A
Dictionary of Initials, Acronyms and Abbreviations
Used by Counselors©
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initials/abbreviation below:
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IAAOC
= International Association of
Addiction and Offender Counselors, a division of the
American Counseling Association.
IABMCP =
International Academy of Behavioral Medicine Counseling and Psychotherapy,
Inc. (2007 ?) awards Certificates of Diplomate Status in Behavioral
Medicine, Counseling, Psychotherapy and Chemical Dependency Counseling
to those qualified professionals who voluntarily apply for them. IABMCP
appears to be an offshoot of The Masterson Institute For Psychoanalytic
Psychotherapy in New York City. The Masterson Institute apparently
offers a three year post graduate training. Applicants must be degree
holder from accredited educational institutions but there is no
indication that the Masterson training program is itself accredited.
IABNSH =
International Academy on Brain and Nervous System Health
IAC = 1.
Imunization
Action Coalition, 2. International Association for Counselling
IACP =
Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
IACAPAP =
International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions
IACCP = International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology
IAEAPE =
International Association of Employee Assistance Programs in Education
IAEDP = the International
Association of Eating Disorders Professionals
IAEVG = International
Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance
IAIR =
International Academy for Intercultural
Research
IAJVS = International
Association of Jewish Vocational Services
IALM =
International Academy of Legal Medicine, formerly known as the "International
Academy of Legal and Social Medicine."
IALMH = International
Academy of Law and Mental Health, académie internationale de droit et de
santé.
IAMFC =
The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors is a division of
the American Counseling Association.
IAPRS =
International Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation Systems
IARP = International
Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (formerly NARPPS, National
Association of Rehabilitation Professionals in the Private Sector).
IARRT =
International Association for Regression Research & Therapies
(Originally founded as APRT - Association for Past-Life Research and Therapies.)
IASR =
International Academy for Suicide Research
IACA =
International Association of Counselors & Therapists
IBRT =
International Board for Regression Therapy
ICA = 1.
Idaho Counseling Association, 2.
Illinois Counseling Association.
IC3 =
Internet Crime Complaint Center is a partnership between
the Federal Bureau of Invesitgation and the National While Collar Crime Center
(NW3C). Formerly (prior to 2006) called the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC).
ICD = (1.)
International Classification of Diseases (2.) Injuries and Causes of
Death (3.) Informed Consent Document (and many more
meanings).
ICDL =
International Career Development Library The ERIC Clearinghouse
on Counseling and Student Services was closed by the U.S. Department of
Education as of Dec. 19, 2003. If you are looking for the new ERIC
contractor or the ERIC database, please go to
http://www.eric.ed.gov.
ICF =
International Coach Federation, an organization that regulates and provides four levels of coach certification (life coach
or personal coaching).
ICISF =
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation sponsors training in CISM.
ICR = International
Counsellor-in-Residence. (seen being used as a job title by NBCC-I).
ICRC or IC&RC = International Certification Reciprocity Consortium
[Thanks to Nelson Fernandini, Florida.]
ICRC/AODA =
Certification Reciprocity Consortium / Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse,
is a multi-state organization which exists to promote uniform
professional standards, to protect and to safeguard the general public,
provide quality control for substance abuse counseling profession,
provide counselor reciprocity among member boards, and to give the
profession greater visibility throughout the United States and
internationally.
ICSA = The
International Cultic Studies Association
ICASSI = International Committee of Adlerian
Summer Schools and Institutes has offered summer courses in
various parts of the world since 1967. Rudolf Dreikurs created ICASSI to
spread the teachings of Adler to people around the world, not only as a
psychological method of treatment, but as a philosophy of life. ICASSI
offers a broad range of courses for educators, parents, psychologists,
therapists, counselors, social workers and others seeking professional
and personal development. Courses are combined with opportunities for
relaxation, fun, and friendship. In 2008 the dates are July 13th
through 25th at a modern university and hotel complex close to the
old-world city center of Gyor, Hungary.
IDEA = Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act, first passed by Congress in
1975, authorized the federal government to reimburse states for up to 40
percent of the average per-pupil cost of education every child with a
disability, but appropriations have never come close to meeting that
level. [Thanks to Counseling Today, July 2004, an ACA
publication.]
IDU =
injection drug user (usually referring to illegal drug use).
Plural, IDUs.
