.

Crisis. A moment when a person’s safety or ability to cope is at serious risk and needs help right away.

Last reviewed: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a 504 plan and an IEP?

A 504 plan provides accommodations, such as extra time on tests, so a student can access regular classes. An IEP provides special education services and individual goals for students who qualify. Our page on IEPs and 504 plans in private schools explains how each works in California.

What does DBT stand for?

DBT stands for Dialectical Behavior Therapy. It teaches skills for handling intense emotions, getting through a crisis without making it worse, and keeping relationships steady. Many teens benefit from DBT informed skills in individual therapy.

What is the difference between IOP and PHP?

Both are structured programs with more hours than weekly therapy. An intensive outpatient program (IOP) usually runs a few days a week for part of the day, so many teens keep going to school. A partial hospitalization program (PHP) runs most of the day, usually five days a week. Our levels of care guide compares them side by side.

What is a comorbid condition?

A comorbid condition is a second condition that is present at the same time as the first. Anxiety and depression often occur together, and so do mood problems and substance use. Treatment works best when it addresses both.

Have a term we did not cover?

Give us a call at (888) 870-7405, Monday through Friday between 9 AM and 5 PM. We are glad to explain anything on a school letter, an evaluation report or a treatment plan, and to talk through whether therapy could help your teen.