Glossary of Phobias Terms

Definition of accommodation

Active-imaginal exposure blends the technique of imaginal exposure with active behavioral tasks. What is active-imaginal exposure and how is it being used to treat phobias?

Adrenaline junkies seek out ever more challenging and fear-inducing situations. What should you know about adrenaline junkies?

Definition of Agoraphobia

Mental health professionals often mention that agoraphobia symptoms appear in clusters. What is a cluster, anyway?

Much of the 2010 health care reform hinges on the creation of American Health Benefit Exchanges. What are they, and how will they affect your health care?

Definition of Anticipatory Anxiety

Definition of Anxiety Disorder

Definition of Assimilation

Definition of Automatic Thoughts

Definition of Avoidance

Putting the theories of behaviorism into concrete action, a behavior modification plan can be extremely successful. Learn more about this useful technique here.

Definition of behaviorism

Definition of Benzodiazepines

Definition of Beta Blocker

Definition of Blank Slate

Definition of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Definition of Brief Therapy

Definition of classical conditioning

Cognitive dissonance can cause frustration and anger, and may even increase the risk for phobias. What is cognitive dissonance and how can it affect your life?

Definition of Cognitive Reframing

Definition of Cognitive Theory

Definition of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Definition of Collective Unconscious

Definition of Community Mental Health Center

A compulsion is a ritual performed to relieve anxiety. Although you may know that your compulsion is irrational, you may feel powerless to overcome it. Learn more about compulsions here.

Definition of Constructivism

Definition of Conversion Disorder

Definition of Coping Skills

Counter-transference is a potentially damaging yet relatively common process experienced by many therapists. What is counter-transference, and how do therapists guard against its effects on clients? Find out here.

Definition of Crisis of Faith

The definition of cyberchondria.

The definition of medical student's disease.

Definition of Delusional Disorder

Depersonalization is a frightening side effect of psychological trauma, including intense fear. What is it, exactly? Learn more here.

Derealization is a frightening but rarely serious side effect of intense psychological feelings. Learn more about this surprisingly common feeling.

Definition of DSM-IV

Definition of Eclectic Therapy

The Employee Assistance Program can provide immediate assistance for employees with phobias or other disorders. What is it, and how does it work? Find out here.

Environmental psychology is commonly cited to help explain phobias. What is it, and how does it affect phobia treatments? Find out more.

Evolutionary psychology is commonly cited as a means of explaining human behavior. But what is evolutionary psychology? How does it explain behaviors, especially fears and phobias?

Definition of exposure therapy

Definition of a facilitator

Definition of Family Therapy

Definition of Fight or Flight Response

Flashbacks are frightening and intense mental revisits of a traumatic event. How can you cope with flashbacks?

Definition of Flooding

Definition of Goals of Therapy

Definition of Group Therapy

Definition of Groupthink

Definition of Guided Imagery

Health anxiety is prevalent, especially in today's Internet culture. But what exactly constitutes health anxiety, and what can you do about it?

Health phobia is a sort of catch-all term used to describe various phobias. But what exactly is a health phobia, and how does it differ from other types of phobias?

Definition of Homeopathy

Definition of Humanistic Psychology

Stage hypnotists have given the perception that a hypnotic state is strange and mystical. Some people fear that, while in this state, they might be induced to do things that they would normally oppose. What is a hypnotic state, and is it anything to fear?

Hypnotic suggestions are often misunderstood and sometimes feared. What is a hypnotic suggestion and how can it affect a person's thoughts? Learn more here.

Imaginal exposure is a fairly new but well-received method for treating phobias. What is imaginal exposure? Does it work? Find out here!

Individual therapy is the most popular form of therapy. Learn more about it here!

Information processing is one of the basic tenets of cognitive theory. What exactly is it, and why is it important to phobia treatment?

Your initial diagnosis may be important to your insurance company, but may not always be correct. What is an initial diagnosis, and how does it differ from a final diagnosis?

Definition of Instinctive Response

Definition of Intake Interview

Definition of Learned Response

Definition of Learning Theory

Is a legitimate phobia different than an illegitimate phobia? The term is frequently used, but rarely defined. Find out what it means here!

Definition of magical thinking

Learn more about the definition of malingering.

Mantras are often connected to spiritual and religious beliefs, but serve a purpose in psychotherapy as well. What is a mantra, and how is it used in therapy?

Definition of MAOI

Definition of mass hysteria

Definition of Medical Model

Medication management is an important part of treatment for many phobias. What is medication management and how does it differ from other types of phobia treatment?

