When it comes to the mental health treatment industry, there are a number of words that are used by medical staff and specialists that the average person wouldn’t know. So, there may be phrases and acronyms that help to identify treatment for mental health that you’ve never heard of before. For a person seeking help for mental treatment, seeing and hearing these words, phrases, and acronyms can become overwhelming and confusing, which may put them off from getting help immediately. However, when education is provided about these terms, phrases, and acronyms, people can be better prepared for what they may expect during their time with treatment. And, feel more comfortable with accessing the help they need. That’s why, in this blog, we go over a few words, phrases, and acronyms that many mental health treatment providers may use so that you can understand them and choose the best option for yourself or a loved one who’s seeking help.
Different levels of treatment may differ from patient to patient depending on need and where they are at in their treatment journey. For example, after a patient has completed residential care, it may be suggested that they move on to a less intensive option, like outpatient treatment, in order to slowly adjust back into a normal routine. On the other hand, some patients may just need outpatient services in order to gain what they need from treatment without having to dive head-first into inpatient or residential care.
Some of the levels of treatment and their acronyms/descriptions include:
Inpatient Program (IP): Inpatient mental health care is when a person stays in the hospital after an emergency scenario, typically after an overdose or other crisis scenario.
Residential Treatment (RT): This type of treatment is best for more severe cases or the first option for treatment for people who are step-down treatment planning and plan to move on to less intensive treatment later on. Care of this level involves residing in a mental health treatment facility for an extended period of time.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): This mental health treatment program option is an outpatient setting, allowing patients to come and go. It doesn’t require a patient to live at the facility. And, can be scheduled around daily responsibilities like taking care of family, jobs, and schooling. It’s typically suggested that people in this level of care have already graduated from residential treatment program levels and are using outpatient services as a step-down option for treatment. Or. that people using outpatient treatment aren’t at high risk for crises like overdose or self-harm.
During mental health treatment, regardless of the setting and level of care, there may be several options for treatment services. These are the therapy options and services available to patients during their time in treatment. Some of these services and their acronyms/descriptions include:
Medication-Assisted Therapy (MAT): Many people diagnosed with mental health disorders can benefit from prescription psychiatric medications. However, many of these substances are controlled and patients can benefit from medical guidance for use. Medication-Assisted Therapy is the guided approach to using psychiatric prescription medication which improves therapeutic outcomes and safety.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This is a type of talk therapy that involves one-on-one sessions with a counselor to identify and address negative behaviors and thought patterns. Rather than searching in the past, this type of therapy addresses present feelings and issues that arise during treatment. And, provides patients with education on why negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in the present and future may be occurring.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): This is also a behavioral talk therapy that is in an individualized setting with a therapist. DBT, like CBT, addresses negative thinking and behavioral patterns. But, also provides patients with coping skillsets that can be used to overcome these issues during treatment. Some of these coping skills can include boundary setting, mindfulness, trigger identification, and more.
Delray Center for Healing is an outpatient mental health treatment facility located in Delray Beach, South Florida. It provides outpatient care and treatment services for people living and dealing with a number of different mental health issues. Find out more about our treatment planning and services from our website today.
Dr. Rodriguez founded the Delray Center in 2003 and built it on a foundation of core clinical, professional, and ethical principles that are adhered to still to this day. Dr. Rodriguez founded the Delray Center in 2003 and built it on a foundation of core clinical, professional, and ethical principles that are adhered to still to this day.