AECT =
Association for Education Communications and Technology
AED or AEDs =
Automated External Defibrillators can
be used by trained staff and untrained persons to restore a normal
heart rhythm in someone who has suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.
AERA =
American Educational Research Association
AETC =
AIDS Education and Training Center
AfCA =
African Counselling Association [Thanks to Dr. Kim Richards}
AFDC =
Aid to Families with Dependent Children
AFN =
Alaska Federation of Natives
AFSP =
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
AFB =
American Foundation for the Blind
AFD =
age of first drink
AFF =
Advance Fee Fraud, known internationally as "4-1-9"
419-fraud after the section of the Nigerian penal code which addresses fraud schemes, are often
very creative and innovative. A large number of victims are enticed
into believing they have been singled out from the masses to share in
multi-million dollar windfall profits for doing absolutely nothing.
Victims are most often contacted by email.
AFH =
Adult Family Home.
ADH locator for Washington State. (Just type in the zip code area or select a county
name to bring up a list.)
AFT =
American Federation of Teachers
AGLBIC =
Association for Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Issues in Counseling,
a division of the American Counseling Association.
AGCA =
Australian Guidance and Counselling Association
AGPA =
American Group Psychotherapy Association
AHA =
American Hospital Association
AHP =
Association for Humanistic Psychology
AHRQ =
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
AHP or AHPs =
Association Health Plans, 2005 proposed legislation that
would allow small businesses to band together through associations and
purchase healthcare for workers and their families. AMHCA
opposes this legislation because these plans would be exempt from
state laws, including those mandating mental health benefits,
mandatory reimbursement laws, vendership laws, and other laws to
protect patients. [The Advocate, January 2005, a publication of AMHCA.]
AHT =
America's HealthTogether, a non-profit
organization whose mission is to build national support for affordable
health--and mental health--for all and to eliminate health care disparities and inequities.
AIA =
an alcohol impact area.
A defined area where it is illegal to sell beer or malt products with an alcohol content more than 5.7 percent and a cost of 4 cents or less per wholesale
ounce. It is an attempt to decrease concentration of drunks in an area by restricting the availability of strong cheap alcoholic beverages including fortified wines
(Tacoma & Seattle, Washington)
AICT =
American Institute for Cognitive Therapy, a New York
clinic founded in 1985 as the Center for Cognitive Therapy (CCT).
AIDS =
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
AIHCP =
American Institute of Health Care Professionals, Inc. Proceeds from Certifications
and Fellowships programs of the AIHCP are donated to the Missionaries of
Charity, the order founded by Mother Teresa, and continues her work of
caring for the poor, the sick and the dying throughout the world today.
AIP =
Association for Independent Practitioners, a division of
BACP that represents the interests of
counsellors and those using counselling skills who either work independently or
in agency settings in the United Kingdom.
AIRS =
Alliance of Information and Referral Systems, incorporated in 1973,
is the professional association for over 1,000 public and private community
information and referral (I&R) providers. Comprehensive and specialized I&R
programs are found in nearly every community and operate as a critical component
of the health and human service delivery system, primarily in the United States and Canada.
AISCB = Association of
Intervention Specialists Credentialing Board, 401 E. Sangamon Avenue,
Springfield, IL 62702. Telephone: (217) 698-8110.
AKA = 1.
also known
as, or 2. another
known alias
AKOM =
All Kinds of Minds, a program that advocates for the
unique learning needs of children.
ALA =
American Library Association
AlCA or ALCA =
Alabama Counseling Association (formerly the
Alabama Association for Counseling and Development) is a branch of the
American Counseling Association.
ALGBTIC =
Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender Issues in
Counseling--counseling lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and
trans-gender youth or queer youth. (Once a derogatory term, queer is
now used and accepted in the LGBT community.) [Thanks to ACA
e-news, October 7, 2008, Vol X, No. 20]
AlMHCA or ALMHCA =
Alabama Mental Health Counselors Association
ALPS =
Approved Licensed Professional Supervisor
granted by West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling. [Thanks to
Barry Row, West Virginia.]
AM = (or a.m.) ante meridiem
(the period between midnight and noon.)
AMA =
American Medical Association
AMBHA = the American
Managed Behavioral Healthcare Association founded in 1994, is now
known as the Association of Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW).
AMCD =
Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development,
a division of the American Counseling Association.
AMCP =
Academy of Managed Care Providers®,
"a national organization of clinicians, managed care professionals and affiliated healthcare
industry professionals, has been serving members since 1993." [Thanks to Barry T. Levy, Long Beach, CA.]
AMF =
The National Students of AMF (Ailing Mothers & Fathers) Support Network is a nonprofit
organization whose mission is to support all college students with an ailing or deceased loved one, empower all college students to
fight back against terminal illness, and raise awareness about the needs of grieving college students.
AMFTRB =
Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards
AMGA =
American Medical Group Association,
an association that represents medical groups.
AMHCA =
American Mental Health Counselors Association,
a former division of the American Counseling Association, now independent.
