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Glossary Of Terms
Feeling a little confused about what all these terms mean? Look below for definitions
of commonly used terms and phrases at Prestera.
Assessment/Intake/Evaluation/Screening
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A professional review of child and family needs that determines what services are necessary and appropriate. The assessment includes a review of presenting problems, physical and mental health symptoms and history, intelligence, school or work performance, family and other relationships, and behaviors. The assessment or intake or evaluation identifies the strengths of the individual, the child and/or the family. Together, the professional and the person or family decide what kind of treatment and supports, if any, are needed and acceptable.
Case Manager
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An individual who organizes, coordinates and arranges services and supports for children and adults with mental health or addictions problems and their families. (Alternate terms: service coordinator, advocate, and facilitator.)
Clinical Psychologist
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A clinical psychologist is a licensed, professional with at least a master’s degree in psychology who specializes in psychological testing and therapy.
Crisis Residential Treatment
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Short-term, round-the-clock help provided in a nonhospital setting during a crisis. For example, when an individual becomes a danger to themselves or others, a crisis residential treatment service helps avoid inpatient hospitalization. The Crisis Residential (Treatment) Unit stay help stabilize the individual, and determine the next appropriate step.
Couples Counseling and Family Therapy
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Couples counseling and family therapy involve discussions and problem-solving sessions facilitated by a therapist-sometimes with the couple or entire family group, sometimes with individuals. Such therapy can help couples and family members improve their relationship, and the way they respond to one another. Therapy can resolve patterns of behavior that might lead to more severe problems. Family therapy can help educate individuals about the nature of mental problems and teach skills to cope better with having a family member with a mental illness.
Diagnostic Evaluation
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The purpose of a diagnostic psychiatric evaluation are 1) to establish a psychiatric diagnosis, 2) to collect sufficient to effectively treat the problem(s), and 3) to develop a plan for treatment that may or may not include medication(s). Consideration is given to any immediate interventions that may be needed to ensure safety.
Discharge
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A discharge is the formal termination of services, generally when treatment has been completed, administrative authority or when no services have been provided over a specific amount of time.
DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition)
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An official manual of mental health problems developed by the American Psychiatric Association. Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other health and mental health care providers use this reference book to understand and diagnose mental health problems. Insurance companies and health care providers also use the terms and explanations in this book when discussing mental health problems.
Eminent Risk of Homelessness
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In receipt of an eviction notice or eminent risk of eviction, or, a person with no established residence. Different governmental agencies have different and sometimes changing definitions of homelessness or chronic homelessness.
Group Therapy
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This form of therapy involves groups of usually 4 to 12 people who have similar problems and who meet regularly with a therapist. The therapist uses the emotional interactions and experiences of the group's members to help them get relief from distress and possibly change behaviors.
Homeless
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Person who lacks: a fixed, regular, adequate night time address; or a person who has the following night time residence: shelter providing temporary living accommodations, facility providing temporary residence for people intended to be institutionalized; or a place not designed for regular sleeping accommodations for human beings.
In Home Services
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Help provided in a family's home either for a defined period of time or for as long as it takes to deal with a mental health or behavior problem. Examples of services can include parent training, counseling, and working with family members to identify, find, or provide other necessary help. The goal is to prevent the children from being placed outside of the home.
Individual Therapy
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Therapy tailored for an adult, child or family in a one-on-one situation with a trained professional. The goal of therapy is change.
Intensive Case Management
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Intensive community services for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness and other problems that are designed to improve planning for their service needs. Services include outreach, evaluation, and support.
Intensive Outpatient/Day Treatment/Partial Hospitalization
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Intensive programs provide therapy, support and case management services to adults or children that improve coping skills and prevent hospitalization or residential treatment. These services often include transportation and a daily meal and participants return home every evening after attending four or more hours of services during the day.
Medication Therapy
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A medical doctor like a Psychiatrist or physician extender like a Physician’s Assistant prescribing and/or administering psychoactive medications. Includes an assessment of drug effectiveness and monitoring of potential side effects of medications. Commonly prescribed medications include antidepressants, anti-anxiety agents, mood stabilizers and anti-psychotics.
Mental Health
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How a person thinks, feels, acts and reacts when faced with life's situations. Mental health is how people view themselves, their lives, and the other people in their lives; how we evaluate their challenges and problems; and explore choices. This includes handling stress, relating to other people, and making decisions.
Psychiatrist
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A psychiatrist is an MD (Medical Doctor) and a professional who completed medical school, a residency and training in psychiatry and is a specialist in diagnosing and treating mental illness and/or addiction and other problems.
Residential Services
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Services provided over a 24-hour period or any portion of the day which a person resided, on an on-going basis, in a facility and received treatment.
Respite Care
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A service that provides a break for parents who have a child with a serious emotional disturbance. Trained parents or counselors take care of the child for a brief period of time to give families relief from the strain of caring for the child. This type of care can be provided in the home or in another location. Some parents may need this help every week.
School Based Services
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School-based treatment and support interventions designed to identify emotional disturbances and/or assist parents, teachers, and counselors in developing comprehensive strategies for addressing these disturbances. School-based services also include counseling or other school-based programs for emotionally disturbed children, adolescents, and their families within the school, home and community environment.
Supported Employment
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Supportive services that include assisting individuals in finding work; assessing individuals' work skills, attitudes, behaviors, and interest relevant to work; providing vocational rehabilitation and/or other training; and providing work opportunities. Includes transitional and supported employment services.
Supportive Counseling
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Supportive counseling is a service provided by a professional or trained paraprofessional that provides help with day-to-day management and practicing problem-solving skills.
Treatment Planning
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The process by which a team of qualified professionals meet face-to-face with a consumer and/or consumer representative in order to develop a plan by reviewing assessments, developing goals and objectives, and identifying resources necessary to implement individual treatment plans.
Wraparound Services
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A unique set of community services and natural supports for a child/adolescent with serious emotional disturbances based on a definable planning process, individualized for the child and family to achieve a positive set of outcomes.