IED =
intermittent explosive disorder. "Road rage, temper outbursts that
involve throwing or breaking objects and even spousal abuse can sometimes be
attributed to the disorder, though not everyone who does those things is
afflicted....(IED) involves multiple outburst that are way out of proportion to the
situation. These angry outburst often include threats or aggressive actions
and property damage...average age of onset was 14....Most sufferers in the study had
other emotional disorders or drug or alcohol problems and had gotten treatment for
them, but only 28 percent had ever received treatment for anger." [Reported by
Lindsey Tanner, The Associated Press, 6/6/06.]
IEP =
Individualized Education Program [Thanks to John MacDonald, Poulsbo, WA]
IFCC =
Internet Fraud Complaint Center is a
partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the
National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) to address fraud committed over
the Internet. Name changed in 2006 to
Internet Crime Complaint Center (see: IC3.)
IFS =
Internal Family Systems "views
a person as containing an ecology of relatively discrete minds each of
which has valuable qualities and each of which is designed to, and wants
to play, a valuable role within. These parts are forced out of their
valuable roles, however, by life experiences that can reorganize the
system in unhealthy ways." [Thanks to Richard C. Schwartz, PhD.]
IFSW =
International Federation of Social Workers
IFTA =
International Family Therapy Association
IGCCB = International
Gambling Counselor Certification Board
II =
intensive inpatient treatment.
IJAC = International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling
ILA = The International
Leadership Association is a global network for
those with an interest in leadership.
ILAE = International League
Against Epilepsy
IMH =
(1.) Integrated Mental Health (2). IMH is used for a
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern in Florida on forms which contain fields too small to write out the full title,
and is used in the State of Florida listing for a registered mental health counselor intern registration number,
as in "My registration number is IMH #555." [Our thanks to Jason Eric Ross, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern,
NYS Certified School Psychologist, Florida.]. (See explanation of IMHC, below.)
IMHC = IS NOT an acceptable legal professional acronym for
an "Intern Mental Health Counselor," as under Florida State law [Chapter
491.0149, F.S., paragraph (2)(b)] "...a registered mental health counselor intern
shall include the words 'registered mental health counselor intern' on all
promotional materials, including cards, brochures, stationery, advertisements, and
signs, naming the registered intern.' (While acronyms are listed in earlier
paragraphs for various licensed counselors, there is no mention of a acronym that
can be substituted for this wording.) [Our thanks to Dee Ramer, Regulatory Supervisor,
Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental
Health Counseling, Tallahassee, FL. for research assistance.] (See IMH, above.)
IMHCA = (1)
the
Idaho Mental Health Counselors Association, (2)
Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association or (3)
Indiana Mental Health Counselors Association, or (4)
Iowa Mental Health Counselors Association.
IMHO/GHMHS =
Inventory of Mental Health Organizations and General Hospital Mental
Health Services [Center for Mental Health Services, Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration].
INCASE =
International Coalition for Addiction Studies Education
INS =
Immigration and Naturalization Service
(now the US Citizenship and Immigration Services)
IOM =
Institute of Medicine is a nonprofit
organization chartered in 1970 as a component of the National Academy of
Sciences. IOM works outside the framework of government to ensure
scientifically informed analysis and independent guidance. IOM
provides unbiased, evidence-based, and authoritative information and
advice concerning health and science policy to policy-makers,
professionals, leaders in every sector of society, and the public at
large.
IPA =
International Psychoanalytical Association,
the oldest and largest international psychoanalytic organization and the
world's primary accrediting and regulatory body for psychoanalysis.
IP = (1)
Information for Practice
has a monthly archive that is designed to help social service
professionals throughout the world maintain an awareness of news and
emerging scholarship regarding the profession. [Info thanks to Dr.
Gary Holden, NYU.] (2) inpatient (as in
inpatient treatment) or intensive inpatient
chemical dependency treatment.
IPAT =
Institute for Personality and Ability Testing, Inc. is a
leading provider of strategic talent management services with proprietary rights to
the 16PF® Questionnaire. 2006 announced
strategic partnership with the NBCC. [The National Certified Counselor, Vol 22, No
3, Fall 2006.]
IPSAT =
in prison substance abuse treatment. [Thanks
to Mary Ellen Pistalu, Director Grant Development, WestCare California,
Inc., Fresno, CA.]
IRA = (1) International Reading
Association or (2) individual retirement account.
IRCT =
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims
is an independent, international health professional organization, based in Denmark,
that works in collaboration with a global network of nearly 200 rehabilitation
centers and programs worldwide that promote and support the rehabilitation of
torture victims and works for the prevention of torture worldwide.
IREFREA =
European Institute of Research on the Risk Factors in Infancy and Adolescence.
IREFREA was created in 1988 in Lyon (France). Today it is a European network with 7 permanent offices
and different research partners located in 13 European countries; it develops professional partnerships with European experts
in the field of youth hardships, drug prevention and drug demand reduction.
