A–Z of Mental Health and Counselling Terms

A-Z text overlayed over dictionary entry for definition
Arun Counselling Centre
Arun Counselling Centre

From everyday experiences like stress and low mood, through to clinically diagnosable conditions, we’ve put together a list of terms you might encounter or experience relating to your mental health, together with how counselling can help. 

Whatever you're going through, you don't have to face it alone or work it out by yourself. We offer low-cost and subsidised counselling, and you don't need a referral from your GP to get in touch. You can reach out to us directly, whenever you're ready to talk. 

 

Abandonment issues - A deep-seated fear of being left, rejected or deserted by people close to you, often rooted in early experiences of loss, neglect or inconsistent caregiving. It can show up as clinginess, difficulty trusting others, or pushing people away before they can leave. Counselling can help explore where these fears originated and build a more secure sense of self and relationships. 

Addiction - A compulsive need to engage in a behaviour or use a substance despite harmful consequences, often used as a way of coping with difficult feelings. Counselling can help explore the underlying causes of addiction, build healthier coping strategies, and support relapse prevention. (More info: Mind, BACP) 

Anxiety - A feeling of unease, worry or fear that can range from mild to severe. It can be a normal response to stress but becomes a problem when it's persistent or disproportionate to the situation. Counselling can help people understand their triggers and develop tools to manage anxious thoughts and physical symptoms. (More info: NHS, Mind) 

Attachment styles - Patterns of relating to others (secure, anxious, avoidant, disorganised) that typically develop in early childhood and can shape adult relationships. Counselling can help people understand their attachment style and build more secure, trusting relationships. 

Bereavement / grief - The natural emotional response to losing someone or something significant. Grief doesn't follow a fixed pattern and can involve waves of sadness, anger, numbness or guilt. Bereavement counselling offers a safe space to process loss at your own pace. (More info: Cruse Bereavement Support, Mind) 

Bipolar disorder - A condition causing extreme shifts in mood, energy and activity levels, from depressive lows to manic or hypomanic highs. It's usually managed with a combination of medication and psychological support; counselling can help with mood monitoring, routine, and coping strategies alongside medical treatment. (More info: NHS, Mind) 

Body dysmorphia (Body Dysmorphic Disorder/BDD) - A mental health condition involving obsessive preoccupation with perceived flaws in appearance, which are often unnoticeable or minor to others. It can lead to significant distress, avoidance of social situations, and repetitive behaviours like mirror-checking or seeking reassurance. CBT is a NICE-recommended treatment, and counselling can support the emotional impact alongside this. (More info: NHS, Mental Health Foundation) 

Burnout - A state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress, often work-related. Not a clinical diagnosis in itself, but a recognised and serious experience. Counselling can help identify unsustainable patterns and rebuild boundaries and energy. (More info: Mental Health Foundation, Mind) 

Co-dependency - A pattern of relating in which a person's sense of identity and self-worth becomes overly focused on caring for or "fixing" another person, often at the expense of their own needs. Counselling can help build a stronger sense of self and healthier relationship boundaries. 

Compassion fatigue - Emotional and physical exhaustion that can affect people in caring roles (professional or personal) who are regularly exposed to others' distress. Counselling and supervision can offer space to process this and prevent burnout. (More info: Keeping Well NHS) 

Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) - A response to repeated or prolonged trauma, often in childhood, which can include the core symptoms of PTSD alongside difficulties with emotional regulation, self-image and relationships. Trauma-informed counselling, often over a longer period, can help. (More info: NHS , Mind) 

Depression - A low mood that lasts for weeks or months, affecting how you feel, think and manage daily activities. Symptoms range from persistent sadness to loss of interest in life, low energy and hopelessness. Talking therapies such as CBT and counselling are recommended treatments, often alongside or instead of medication. (More info: NHS, Mind) 

