OA =
Overeaters Anonymous
OAA = the
Older Americans Act was originally signed
into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 14, 1965. It created
the Administration on Aging, it authorized grants to States for
community planning and services programs, as well as for research,
demonstration and training projects in the field of aging. It has
since been extended and expanded in activities. [Thanks to
Justin Aubertin]
OACES =
Oregon Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
OAH =
Office of Administrative Hearings. When
DSHS (Washington State Department of Social and Health Services) denies a benefit, they advise of the right to have a fair hearing
within 90 days. Call 1-800-583-8271 or send a written request to
OAH, PO Box 42489, Olympia, Washington 98504-2489. Tell OAH what
was denied, when it was denied, and the reason stated for the denial.
At the hearing you may represent yourself or have another person
represent you. You may get free legal counsel from a Legal
Service Office. Ask you Community Services Office for the name
and address of the Legal Services Office nearest you. [State of Washington.]
OAKE =
Organization of American Kodály Educators.
The mission of the Organization of American Kodály Educators is to
enrich the quality of life of the people of the USA through music
education by promoting the philosophy of Zoltán Kodály.
OASAS =
Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services,
New York State.
OATA =
Ontario Art Therapy Association
OBE =
Out-of-body experience where an individual
dissociates from their body (to be against the ceiling or in a corner)
while maintaining consciousness of their body that is apart from them.
[Thanks to Delores A. Stone in "Counseling Today" an ACA
publication, July 2003.]
OBGYN,
OB GYN or OB-GYN =
Obstetrics-Gynecology, the branch of medicine
dealing with the female reproductive system.
OCA =
Oregon Counseling Association
OCD =
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OCDA =
Oregon Career Development Association
OCHA =
Organized Health Care Arrangement
OCPD =
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder "is a pervasive characterological disturbance involving one's generalized style and
beliefs in the way one relates to themselves and the world. Persons with OCPD are typically deeply entrenched in their dysfunctional
beliefs and genuinely see their way of functioning as the "correct"
way." [from The Right Stuff, subtitled "
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder: A Defect of Philosophy, not Anxiety," by Steven Phillipson, Ph.D., Center for Cognitive-Behavioral
Psycholtherapy.] The article provides a good discussion of the differences between OCPD and OCD.
OD =
1. Doctor of Optometry
2. occupational disease
3. Office of Disability
4. over dose (to take a life-threatening amount of a substance)
ODEP =
ODD =
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
in children and adolescents
OIAA = Online Intergroup of Alcoholics
Anonymous with links to 68 groups.
OLGA =
On-Line Gamers Anonymous provides a resource for open
discussion, support, education and referrals. We advocate and
provide a 12-Step Program of recovery. For those who are interested
in a formalized meeting approach, we provide both a traditional
12-step program and a modified program for atheists and agnostics.
OMHCA = 1.)
Ohio Mental Health Counselors Association, 2.)
Oregon Mental Health Counselors Association
OMNI = Offender
Management Network Information system, a Washington
State computer project to track prisoners and parolees.
OMT =
Opiod Maintenance Therapy,
usually referring to treatment of opiate addiction with Methodone maintenance programs.
ONDCP =
Office of National Drug Control Policy,
the White House.
OO =
Overcomers Outreach
a Christian 12-Step recovery program.
OOH =
Occupational Outlook Handbook
OPCA =
Occupational Program Consultants' Association
is the continuation of the "Thundering 100," the original group organized by the feds to spread occupational alcoholism programs
(now more often referred to as Employee Assistance Programs) into industry. [Thanks to Jeff Faue.] 3110 Fairview Park Drive S., Falls
Church, VA 22042, (703) 205-6796.
OPFT =
One-Person Family Therapy, developed by Jose Szapocznik, Phd, is an approach "to the treatment of drug abuse...based
on the Brief Structural/Stratigic Family Therapy conceptual framework. It represents an innovative integration of family therapy techniques
that have proven effective in working with entire families and techniques specifically designed for use with one family member.