IRTAC = International Round Table for the Advancement of Counselling,
now incorporated as the International Association for Counselling [UK].
ISA =
Incest Survivors Anonymous .
For local meetings, look for a telephone listing for Incest
Survivors Anonymous in the business section of the white pages of your
local telephone book. (also see: SIA)
ISACS, Inc
= Institute for the Scientific
Advancement of Counseling Services, a non-profit organization
that assists counseling agencies to embrace valid outcomes research
as part of their mission.
I-SATS = Inventory of Substance Abuse Treatment Services, a master list of
organized of substance abuse treatment programs known to SAMHSA.
ISED =
Institute for Social and Economic DevelopmentThe Institute for Social and Economic
Development is a nonprofit organization that provides a variety of
services to assist disenfranchised individuals to enter the economic
mainstream and create solid economic futures for themselves and others.
ISED accomplishes this by providing supportive and direct services to
low-income individuals and the agencies which serve them.
ISER = Internet Special Education Resources
is a nationwide directory of professionals who serve the learning
disabilities and special education communities.
ISH =
the Inner Self Helper, a concept developed by
Ralph B. Allison, MD, who explains the inner Self Helpers, tells how they
operate, and how their protective energy can be tapped in an alliance
beneficial to the patient in his book, "Minds in Many Pieces
Revealing the Spiritual Side of Multiple Personality Disorder," by Ralph
B. Allison, M.D. and Ted Schwarz.
ISIP = The
Idaho Society of Individual Psychology is an non-profit organization of people in Idaho
interested in furthering the concepts of Individual Psychology, an approach of understanding human behavior and working
with individuals based largely on the teachings of Alfred Adler.
ISSD = International Society for
the Study of Dissociation
ISTE = International Society for
Technology in Education
IT = Integrated
treatment (mental health and substance abuse treatment)
delivered concurrently by the same team or group of clinicians within the
same program.
ITAA = International
Transactional Analysis Association
ITAD =
Institute for Trauma & Addictive Disorders. This is one of The
Meadows programs.
ITEA = International Technology
Education Association
ITIN =
US Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
To top
JACL =
Japanese American Citizens League
is the nation's oldest and largest Asian Pacific American civil rights
organizations with members in twenty-three states.
JAGCE = Jamaica Association
of Guidance Counsellors in Education.
JAMA = Journal of the American
Medical Association
JAOC = Journal of
Addictions and Offender Counseling, a publication.of the
International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors.
JBRF = The Juvenile Bipolar Research
Foundation
JCAHO = Joint Commission of
Accreditation of Health Care Organizations
JCC = Journal of
College Counseling
JCD = Journal of
Counseling & Development , quarterly journal of
the American Counseling Association.
JCMH = The
Journal of Creativity in Mental Health,
published by the Taylor & Francis Group, is an experientially based
journal for practitioners and counselor educators. (See also: ACC)
JCTP = "The
Joint Committee on Testing Practices, a unique
collaboration of seven mental health and education organizations that
worked to improve the use of tests in assessment and appraisal, has
disbanded after 22 years." Due to ACA funding cuts and resulting
loss of staff the organization to a vote to dissolve the committee
effective December 31, 2007. [Thanks to Counseling Today, February
2008, a publication of the American Counseling Association.]
JD = Doctor
of Jurisprudence, a university law degree.
(Counselors come from all kinds of degree backgrounds. The variety
in training preparation and background experience can provide unique
strengths for specific types of counseling situations.)
JEMS
= Journal of Emergency Medical Services, [The Online Emergency Services Resource.
JIS = judicial
information system, refers
to records maintained by the courts
JPCA = Journal of
the Pennsylvania Counseling Association
JPT =
Journal of Poetry Therapy
JRS = Judicial
Retirement System
JSGW = Journal for
Specialists in Group Work
To top
KAPC = Kenya Association of
Professional Counsellors
KCA = Kentucky Counseling
Association
KBG =
Knowledge-Based Governance, developed by Glen
Tecker, advocates periodic examination of an organization's governance
structure to determine whether current approach fits the needs of the
membership and promotes forward movement. [ ACA, Counseling Today, March
2003]
KMHCA = Kentucky Mental Mental Health Counselors
Association.
K-SADS-P = The
Kiddie Schedule for Affective disorders and Schizophrenia
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Looking for initials
that aren't here? Contact Us.
LABMCP =
International Academy of Behavioral Medicine, Counseling and Psychotherapy
LAC, LAc or L.Ac. =
Licensed Acupuncturist.