Dissociation - A sense of disconnection from your thoughts, feelings, body or surroundings, often a protective response to overwhelming stress or trauma. Counselling can help build grounding techniques and, over time, process the underlying causes. (More info: Mind) 

Disordered eating - A broader term than 'eating disorder,' covering irregular eating patterns and behaviours (restriction, bingeing, rigid rules around food) that may not meet full diagnostic criteria but still cause distress. Counselling can help explore the emotional roots of the relationship with food. (More info: Beat) 

Eating disorders - Conditions such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder, involving a distorted relationship with food, weight and body image, often tied to underlying emotional distress. Specialist therapy is usually needed, alongside medical monitoring; counselling can support the emotional and psychological side of recovery. (More info: NHS, Beat) 

Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) / Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) - A personality disorder affecting how a person manages emotions, relationships, and sense of self. It often involves intense mood swings, fear of abandonment and impulsivity. EUPD is the term increasingly used in UK clinical practice; BPD remains common in older literature. Specialist therapies like DBT are often recommended, though general counselling can also offer valuable support. (More info: NHS, Mind) 

Empathy fatigue — see Compassion fatigue 

Fight, flight, freeze and fawn - The body's automatic survival responses to perceived threat or danger. Understanding these responses can help people make sense of reactions that otherwise feel confusing or "irrational." Counselling can help you recognise your own patterns and build a greater sense of safety. (More info: Mind, PTSD UK) 

Flashbacks - Vivid, intrusive re-experiencing of a past traumatic event, common in PTSD and complex PTSD. They can feel as though the event is happening again in the present moment. Trauma-focused therapies can reduce their frequency and intensity. (More info: NHS, PTSD UK) 

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) - A long-term condition causing persistent, excessive worry about a wide range of everyday issues, rather than one specific trigger. CBT and counselling are commonly recommended treatments. (More info: NHS,  Mind) 

Grief - see Bereavement 

Health anxiety - Excessive worry about having or developing a serious illness, often involving repeated body-checking or reassurance-seeking. Counselling and CBT can help break the cycle of worry and reassurance. (More info: NHS, Mind) 

Hypervigilance - A heightened state of alertness to potential danger, often a symptom of anxiety or trauma. It can be exhausting and make it hard to relax or feel safe. Trauma-informed counselling can help the nervous system gradually settle. (More info:  PTSD UK)  

Identity - A person's sense of who they are shaped by factors such as culture, gender, sexuality, relationships, work, beliefs and life experiences. Questions or confusion about identity can arise at any stage of life, often triggered by major transitions (such as a new relationship, becoming a parent, retirement, or coming out). Counselling offers a non-judgemental space to explore these questions and build a clearer, more settled sense of self. 

Imposter syndrome - The persistent feeling of being a "fraud" despite evidence of competence or success, often accompanied by fear of being "found out." Not a clinical diagnosis, but a widely recognised experience that counselling can help address by exploring self-worth and internal narratives. (More info: Young Minds, RCN)  

Insomnia - Difficulty falling or staying asleep, which can both cause and result from poor mental health. Counselling can help address anxious thoughts or rumination that interfere with sleep. (More info: NHS) 

Jealousy - An emotional response involving fear of loss, comparison or insecurity, often arising in relationships. While a normal human emotion, persistent or overwhelming jealousy can cause distress. Counselling can help explore its roots, often linked to self-esteem or past experiences of trust being broken. 

Loneliness - The distressing feeling of being alone or disconnected from others, regardless of how much social contact a person actually has. It's strongly linked to poor mental health. Counselling can offer a space to feel heard and explore ways of building connection. (More info: Mental Health Foundation, Mind) 

Low mood - A temporary dip in mood that's a normal part of life, distinct from clinical depression, though it can develop into depression if it persists. Counselling can help identify triggers and build resilience before things worsen. (More info: NHS) 

Low self-esteem - A persistent lack of confidence in one's own worth or abilities. It often develops from early experiences, criticism, or trauma, and can affect relationships, work and mental health more broadly. Counselling can help build a kinder, more accurate self-view. (More info: Mind) 

Mania - A period of abnormally elevated mood, energy and activity, seen in bipolar disorder. It can involve reduced need for sleep, racing thoughts, and impulsive or risky behaviour. Medical treatment is usually central, with counselling supporting overall stability. (More info: Mind) 

Mood disorders - An umbrella term for conditions primarily affecting emotional state, including depression and bipolar disorder. Counselling can form part of a broader treatment plan alongside medical care. 