OPFT appears to be as effective as cojoint family therapy with adolescent drug abusers and their families." [Thanks to Victoria
Sardi, PhD, LPC in The Advocate, Vol.31, No.2, February 2008, a publication of the AMHCA.]
OQ-45.2 =
Lambert's Outcome Questionnaire measures clients' effectiveness in dealing with symptom distress,
interpersonal relations and social roles and is often used before, during, and at the end of a course of treatment to measure the client's progress.
ORR =
Office of Refugee Resettlement:
the primary federal agency charged with the resettlement of refugees following their official acceptance and legal arrival in the U.S.
OSERS =
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
US Department of Education.
OSPA = Obsessive Skin
Pickers Anonymous--a 12 Step support group program conducted using a
format similar to that of Alcoholics Anonymous.
OSPI =
Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
(WA state's department of education) [Thanks to John MacDonald, Poulsbo, WA.]
OST =
opiate substitution treatment (referring to
methadone treatment as a safer and legal substitute for heroin).
(see also: OTP, below.)
OT =
occupational therapist [Thanks to Susan McClure, OTR/L]
OTC =
over the counter.
Usually used to refer to drugs or medications that do not require a prescription and can be easily purchased.
OTM =
osteopathic manipulative treatment,
diagnosis and treatment similar to physical therapy performed by a
doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO).
OTP =
opioid treatment program, created by 42 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 8, effective May 18, 2001.
Often these are opiate substitution treatment programs, where methadone is administered as a substitute for heroin.
OTR =
occupational therapist registered. [Thanks to Susan
McClure, OTR/L]
OTR/L = Occupational
therapist licensed. [Thanks to Susan McClure, OTR/L]
OWH =
Office on Women's Health in the US Department of Health and Human Services is the
government's champion and focal point for women's health issues.
If you would like to add an acronym that isn't here--Contact Us.
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PA =
Physician's Assistant
PADD = Protection and
Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
PA-C =
Physician Assistant-Certified
PACFA =
Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia.
PAD = panic / anxiety
disorder
PAIMI =
Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness
Program that advocates for individuals with
mental illnesses is funded by the Center for Mental Health Services,
part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
PAIR = Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights
PAMHCA = Pennsylvania Mental Health Counselors Association
PAS =
Parental Alienation Syndrome. Theory that due to "unresolved psychological and
emotional issues...one parent deliberately damages, and in some cases
destroys, the previously healthy, loving relationship between his or
her child and the child's other parent." This may include false
allegations of physical or sexual abuse. [ACA, Counseling Today,
April 2003] Note: PAS is not yet included in the DSM and and
treatment based on syndromes which are not appropriately researched or
acknowledged by the profession may be considered as below the standard
of care.
PASRR = Pre-Admission
Screening and Resident Review
PAT = Practitioner
Applicant for Trainer, a designation
of the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama
PAVE =
Parents Are Vital in Education, a
protection and advocacy group for disabled students in Washington state. [Thanks to John MacDonald Poulsbo, WA.]
PBH = Professional Board of Hypnotherapy,
Inc. a voluntary membership organization and association designed for the purpose of networking, education, and promotion of the
art and science of hypnosis and hypnotherapy.
PCA = Pennsylvania Counseling Association
PCC =
(1.)
Professional Certified Coach, ICF Credentialing
Program. (2.) Professional Clinical Counselor (Ohio)
PCC-S =
Professional Clinical Counselor license with Supervisory status (Ohio)
PCDP-PC = 16PF®
Questionnaire: Personal Career Development Profile for Professional Counselors, evaluates both normal and
pathology-oriented personality making it a valuable tool in general counseling, career counseling, treatment planning,
forensic evaluation, and more. The NBCC and IPAT, Inc. joined
forces to to introduce career and psychological assessment instruments that are tailored to the needs of professional
counselors.
PCE or PCEC =
Psychological Continuing Education Credit. Courses approved by
an authorized psychological association as meeting the criteria for
Psychological Continuing Education Credit. (Similar to CEU.)