AMHCF =
American Mental Health Counselors Foundation, a
foundation formed by the AMHCA and supported by grants and
donations. It is intended to promote the mental health of all
Americans by research, education, promoting the highest standard of
practice of the profession and service to the community.
AMI =
The Association for Music and Imagery is
an organization of persons who have been trained in The Bonny Method
of Guided Imagery and Music.
AMTA =
American Music Therapy Association, Inc.,
8455 Colesville Road, Suite 1000, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, USA,
Phone: (301) 589-3300, Fax: (301) 589-5175. [Thanks to
Christina Ivanna, Edmonds, Washington.]
ANA =
American Nurses Association.
ANAD =
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
ANCPR = Alliance for
Non-Custodial Parents Rights. When you join ANCPR,
you can get immediate access to the ANCPR Members Only Forum, where
your questions are answered by ANCPR staff, AND, you also get
immediate download access for the ANCPR Winning Strategies Handbook!
ANMA =
American Naturopathic Medical Association
AOA = (1.)
American Orthopsychiatric Association
("Ortho") is an 80-year old membership association of mental health
professionals concerned with clinical issues and issues of social
justice. Ortho provides a common ground for collaborative study,
research, and knowledge exchange among individuals from a variety of
disciplines engaged in preventive, treatment, and advocacy approaches
to mental health. (2.) American Osteopathic
Association [
For Patients, Consumers and Media] [
For Health Industry Professionals] a member association
representing osteopathic physicians (D.O.s). Osteopathy is "a
system of medicine based on the theory that many diseases are caused
by misalignments of bones, ligaments, and muscles, and that correcting
these through manipulation can cure the problems." [source: encarta.msn.com] (3.)
Administration on Aging, a federal department (AoA), part of the federal
Department. of Health & Human Services.
AODA = Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse, a professional oversight organization located at 3725 National Drive, Suite 213, Raleigh, NC 27612. Raleigh, NC.
[Thanks to Nelson Fernandini, Florida]
AOTA =
The American Occupational Therapy Association
AOTF =
American Occupational Therapy Foundation
APA = 1.)
American Psychiatric Association 2.)
American Psychological Association or 3.)
American Psychotherapy Association [Thanks to Terry Johnson,
LPC, from Denton County in north central Texas.]
APABC = Adlerian
Psychology Association of British Columbia, makes it's programs available through the
Adler Centre in Vancouver, BC..
APAC =
Asian-Pacific American Caucus (see CACD-APAC).
APD =
Avoidant Personality Disorder
APHA =
American Public Health Association
(links to state associations)
APIRE =
American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education,
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1998 to place the American
Psychiatric Association in the leadership role by contributing to the scientific
base of psychiatric practice and policy.
APMHA =
American Psychotherapy and Medical Hypnosis Association
APNA =
American Psychiatric Nurses Association
APO =
Army (or Air Force) Post Office
APPIC =
Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers
APSCC = Association for
Pastoral and Spiritual Care and Counselling, a division of the
BACP that aims to improve the quality of
pastoral care and counselling in the United Kingdom, lay and ordained, voluntary
and paid: e.g. clergy and ministers, social workers, doctors, therapists,
nurses, Christians, Jews, other religions and non-committed, and to raise
standards in the teaching and exercise of pastoral care and counselling.
APSP =
Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology
APS = 1.
American Pain Society
2. American Psychological Society
3. Arno Profile System, explained as a counseling tool that helps
counselors to "identify counselees' problems faster and more accurately."
APSA =
American Psychoanalytic Association
APSAC =
American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children
APSAD = Australian Professional Society on
Alcohol and Other Drugs [Australia]
APT =
Association for Play Therapy There are many state
chapters. [Thanks to Mary Phillips Green, Puyallup, WA.]
ARC =
1. Application Review Committee, ICF Credentialing Program
2.
Applied Research Center
Organized to study of the practice of community organizing and perform research into the issues around which
organizers were mounting campaigns, especially the identity concerns of people of color, gays and lesbians, and women.
ARCA =
American Rehabilitation Counseling Association,
a division of the American Counseling Association.
ArMHCA =
Arkansas Mental Health Counselors Association
ARND =
alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder. Term used when signs of brain damage appear following fetal alcohol exposure, but in the absence
of other indication of FAS. (See FAS)
ARNP =
Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner
Requires advanced diagnostic training and often has authority to write and monitor prescriptions.
ART = (1.) Aggression
Replacement Training® trademark issued to Barry Glick,
co-author of "Aggression Replacement Training: A Comprehensive
Intervention for Aggressive Youth." [Thanks to Counseling Today
Sept 2004, an ACA publication.] or
(2.) Affect Rescripting Therapy. [Thanks to "Chapter
News" in the Advocate Vol. 30, No.1, an AMHCA publication.]
ARY =
"At-Risk Youth,"
as defined by Washington State law.
AS = Asperger Syndrome
(See: ASPIRES, below.)
ASAM =
American Society of Addiction Medicine, but
ASAM criteria is a phrase used to refer to a set of patient placement
criteria (PPC) written by ASAM and used to move a person through on a
continuum of care from assessment through treatment and to discharge
in a prescribed and consistent fashion. [Thanks to Sarajane Siegfriedt for reminding me.]