[or]
LAC =
1. Licensed Associate Counselor, [Formerly Certified Associate Counselors
become LACs under Arizona licensure law 2003-04],
2. Licensed Addiction Counselor, (Louisiana 2005)
LADAC = Licensed
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor, a New Mexico license [Thanks Jennifer Cady].
LADC =
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (Nebraska)
LASW =
Licensed Advanced Social Worker is for social workers who
practice in schools, hospitals, agencies, etc. Also see: LICSW.
[Washington State licensure information from Gayle Clelland.] "Advanced social
work" means the application of social work theory and methods including emotional
and bio-psycho-social assessment, psychotherapy under the supervision of a licensed
independent clinical social worker, case management, consultation, advocacy,
counseling, and community organization. [Thanks to Betty Moe, DOH]
LBLT = Life-Between-Lives
Therapist, a certification by the National Association of Transpersonal
Hypnotherapists. Life-between-lives therapy was founded by Michael Newton,
PhD, who "is considered a pioneer in uncovering the mysteries about life after death
through the use of Spiritual Regression." (Quote from "journeybetweenlives"
website.)
LCA =
Louisiana Counseling Association
LCAT = Licensed
Creative Arts Therapist, by the State
of New York [Thanks to Bryan Hunter, Professor and Director of Music
Therapy at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York. Note:
Bryan Hunter was awarded the very first license as a Creative Arts
Therapist by the State of New York in 2005.]
LCC = unauthorized
acronym for Licensed Christian
Counselor. According to the
National Christian Counselor's Association, "...some states have a
counselor category called "Licensed Professional Counselor." These states prohibit
NCCA graduates from using the initials "LPC." Their title must be spelled out,
i.e., "NCCA Licensed Pastoral Counselor" or "NCCA Licensed Clinical Christian
Counselor." This ensures that the NCCA counselor is operating within legal and
ethical standards, and maintaining the public's trust and confidence. " [Thanks to Laurie S. Mendez, LCPC]
LCCA =
Louisiana College Counseling Association
LCCR =
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
consists of more than 180 national organization, representing
persons of color, women, children, labor unions, individuals with
disabilities, older Americans, major religious groups, gays and lesbians
and civil liberties and human rights groups.
LCDC =
Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor
LCMHC = Licensed
Clinical Mental Health Counselor [Vermont]
LCPC =
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
(States of Maryland, Montana, Idaho, Kansas and Nevada) In Idaho, an LPC
must complete additional hours of supervised experience and show
proficiency in diagnostic evaluation before being granted the LCPC.
Illinois and Kansas also have a two-tiered credential (LPC and LCPC)."
LCPCM =
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors of Maryland
LCSW = 1.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, California, Florida. [Thanks to Nelson Fernandini.] 2.
Licensed Certified Social Worker (in the
state of Maryland this requires a Master’s in Social Work plus passing the
Advanced Examination). See also: LSWA, LGSW, LCSW-C.
LCSW-C =
Licensed Certified Social Worker - Clinical (in the state of Maryland this
requires a Master’s in Social Work and passing the Clinical Examination.
The highest of the four levels of licensure in Maryland, an individual
must be a LCSW-C to practice clinical social work.). See also: LSWA, LGSW, LCSW.
LD =
Licensed Dietitian.
Used by the State of Alaska for qualified Registered Dietitians. It is the
equivalent of CD, or Certified Dietitian in the State of Washington. [Thanks to
Charlene Koutchak, Alaska.]
LEOFF =
Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System
LEP =
Licensed Educational Psychologist, California.
LGBT =
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. See also: GLBT, GLBTQ.
LGSW =
Licensed Graduate Social Worker [(in the state
of Maryland this requires a Master’s in Social Work plus passing the
Intermediate Examination). See also: LSWA, LCSW, LCSW-C.
LICDC = Licensed
Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor (Ohio Chemical
Dependency Professionals Board)
LICSW =
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. These
are masters-level clinical social workers with advanced experience who
have met state requirements for licensure. [Thanks to Brigitte
Moeller, LICSW, Cambridge, MA.] Also see: LASW.
LLB =
Bachelor of Laws
LLC = Limited
Liability Company
LLM =
Master of Laws
LLP = (1)
Limited Liability Partnership
(2) Limited License Psychologist [thanks to
Lauren Matusko].
LMFT =
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
LMFTA =
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate.
Designates a Counselor who has completed the Masters Degree program and is working, under approved supervision, toward a marriage
and family therapist license. [Washington State 2009]
LMHC =
Licensed Mental Health Counselor.
LMHCA =(1.)
Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate.