Mysophobia - An excessive, irrational fear of germs, dirt or contamination, which can lead to compulsive cleaning, handwashing or avoidance behaviours. It's often linked to OCD, though it can also occur on its own. CBT approaches, including graded exposure, are typically effective, and counselling can help address any underlying anxiety. (More info: Mind) 

Neurodivergence - A term describing natural variation in how brains work, including conditions like ADHD and autism. Not a mental illness, but neurodivergent people can be more likely to experience anxiety, low self-esteem or burnout, often linked to navigating a world not designed for them. Counselling, ideally neurodivergence-informed, can offer support with these related difficulties. 

Night terrors - Episodes of intense fear during sleep, more common in children but also experienced by adults, often linked to stress or trauma. Addressing underlying stress or trauma in counselling can help reduce their frequency. (More info: NHS) 

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - A condition involving unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions) performed to relieve the anxiety these thoughts cause. CBT, particularly Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), is the recommended talking therapy. (More info: NHS, Mind) 

Overwhelm - A state of being unable to cope with the intensity or volume of thoughts, feelings or demands. Not a diagnosis, but a common reason people seek counselling, which can help break things down and restore a sense of control. (More info: Mental Health Foundation) 

Panic attacks - Sudden episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as a racing heart, breathlessness and dizziness, often peaking within minutes. Counselling and CBT can help people understand and manage the panic cycle. (More info: NHS, Mind) 

Perfectionism - Setting excessively high, often unattainable standards for oneself, and being harshly self-critical when they aren't met. Not a diagnosis, but strongly linked to anxiety, depression and burnout. Counselling can help develop a more balanced, compassionate relationship with achievement. (More info: Young Minds) 

PDA - Pathological Demand Avoidance / Pervasive Drive for Autonomy - A profile associated with autism, characterised by an extreme need to avoid or resist everyday demands and expectations, driven by high anxiety rather than defiance. The term "Pervasive Drive for Autonomy" is increasingly used as a less pathologising alternative. Counselling that's neurodivergence-informed and low-demand in approach can help build understanding and reduce anxiety around this response. (More info: National Autistic Society) 

Phobias - An intense, often irrational fear of a specific object, situation or activity, which can lead to significant avoidance and distress. Common examples include social phobia (fear of social situations), agoraphobia (fear of situations where escape might be difficult), claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces), and specific phobias such as a fear of heights, flying or animals. Phobias are among the most treatable mental health difficulties, usually responding well to CBT approaches like graded exposure; counselling can also help address any underlying anxiety. (More info: NHS, Mind) 

Postnatal depression - Depression experienced by a parent in the weeks or months after having a baby, distinct from the milder and shorter-lived "baby blues." Counselling, alongside GP support, can be an effective part of recovery. (More info: NHS, Mind) 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - A condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, involving flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance and avoidance. It's estimated to affect around 1 in 3 people who go through a traumatic experience. Trauma-focused CBT and EMDR are NICE-recommended treatments; counselling can also provide vital ongoing support. (More info: NHS, Mind) 

Rumination - Repetitive, circular thinking about a problem, worry or past event, without reaching resolution. Common in both anxiety and depression. Counselling can help interrupt rumination patterns and build healthier thinking habits. More info: (Young Minds) 

Resilience - The capacity to adapt and recover from adversity, stress or difficult life events. It isn't fixed; it can be built and strengthened, and counselling can support this process by developing coping skills and self-understanding. (More info: Mental Health Foundation) 