PCP =
your primary care physician, in an HMO, is the doctor
you see for your regular medical care and who is authorized to refer
you to specialists.
PDD =
Pervasive developmental disorder
PDF =
Portable Document Format.
A PDF-formatted document provides a different way of viewing complex Web pages. Adobe Acrobat scans the original document and converts pages into PDF. To
view them, you need a program called "
Adobe Acrobat Reader," which can be downloaded and
installed on your computer for free.
PDH = a professional
development hour usually represents the "contact" hour,
meaning the hours spent in training. It is like the CEU (Continuing
Education Unit) used in
counseling but the PDH is more often used in industry. PDHs are used to
become certified or maintain certification as a Certified Employee Assistance
Professional (see CEAP & EAP).
PDI =
professional development institute (activities by this name are found in many states and serve a variety of fields.)
PDHs =
Professional Development Hours (plural form. See PDH, above.)
PDR® =
The Physicians' Desk Reference.
In its original form the PDR®
was written to provide essential information to doctors who were
writing proscriptions. It is now available in a consumer edition and
in several other forms including the "PDR®
Drug Guide for Mental Health Professionals."
PE =
Prolonged Exposure
therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorders is a cognitive-behavioral treatment programs for individuals suffering
from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [Thanks to a government model program published by SAMHSA, a US government agency.]
PEC =
Psychiatric Emergency Center
PERKAMA =
Malaysian Counselling Association
PERS =
Public Employees' Retirement System
PETP =
Parenting Evaluation Treatment Program--preparing
accomplished mental health and law professionals to work effectively as
evaluators and treatment personnel. Using the protocols developed by the
program, they protect the interests of vulnerable children and help resolve
high-conflict family law litigation--University of Washington, School of Law,
Box 353020, Seattle WA 98195-3020. (206) 616-6220.
PFECC =
Program for Forensic Evaluations in Corrections and the Community
PFLAG =
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (a support group).
PGSP = Problem Gambling
Service Provider.
PhD =
Doctor of Philosophy --a university graduate degree requiring two or three years of additional study above the requirements for a masters degree (MA or MS). Consumer suggestion: always ask
what field the degree is in. (For example, a PhD in music does not indicate any special level of training in counseling.)
PHI =
protected health information or protected healthcare information, material protected by the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
PHI includes medical records and other identifiable health information
that is disclosed or used by a person or agency covered by HIPAA--whether
disclosure is oral, on paper or electronically.
PIAPHP =
Partners in Information Access for Public Health Professionals
PIB =
Practice Improvement Branch of the National
Treatment Outcomes Monitoring System, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, SAMHSA.
PICK = Premarital
Interpersonal Choices and Knowledge Program,
a more politically correct title for the Relationship Attachment Model
(RAM), is a package of material for those interested in leading
discussion groups using the video series and workbooks. An
instructor certification packet is also available. [Thanks
to Angela Kennedy in her Counseling Today article "How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk,"
July 2005.]
PLADC = Provisional
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (Nebraska)
PLLC =
Professional Limited Liability Company. This is an organizational structure created under Washington State Law that makes it possible for a person or group of persons--licensed or otherwise legally authorized to
render professional services--to obtain additional liability protection under the law. [
RCW 25.15.045] (Thanks to SCA member, Gayle Clelland.)
PLMHP =
Provisional Licensed Mental Health Practitioner
(Nebraska) [Thanks to Jodie Gibson]
PLUR or P.L.U.R. =
peace, love, unity and respect--"the traditional rave
philosophy...that has long been the mantra of ravegoers." [Seattle P-I,
April 2, 2006.] [more]
PM = (or p.m.) post meridiem, the period between twelve noon and midnight.
PMA =
Progressive Mental Alignment®
"Are you familiar with the neurofysiological phenomenon called 'Bad Clusters.'
