There can be alot of different terms and abbreviations used in mental health therapy. Here we provide some definitions for you.
The title of Chartered Psychologist is legally recognised and reflects only the highest standard of psychological knowledge and expertise. It is a mark of experience, competence and reputation for anyone looking to learn from, consult or employ a psychologist. See the British Psychological Society website for more details.
Mentalisation-based Therapy (MBT):
MBT helps clients to manage emotions in relationships. Therapy is short- to medium-term, usually between 8 to 24 sessions. Therapy does take account of the past but concentrates on the here-and-now.
Mentalistation or Reflective Function (RF):
The capacity to reflect on your own and others’ feelings and intentions. It provides the foundation for empathy, which in turn helps to foster healthy relationships. Improving this capacity is a focus of MBT.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT):
A short-term therapy that examines the links between underlying beliefs or thoughts, feelings and behaviour. This therapy is particularly useful for depression, anxiety, panic attacks, hoarding or obsessive-compulsive behaviours. There are also specific models for psychosis and trauma that can be very effective. It normally takes between 8 and 12 sessions with in-between session homework.
Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT):
CAT was developed in the 1970s to bridge the divide between psychoanalytic (Freudian/Kleinian) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. It examines current beliefs, feelings and behaviours and links these with early childhood events and relationships. It can last between 4 and 24 sessions, normally 16.
Existential-Humanistic Psychotherapies (E-HP):
E-HP are a group of philosophically-based therapies examining issues all humans face such as death, meaning, isolation and freedom. By either ignoring or over-thinking these issues, psychological distress appears. Learning to strike a balance between these two extremes allows for positive growth of the personality. Client-centered, Existential, Narrative, Gestalt and Transpersonal are different branches that are often intertwined as client needs change.
Also called complex trauma, or attachment disorder. A lifelong and entrenched pattern of relating to others in dysfunctional ways, with roots in adverse childhood experiences. Personality Disorder tends to cause distress to the sufferer and those close to them but it can be managed using psychotherapies. Many people have traits of Personality Disorder without a diagnosis and this can be thought about and ameliorated through targeted therapy.
Any mental disorder which causes serious disturbance to a person’s life and affects their view of the world and their grasp on reality. Examples are Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and Psychosis in general.
Evidence-based psychological interventions:
Undergoing therapy with non-experts, or undergoing the wrong kind of therapy, can cause iatrogenic harm, which means that the treatment actually causes problems or makes existing problems worse. Trained professionals should only consider therapies that have been studied and shown to work across the target population. At least some evidence should exist to attest to the fact that the intervention you are planning to use works positively on the problem you are seeking to treat.
Make sure your therapist has a professional accreditation (i.e. registration with the Bermuda Psychologists’ Council) and that they also continue training and keeping up with the evidence available. It is completely fine to ask somebody about their qualifications and experience!
Bespoke interventions / Integrative Therapy:
Clinical psychologists are trained in different therapies because what works for whom is very different. Often, a psychologist or therapist will take an integrated approach, for example tackling anxiety symptoms with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and then treating the underlying difficulties with a therapy such as MBT.
Assessment, management and treatment of offenders with mental illness.
An expert consideration of what behaviours might arise, how frequent they might be, how severe they might become and, most importantly, what can be put in place to manage such behaviours or prevent them happening. Risk assessments are generally dynamic – they change over time and need to be updated at least every six months. They can be for violence, sexual risk, arson, stalking/harassment and other problem behaviours that can lead to conflict with the law.
Supporting those in other services with managing difficult patients, designing care pathways or triaging (directing people to where they might get the treatment that works for them).
Animal-assisted psychotherapy (AAT):
Two therapists and an animal are involved. The therapy is task-based, often around the socialisation of an animal. It works well for younger clients, clients who have intellectual (learning) disabilities, clients who feel very stuck or simply those who do not feel comfortable in a traditional therapy setting, perhaps because of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) or other trauma. Animals we have worked with include dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits and horses.
Eagala Model equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP):
The Eagala Model is a team approach that includes a licensed, credentialed Mental Health Professional, a qualified Equine Specialist, and horses working together with the client in an arena at all times. When inside the arena, all the work is done on the ground with the horses front and center, deliberately unhindered and never ridden, and allowed to interact with the client as they wish. This creates the space for the client, with the support of the professional facilitators, to reflect, project, and make deep connections.
A type of therapy often used with trauma. Memory is impacted when people suffer from post-traumatic stress and so creatively ordering life events, either verbally or symbolically with objects, can be helpful in lessening the effects of flashbacks, nightmares and other traumatic symptoms.
At Seaglass Clinical Consulting, we recognise that sitting in a room and talking may not be the best way to reach someone. We work in collaboration with animal therapists, arts therapists and drama therapists in 2:1 sessions to treat certain clients, particularly those who are younger and may have trust or communication difficulties.
Contact
Contact us today by calling 747-7778 or complete our secure referral form here.