Therapy Buzzwords Guide: Navigate Therapy Terms With Ease

Buzzwords abound in nearly every industry. While using them can make you sound like a person in the know, sometimes it can be hard to distinguish their real meaning, especially since they may mean various things to different people. Therapy is another industry where unfamiliar buzzwords may make it hard to understand exactly what you need to know. In this guide, we’ll be exploring some of the common buzzwords you may hear while attending therapy or learning more about mental health.

Therapy buzzwords guide: What are buzzwords?

Why therapy buzzwords are everywhere

Therapy has its own vocabulary, and it seems that it's found its way into mainstream culture. Words and phrases like "attachment theory," "cognitive processes," and "enmeshment" have taken on a life of their own, outside of a therapist's office.

Social media platforms and popular culture influence

In recent years, creators on social media platforms have taken complex mental health terms and topics and begun distilling them into easily digestible, shareable content. These terms appear across other parts of pop culture, too. You can find them in various places, including: 

• Podcasts
• TV dramas
• Movies
• Celebrity interviews
• Commercials 

The more these words appear in everyday life, the more they become normalized.

When buzzwords help people understand their experience

There can be value in the vocabulary of therapy being more common, as it can help people understand more about the experiences they are having with their own mental health. Continuing to talk about mental health can also help stop the stigma that surrounds it and change the perception around seeking treatment.

However, in many cases, the way these words are used may be inaccurate. An investigation by The Guardian found that “52 out of 100 videos offering advice on dealing with trauma, neurodivergence, anxiety, depression, and severe mental illness contained some misinformation.” Plus, using mental health terms casually with friends can fuel further misunderstanding. For example, people may use terms like “I’m so OCD” or “I’m being bipolar” to describe what is essentially a normal experience, minimizing the symptoms of people who have these conditions.

How misuse can affect reflection on your own behavior

When therapy language is used too casually, it may become a way to avoid looking at your own behavior. For example, calling someone you know a narcissist or saying that they are toxic can be an excuse that allows you to avoid your role in the situation. Telling friends or family members that they are gaslighting you is likely to feel accusatory and create distance between you, which may make it difficult to have a real dialogue.

Therapy buzzwords guide: 14 therapy buzzwords and jargon terms

These 14 therapy terms may be something you hear during a session with a therapist, see on social media,  or read in an article regarding mental health. It can be helpful to learn what they mean so you can apply them in your journey toward improved mental health.

1. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM, is a handbook that includes the most up-to-date information about different types of mental health conditions. The DSM is used to define and classify mental health disorders so that professionals can properly diagnose and treat a person’s behavior through a personalized treatment plan. 

2. Parasympathetic nervous system

The parasympathetic nervous system contains the nerves that help relax your body after you experience stress or danger. It also helps control many automated actions in your body, such as your heartbeat, digestion, and urination. 

3. Attachment theory

Attachment theory asserts that children are born with a need to form a close bond with a caregiver or other significant person in their life. The close bonds that people do – or do not – form can have a long-term impact on their relationships later in life. 

4. Narcissism

People may use the term “narcissism” to refer to someone who exhibits self-centeredness or has a big ego, but narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a specific, rare diagnosis. True narcissistic behavior can be complex and debilitating and affect every area of a person's life. People with NPD may also engage in narcissistic abuse, such as gaslighting, a form of psychological manipulation that leads victims to doubt their own perception and distrust their grasp on reality.

5. Self-care

Self-care can be an effective way to care for mental health. It has clinical roots demonstrating that tending to basic needs is important for overall well-being. Popular culture has been influential in the positive shift toward how people think about rest. Generally, people understand that downtime and rest are necessary, but the idea of self-care has become more commodified, associated with activities like binge-watching TV shows or having a glass of wine, rather than true self-care activities like: 

• Getting enough sleep
• Eating regular meals
• Exercising
• Meditating
• Spending time in nature

6. Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of talk therapy that teaches people to replace unwanted negative thoughts, feelings, and moods with more positive and productive patterns of thinking. It combines elements of cognitive therapy and behavior therapy. CBT has been shown to help reduce the symptoms of mental health conditions, including:

•  Anxiety 
• Depression
• OCD
• Phobias
• Chronic pain
• Life challenges

7. Emotionally focused therapy

Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is a specific type of couple’s counseling that is designed to help partners improve their emotional bond and increase the intimacy within their relationship. Strategies from EFT are sometimes applied in family therapy to strengthen the relationship and emotional development between families. 

8. Mental health disorders

According to the World Health Organization, a mental health disorder occurs when someone experiences a significant disturbance in their behavior, emotional control, or cognition. Common mental health disorders include anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, personality disorders, PTSD, and eating disorders. 