Designates a Counselor who has completed the Masters Degree program and
is working under approved supervision toward a mental health counselor
license. [Washington State 2009.] (2.) Louisiana Mental
Health Counselors Association.
LMHP =
Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (Nebraska)
LMP =
Licensed Massage Practitioner [Thanks to Del Hunter
Morrill, Tacoma]
LMSW =
Licensed Master Social Worker (New York State) [Thanks to
Jennifer Reardon, LMSW, Holbrook, NY)
LMT = Licensed
Massage Therapist
[Thanks to Del Hunter Morrill, Tacoma]
LOC =
Level of Care [more]
LpastC or LPASTC = Licensed Pastoral
Counselor
LPC = Licensed
Professional Counselor, a state licensing
designation. [See also: LCPC, above.]
LPCA =
Licensed Professional Counselors Association
LPCA-GA or
LPCAGA = Licensed Professional
Counselors Association of Georgia (GA), a chapter of the AMHCA.
LPCANC = Licensed Professional
Counselors Association of North Carolina, a chapter of the AMHCA.
LPCANM or LPCA/NM =
Licensed Professional Counselors Association of New Mexico, founded in 1979, is
part of the New Mexico Counseling Association and is a Division of the American
Mental Health Counselors Association.
LPCC =
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Minnesota & New Mexico [Thanks Jennifer Cady].
LPCMH = Licensed Professional
Counselors of Mental Health (Delaware)
LPCP =
Licensed Professional Counselor-Private Practice (now
obsolete) has been changed to LCPC or Licensed Clinical Professional
Counselor [Thanks to Janice Wiedrick, Bureau of Occupational
Licenses, Idaho]
LPC/MHSP = a
Licensed Professional Counselor designated as
a Mental Health Service Provider.
Applicants must meet all of the above qualifications for LPC; in
addition, NINE of the 60 graduate hours must be in courses whose
majority content is focused on the diagnosis, treatment assessment and
appraisal of mental disorders. The two years of post-masters experience
must be in a clinical setting that provides substantial opportunity to
diagnose and treat mental disorders. LPC/MHSPs may diagnose and
treat, according to their training and experience, both conditions
attributable to a mental disorder and conditions not attributable to a
mental disorder. These include, but are not limited to, such problems as
adjustment disorders, depression, anxiety, etc. [Tennessee]
LPP = Licensed Pastoral
Psychotherapist
LRC =
Licensed Rehabilitation Counselor credential. (Louisiana, Massachusetts).
The requirements vary by state. [Thanks to Robert Evans.]
LSAI = Licensed
Substance Abuse Intern , a New Mexico
license [Thanks to Jennifer Cady].
LSATP = Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner in State
of Virginia, US. [Thanks to Ann L. Miller, PhD, LCSW, LSATP, CSAC]
ISED = Institute for Social and Economic Development is the technical assistance provider for the
Office of Refugee Resettlement's micro-enterprise programs nationwide. ISED works under contract for states, federal agencies,
non-profit networks/collaborations, and single organizations and agencies, and ISED has provided technical assistance to small and large
organizations worldwide. ISED's goal is to help enable the staff of microenterprise programs and agencies to effectively and
professionally serve low-income entrepreneurs who are starting, expanding, or strengthening micro-businesses."
LSW = Licensed
Social Worker
LSWA =
Licensed Social Work Associate In the state of
Maryland this requires a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and passing the
Basic Examination. See also: LGSW, LCSW and LCSW-C.
LSWAA =
Licensed Social Work Associate – Advanced: Designates a Social
Worker who has completed the Masters Degree program and is working under
approved supervision toward a social work advanced license [Washington State 2009].
LSWAIC =
Licensed Social Work Associate – Independent Clinical: Designates a Social Worker who has completed the Masters Degree program
and is working under approved supervision toward a social work independent clinical license [Washington State 2009].
LTBI =
latent tuberculosis infection
LTC =
long term care (a category of treatment).
LTR =
long term residential inpatient treatment.
LULAC =
League of United Latin American Citizens had members throughout the United States and Puerto Rico and is
the largest and oldest Hispanic Organization in the United States.
Continue on to the "M" Acronyms >>
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This document is Copyrighted© 1999-2009 Floyd Else,
MA, and may not be reproduced, in whole or in part without prior written
permission of the author except when single definitions are credited to
the author, source and site name. [Floyd Else, Dictionary of
Initials, Acronyms and Initials Used by Counselors and Social Workers,
CounselingSeattle.com] All rights reserved.
The names of individuals may appear after certain
definitions to indicate a contribution to this dictionary of initials and
abbreviations.
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