RSD - Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria - Intense emotional pain in response to perceived criticism or rejection, often described by people with ADHD, though it isn't currently a formal clinical diagnosis. It can lead to significant distress or avoidance of situations where rejection feels possible. Counselling can help build coping strategies and a more balanced response to perceived criticism. (More info: ADDitude) 

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - A type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, usually worsening in autumn and winter. Alongside light therapy and lifestyle changes, counselling can help manage the emotional impact. (More info: Mental Health Foundation) 

Self-harm - Any behaviour where someone intentionally causes harm to themselves, often as a way of coping with overwhelming emotional pain, rather than (though sometimes alongside) a wish to end their life. It's a serious sign of distress. Counselling can help address the underlying pain safely, without judgement. More info: NHS,  Harmless) 

Sensory overload - A state of overwhelm that happens when one or more of the senses (sound, light, touch, smell, crowds) receive more input than the brain can comfortably process. It's commonly experienced by autistic and neurodivergent people, but can affect anyone during times of stress, illness or exhaustion. Counselling can help identify personal triggers and build practical strategies for managing or reducing overload. (More info: National Autistic Society) 

Social anxiety - Intense fear of being judged, embarrassed or scrutinised in social situations, which can lead to avoidance of everyday interactions. CBT and counselling can help build confidence and challenge unhelpful beliefs about how others perceive us. (More info: Mind) 

Stress - The body and mind's response to pressure or demands that feel difficult to cope with. Everyone experiences it, and it isn't a mental illness, but prolonged or unmanaged stress can contribute to anxiety, depression and physical health problems. Counselling can help identify sources of stress and build sustainable coping strategies. (More info: Mind, NHS) 

Survivors guilt - Feelings of guilt experienced by someone who has survived a traumatic event, illness or loss when others did not, or who feels they should have done more to help. It's a recognised response to trauma and bereavement, not a sign of wrongdoing. Counselling can offer a space to process these feelings without judgement. 

Trauma - The lasting emotional and psychological impact of distressing or life-threatening experiences. Trauma responses vary widely between people and don't always lead to PTSD, but can still significantly affect daily life and relationships. Trauma-informed counselling provides a safe, paced approach to processing difficult experiences. (More info: Mind, NHS, BACP) 

Unhelpful thinking patterns (cognitive distortions) - Habitual ways of thinking that skew our perception of reality in a negative direction, such as catastrophising, black-and-white thinking, or mind-reading. A core focus of CBT, but relevant across most types of counselling. 

Vicarious trauma - Emotional effects experienced by people who are repeatedly exposed to the traumatic experiences of others, common among carers, therapists and emergency workers. Supervision and personal counselling can help process this and reduce burnout. (More info: BMA) 

Worry - Anxious thoughts about potential future problems. A normal and common experience, but it can become distressing when persistent or disproportionate. Counselling can help distinguish "productive" worry from unhelpful rumination and build better coping tools. (More info: Mind) 

Work-related stress / burnout - Stress caused specifically by workplace pressures including workload, conflict, job insecurity or poor work-life balance, that can build over time into burnout. Counselling can help with boundary-setting, communication and reconnecting with a sense of purpose. (More info: NHS, Mental Health Foundation, Mind) 

Youth mental health - A broad term covering the emotional wellbeing of children and young people, an area with its own specific pressures (school, social media, identity development) and specialist support services. Youth counselling is typically tailored to age and developmental stage. (More info: YoungMinds, BACP) 

 

Where to get further support 

Ready to talk to someone? You don't need a referral from your GP, if you live in West Sussex you can get in touch with us directly about low-cost or subsidised counselling or search online for your nearest counselling service. 

You may also find these external resources helpful: 

 This glossary is for general information only. It isn't a substitute for a professional diagnosis or treatment. If you, or someone you know, is in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, please visit our emergency contacts page.