9. Cognitive processes

Cognitive processes include all the conscious and unconscious processes that occur when we are thinking or reasoning, when we acquire or store knowledge, and when we perceive something. Some examples of these processes include learning, problem-solving, and attention. 

10. Emotional response

An emotional response refers to the way we react to a stimulus, such as feeling happiness, sadness, or fear. Emotions can range in their intensity and may vary depending on the person. No two people respond in precisely the same manner as another, even to the same event or circumstances. 

11. Trauma

According to the American Psychological Association, trauma is “any disturbing experience that results in significant fear, helplessness, dissociation, confusion, or other disruptive feelings intense enough to have a long-lasting negative effect on a person’s attitudes, behavior, and other aspects of functioning.” Real and prolonged trauma can significantly impact someone’s ability to function in daily life. Some people may use the word “trauma” to describe a difficult time or experience, or use a term like “trauma dumping” when they overshare their problems, but casually applying clinical language to ordinary hardship in this way can dilute its meaning and make it harder to extend genuine respect to those whose daily lives are shaped by it.

12. Active listening

Active listening goes beyond nodding your head and responding in agreement to what someone is saying. During active listening, the goal is to focus completely on what the other person is trying to communicate. This can mean resisting the urge to check your phone or listening only to formulate a response; it aspires to truly understand what is being communicated rather than simply hearing what is being said. 

13. Metacognition

Metacognition is typically considered the act of thinking about thinking. It allows human beings to observe their thoughts without falling into a trap of judgment. In doing so, individuals may feel more capable of changing their thoughts into more positive and productive ones. Metacognition can be key to learning new skills, problem-solving more efficiently, and understanding the areas in which one can still experience growth. 

14. Enmeshment 

Enmeshment refers to a relationship that doesn’t allow individuals to retain their sense of autonomy. It is most common in families. Becoming enmeshed with someone else leads to blurry boundaries, as it can be a challenge to differentiate between your own beliefs and theirs. Enmeshment can often lead to codependency, where it is difficult or impossible to function without the other person. During therapy, a patient may need to learn how to remove themselves from being enmeshed with another person so that they can successfully thrive as an individual. 

How to learn more about therapy buzzwords and jargon

You might hear buzzwords and jargon used in therapy sessions, passing conversations, or social media posts. When you encounter a word that you don’t recognize or fully understand, consider writing it down and researching the definition later. 

Because buzzwords often use jargon terms incorrectly, it’s often best to look for definitions and explanations from credible sources. 

Many mental health professionals recommend the American Psychological Association (APA). The APA Dictionary features “more than 25,000 authoritative entries across 90 subfields of psychology.”

What to do if your therapist relies on buzzwords and jargon

Buzzwords and jargon that you don’t understand can make it difficult to benefit from therapy sessions because you might not understand the full context of what your therapist is saying. If you find that your therapist leans heavily on buzzwords and jargon, consider asking them to explain the terms and phrases that you’re not familiar with. 

If you find it challenging to remember the meanings of buzzwords, you can also ask your therapist to switch to more common words and language during your sessions. Alternatively, you might consider switching to another provider who uses clear and concise communication. 

Make a personalized therapy buzzwords guide

Writing down the common jargon and buzzwords used by your therapist can allow you to make a personalized therapy buzzwords guide. Consider pasting in definitions from the APA Dictionary along with the definition provided by your therapist. 

Since it’s your personalized guide, you can also make notes on how the word or phrase applies to your therapy sessions and any insights you’ve had surrounding the topic.

Don’t let therapy buzzwords prevent you from seeking treatment

There can be a great deal of fear in the unknown, and the overuse of therapy buzzwords and jargon can make treatment seem intimidating and overwhelming. You may try to search for a local therapist only to be put off by the unfamiliar language showcased on their website. You may even schedule a therapy session, only to leave perceiving that you didn’t connect with your therapist because you didn’t understand half of what they were saying. When you only have a handful of nearby mental health providers, it can seem like you’ve quickly exhausted all your options and run out of people who can help. 

With online platforms like BetterHelp, you can specifically request to work with a provider who uses simple, straightforward language so you can understand exactly what they’re saying and feel comfortable working together. If one therapist isn’t the right fit, you can request to meet with someone new with the click of a button. This can enable you to find someone with whom you can easily communicate and work alongside to find solutions.

The efficacy of online therapy

Research has shown that online therapy is just as effective as face-to-face interventions for addressing a range of mental health concerns. One 2022 study examined how patients perceived the shift from in-person therapy to online treatment. Results revealed that participants experienced a positive therapeutic alliance in the online setting; they were able to build strong relationships with their therapists, just as if they were meeting in person. Overall, patients regarded online therapy in a positive light. This may provide hope for those who are struggling to find the right local provider, as it shows that you can form the same type of connection with a therapist by meeting through video chat or over the phone.