Health Care Terms

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

ACT is a team-based style of mental health care. It offers tailored care if you have a severe mental health condition. The team can help with your medication and teach you skills to reach your goals. ACT lets you have flexibility with when and where you get services.

Behavioral Health Care Coordination Services

This no-cost service pairs you with a Care Manager. Our Care Managers are nurses, social workers or counselors. You and your Care Manager will talk by phone or in-person. They will work with you to define your needs and link you to resources. Your Care Manager can help you with health or other life concerns. They can also help you understand your benefits.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

ECT stimulates the brain. It can treat people with depression or bipolar disorder when other treatments fail. ECT sends electrical waves to the brain. It may reduce symptoms. ECT may start while in the hospital. It may be repeated at the hospital or an outpatient center.

Inpatient Services

Inpatient Services are when you spend at least one night in a hospital setting and get care. This can be for mental health and/or substance use needs.

Intensive Home-Based Treatment (IHBT)

IHBT is a mental health service for young people. IHBT brings care to the youth’s home and school. A number of resources can help youth and their families with complex emotional needs. IHBT helps keep the family together and make a healthy home.

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)

MAT helps ease cravings for drugs or alcohol and has two parts. One part is prescription medication. Medications used in MAT balance the chemicals in the brain. The other part is support services. These services include doctor visits and one-on-one or group therapy. These two things help you stay sober.

Mental Health Day Treatment

Day treatment is a structured program for adults with mental health conditions. It offers one-on-one and group therapy, and lets you work on your social skills. Services are given in a community setting. It can last a half day or whole day.

Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) Services

OTP is a type of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). It is for those with Opioid Use Disorder. OTP helps ease cravings for opioids and has two parts. One part is prescription medications. Medications used in OTP balance the chemicals in your brain. The other part is support services. Support services include doctor visits or one-on-one or group therapy. These two things help you stay off opioids.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) Services

PHP is an outpatient therapy program that helps treat mental health conditions. It can also be used to treat substance use disorder (SUD). PHP is given in a hospital or Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) setting. It may be offered if you were recently in the hospital. It includes one-on-one and group therapy. Treatment happens during the day. You do not have to stay overnight.

Pharmacological Management

When you work with your provider to make sure your medications are working. This can be things like reviewing and changing your dosage.

Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation

A mental health provider looks at you and your family’s health and social history. They may be a psychiatrist, counselor or social worker. They may diagnose you by what you share with them. They can help you get treatment. They may also link you to other services that can help you.

Psychological Testing

A series of tests performed by a psychologist. The tests look at your behaviors, emotions, and thoughts. They can help you understand how severe your symptoms are. Your test results will help you and your provider learn what may have caused your symptoms. Then, you can discuss what treatment may help you most.

Psychotherapy (family, group, individual)

It is also known as counseling or “talk therapy.”  You can talk about your feelings and thoughts with a licensed therapist. You may learn skills to change your behavior, help relationships, and manage your symptoms. These sessions can be one-on-one, with loved ones, or in a group setting.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Residential Treatment

SUD Residential Treatment happens in a safe place where you will live and receive recovery services. In this place, you will have access to care 24/7. The care you get could be one-on-one, in a group, or with your family. You will get recovery support and learn coping skills.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

TMS uses magnets to stimulate nerve cells in your brain. It can help improve symptoms of depression. TMS most often happens in an office or outpatient setting.