Definition of Mental Health Parity

Learn more about the definition of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Definition of Negative Punishment

Definition of Negative Reinforcement

Definition of Nosophobia

Definition of Object of Fear

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a complicated anxiety disorder. Its symptoms can mirror those of phobias, yet the two conditions are very different. Learn more about OCD and how it differs from phobias.

Definition of operant conditioning

Definition of Palpitations

Definition of Panic Attack

Panic disorder is closely linked with agoraphobia. But what is panic disorder, exactly, and how do you know if you have it?

Definition of Parroting

Definition of Phobia

Definition of phobic reaction

Definition of Phobic Stimulus

Many phobia sufferers claim that the physiological response to fear is the worst part of the phobia. But what exactly is a physiological response, and what are some common responses? Find out here.

Definition of Positive Punishment

Positive reinforcement is a technique used to increase desired behavior. What exactly does it entail? Learn more here.

Definition of Presenting Problem

A psycho-educational group is a specific type of therapy group focusing on educating clients. Why is it so important? Who is in charge? Learn all about these groups here.

Psychological testing is an important diagnostic tool. But what are psychological tests, and what role do they play in phobia diagnosis?

Common knowledge states that punishment refers to the consequences of negative behaviors. But did you know that punishment itself can be positive or negative? Here is what you should know.

Purposeful breathing is a catch-all phrase describing many different types of breathing techniques. But what is purposeful breathing, and why is it so important to phobia management? Find out here!

Reinforcement is a commonly used behavioral tool for shaping behavior. What is it, and why can it be both positive and negative?

Definition of Rumination

A runner's high can be addictive, leading those who enjoy the feeling to seek out ever greater thrills. But what is a runner's high anyway?

Definition of Self Medicating

Self-efficacy is related to self-esteem, but is not identical. Find out what self-efficacy actually means, and how your level could affect your phobia treatment.

Definition of Social Phobia

Definition of Somatization Disorder

Definition of Somatoform Disorder

Definition of Specific Phobia

Definition of SSRI

Definition of stop technique

Definition of Support Person

Survivor guilt is a common experience in the wake of a crisis or disaster. Officially recognized as a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder, survivor guilt can lead to other disorders, including phobias. Here's what you should know about this often-overlooked reaction.

Definition of Systematic Desensitization

Definition of Therapeutic Milieu

Therapeutic rapport is often mentioned as an important component of the therapeutic relationship. But what exactly is therapeutic rapport, and how is it created?

Therapeutic role-playing is a common technique used to treat many different mental health disorders. What is therapeutic role-playing and how can it help in the treatment of phobias?

Transference is a popular buzzword in certain types of therapy. But what does it mean? How do you know if it is occurring, and whether it is healthy for your progress? Learn more about this common process.

Definition of Treatment Plan

Definition of Treatment Team

Definition of Trigger

Definition of vertigo

Definition of white coat hypertension

Behavior modeling occurs throughout our lives, as well as in therapeutic environments. How can behavior modeling affect our behaviors?

The treatment outcome should, ideally, meet the goals of therapy. Mental health professionals work hard to create a positive outcome, but clients also play an active role.

Parapsychology is discounted by mainstream psychology, yet a belief in the paranormal is an important part of many religious systems. How do therapists find balance when treating phobias that are rooted in the supernatural, and how can clients help?

Many anxiety disorders mirror the symptoms of phobias. In particular, Generalized Anxiety Disorder can strongly resemble severe social phobia or agoraphobia. How can we distinguish between these disorders?

By definition, racing thoughts are obsessive and often circular in nature. Is it possible to break through the pattern and find psychological peace?

Neuro-linguistic programming is a popular adjunct to traditional therapy. Does it work? What is it exactly? Find out here!

Although legend trips are common and generally harmless, people with phobias should be cautious. Designed to tap into fears, legend trips sometimes reinforce existing phobias.

Although urban legends are extraordinarily popular, these cautionary tales are often designed to scare. As such, they could trigger a phobic reaction in those with underlying phobias.

Proof of the existence of spirits or a sign of disordered thinking? Perhaps no aspect of parapsychology is currently more hotly debated than EVP. But what is EVP?

Unconditional positive regard has become a bit of a catchphrase. But what is unconditional positive regard and is it appropriate in all applications?

Also known as person-centered therapy or Rogerian therapy, client-centered therapy focuses on unconditional positive regard for the client as a human being. Does it work? What are the theories and practices? Find out here!

Although it is often heard in the financial sector, the term "risk aversion" also applies to mental health. Risk averse people may have increased difficulty in battling their fears. Here's why.

Empathy is a critical skill for mental health therapists. What is the difference between empathy and sympathy, and why is empathy so important?