ASCA =
American School Counselor Association,
a division of the American Counseling Association.
ASCD =
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
ASD =
autism spectrum disorder
refers to a broad definition of autism including the classical form of the
disorder as well as closely related disabilities that share many of the core
characteristics--Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Rett's syndrome, Asperger
syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. [ERIC EC Digest #E583, article
by Glen Dunlap and Mary-Kay Bunton-Pierce,
Council for Exceptional Children, Information Center on Disabilities and Gifted Education.]
ASERVIC =
Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling,
a division of the American Counseling Association.
ASGPP =
American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama,
founded in 1942 by J. L. Moreno, MD, it is the pioneer membership
organization in group psychotherapy.
ASGW =
Association for Specialists in Group Work,
a division of the American Counseling Association.
ASOTP =
The Affiliate Sex Offender Treatment Provider
has passed the initial test and now needs to complete 2000 hours of supervised clinical practice to become a SOTP. [Good luck on finding a web link on this
one. The Washington State Department of Health changes their URLs frequently and without notice.]
ASPE =
American Society of Professional Education
ASPIRES = Asperger Syndrome Partners &
Individuals Resources, Encouragement & Support.
ASPPB = Association of State and Provincial
Psychology Boards
in the United States and Canada
(Lost tract of website in 2008, and unable to locate any current
information about the organization.)
ASTT =
Advocates for Survivors of Torture and Trauma is a group of physicians,
psychologists, social workers and human rights advocates who have come
together to find ways to help survivors of torture and trauma.
ASU =
Adjudicative Services Unit is responsible
for the content of the Washington State Department of Health "Provider Credentials Look-up System"
information. They track disciplinary timelines in compliance with a
Washington State legislative mandate, as well as comply with a federal
mandate for reporting all disciplinary actions taken against Health
Care Providers to the National Healthcare Integrity Protection
Databank. ASU works with written documents. If you find errors in the
Provider Lookup section, write to them at DOH-ASU, PO Box 7879, Olympia WA 98504-7879.
ASWB =
Association of Social Work Boards
ATCB =
Art Therapy Credentials Board
ATA =
American Translators Association
ATE =
Association of Teacher Educations
ATLAS = Apparently this is not an acronym but is
the name of a UNESCO (World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations)
surveillance initiative that maps international mental health resources such as
the availability of providers and services. Eventually, an ATLAS
publication will allow individuals to identify the number of counsellors
available in relation to specific populations, the existence of policies for
credentialing counsellors, and descriptions of work carried out by counsellors
in each responding country. Initial data collection and writing efforts will be
done by NBCC-I and is expected to begin by the end of 2005. [Thanks to "The
National Certified Counselor" Vol. 21, No.3, Fall 2005, a publication of the
National Board for Certified Counselors.]
ATOD-C =
Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs, Certified.
The certification title is being revised. By the end of 2000, persons holding the ATOD certification will be notified and have certificates that say C-CATODSW.
[Thanks to Susan B. Merrick, ACSW, Senior Staff Associate, Credentialing Center, National
Association of Social Workers, 1-800-638-8799, Ext. 262.]
ATODC =
Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug – Certified.
This is a specialty certification of the National Association of Social Workers. (see C-CATODSW)
ATP =
Association for Transpersonal Psychology
ATR =
Art Therapist Registered
ATR-BC = Art
Therapist Registered-Board Certified.
ATRL = means a person
registered as an Art Therapist who is granted a license to
practice psychotherapy. [Wisconsin]
ATSA =
Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers is
an international organization focused specifically on the prevention
of sexual abuse through effective management of sex offenders.
ATSDR = the
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
is the principal federal public health agency involved with
hazardous waste issues.
ATSS =
Association for Traumatic Stress Specialists
AUCC =
Association for University and College Counselling, a division of the
BACP that promotes student counselling as
an integral part of the educational process of Institutions of Further and
Higher Education in the United Kingdom.
AUDIT =
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test,
was developed by the World Health Organization to screen for harmful or hazardous drinking patterns.
AVRT =
Addictive Voice Recognition Technique
AWAKE =
The Association of Wisconsin Area Kodaly Educators
[part of OAKE]
AWARE =
Associates for World Action in Rehabilitation and Education
AWP = "any
willing provider" laws require
health-maintenance organizations and other insurers to accept into
their networks all...providers that agree to the insurer's terms of
service--as opposed to limited panels of providers. --State law upheld
in US Supreme Court case, Kentucky Association of Health Plans
v. Miller, 2003. [Thanks to "News from Washington," AMHC
publication, The ADVOCATE, Vol. 26, No.6, June 2003.]
AYP =
Adequate Yearly Progress, refers to the measure of
school performance as measured by testing of students under the federal funding
bill referred to as "No Child Left Behind."
AzAADAC =
Arizona Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, a state affiliate of NAADAC.
AzAMFT = Arizona Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, a division
of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Continue to "B"
acronyms >>
