Analytic Therapy: type of therapy based on the psychoanalytical approach – see Psychoanalysis.

Attachment Theory: psychological theory centered on the first emotional relationship of the person with another person – generally the mother or the person who acted as such. For John Bowlby, who founded this theory, the features of this first relationship determine how we will, from them on, enter into relationships with others.

Brief Therapy: includes various approaches, all of which have in common a small number of sessions (generally between 10 and 12) and the definition of objectives at the onset. The therapist has an active role.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT): type of therapies aiming primarily at understanding and altering the way in which the patient thinks (cognition) and acts (behavior). With the help of the therapist, the patient tries, for instance, to spot types of situations that automatically trigger specific behaviors and/or thoughts; once this has been accomplished, exercises allow to transform said behaviors and/or thoughts. This allows, for instance, to “tame” phobias thanks to a gradual familiarization process, or to modify automatic thoughts that have to do with self-esteem or anxiety, amongst others.

Inter-Personal Therapy (IPT): type of therapy, generally short-term, centered on human interactions and how they relate to the person’s symptoms. The aim is to try and develop methods allowing to alter and improve the patient’s relationships with others.

Psychiatrist: a physician whose specialty is mental health; psychiatrists can deliver « feuilles de soins » and write prescriptions for medication.

Psychoanalysis: method that allows to explore oneself, and type of therapy based on becoming aware of the “unconscious”; it focuses largely on childhood, and the person’s significant experiences throughout the analysis.

Psychodrama: type of therapy, especially used with groups, based on improvised role-play, allowing to act out conflicts and to deal with neuroses.

Psychological Tests: tests developed by psychologists, allowing to measure specific features (such as the various dimensions of intelligence) or to grasp the personality of someone (projective tests such as Rorschach’s ink blots, where the person talks freely about an image that’s shown to him/her).

Psychologist: mental health professional, who holds at least a “Master 2” in psychology. Psychologists offer diagnoses, therapies, and in some cases, tests (for instance, IQ tests for children who are experiencing problems in school).

Psychotherapist: person who offers mental health therapies. The new French legislation (2009) imposes a university training in psychopathology to work as a psychotherapist.

Social Support: emotional support, networks that the person has at his/her disposal (family, friends, etc.). This network is at the core of a number of therapies (such as Inter-Personal Therapy)

Solution-Centered approach: type of therapy that takes a specific objective (such as a phobia or a difficult relationship with someone) instead of attempting (as is the case in psychoanalysis for instance) to explore the person’s entire mental life and all his/her issues.

Supervision: regular personal sessions for the psychologist, allowing him/her to talk about his/her practice with another mental health professional.

Support Therapy: type of therapy aiming at supporting the person throughout a difficult stage of life, such as an illness or a mourning process.

Systemic Therapy: type of therapy that sees the individual as part of a system, a network of relationships (the family, society…) and that seeks to modify this specific area.

Talk Therapy: type of therapy that’s based on the patient’s verbalizations.