It is proven that these previously unknown elements in the data storage of our
brain have a profoundly disturbing effect on our physiology. Bad Clusters
turn out to be the driving force behind our inhibiting belief systems and the
root-cause of all psychosomatic diseases and behavioral problems." PMA "is
a new approach to eliminate the negative physiological power of Bad Clusters and
is a powerful tool to complement..." other treatment methods. [Thanks to
an email from Drs. J. Tybout, newletter, pmacontrol.com October 29, 2005.
Spelling supplied by Dr. Tybout.] Caution: The CounselingSeattle.com webmaster recommends that you hold out for other scientific data to
support these concepts before investing your time or energy.
PMDD =
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, is "considered to be a
very severe form of PMS that affects about 5% of menstruating women. Both PMDD
and PMS share symptoms in common that include depression, anxiety, tension,
irritability and moodiness. What sets PMDD apart is its severity." [ factsforhealth.org ]
PMHC = IS NOT
an acceptable legal professional acronym for a "Provisional Mental Health
Counselor" as under Florida State law [Chapter 491.0149, F.S., paragraph
(3)(b)] "...a provisional mental health counselor licensee shall include the
words 'provisional mental health counselor licensee' on all promotional
materials, including cards, brochures, stationery, advertisements, and signs,
naming the provisional licensee." (While acronyms are listed in earlier
paragraphs for various licensed counselors, there is no mention of an acceptable
acronym that can be substituted for this wording.) [Thanks to Dee Ramer, Regulatory Supervisor,
Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental
Health Counseling, Tallahassee, FL. for research assistance.] PMHC is
used on forms where the space provided is too small for the full title and is
used by the State of Florida listing for a Provisional Mental Health Counselor
licensee number, as in "My license number is PMHC #1720." [Jason Eric Ross,
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, NYS Certified School Psychologist,
Florida.]
PN =
Public health partner notification services. This is when public health
nurses contact a client's known partners to test and treat them to
reduce the spread of certain diseases.
PNSJA = Pacific Northwest Society of Jungian Analysts is a group of licensed mental health
professionals who have received specialized training in Analytical Psychology and are Certified as Jungian Analysts. The PNSJA is a
member society of the International Association of Analytical Psychologists (IAAP).
POLST =
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment. The POLST form is a new form (2004) being introduced in
Washington State and can be used by your physician to write orders that indicate what types of life-sustaining treatment
you want or do not want at the end of life. It does not eliminate the need for an "advanced directive"
(see your attorney).
POPPA =
Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance,
New York Police Department.
PPC2-R =
ASAM's Patient Placement Criteria, second version--revised, which is the chemical dependency treatment and managed care standard tool for placing patients in an appropriate level of treatment, whether inpatient or outpatient.
[Thanks Sarajane Siegfriedt.]
PP&L =
public policy and legislation,
as in PP&L committee work done by the AMHCA. [Thanks to Midge Williams, MA, LMHC, AMHCA President in The ADVOCATE, April 2002.]
PPD =
Postpartum depression
PPMD = pregnancy and postpartum mood
disorder
PPW =
pregnant and parenting women (or woman).
Often used to refer to specific programs designed to address the
specialized needs of women.
profnl =
an abbreviation for the word "professional."
PSA =
public service announcement
PSAS = (1.)
Puget Sound Adlerian Society, a affiliate of the North American Society of
Adlerian Psychology. PSAS publishes a quarterly Parenting
Calendar that listings parenting courses, support groups, and leaders'
training, and offers Sanity Circus course for parents, teachers, and
counselors in cooperation with local PTAs and the Seattle Council PTSA.
(2.)
persistent sexual arousal syndrome, a rare and unpleasant
condition primarily affecting women characterized by persistent genital arousal
without sexual desire.
PSCDA =
Puget Sound Career Development Association
PSCA =
Puget Sound Coaches Association
PSGPN =
Puget Sound Group Psychotherapy Network, P.O. Box 95876, Seattle, WA 98145-2876, (206) 525-7530
PSI =
Postpartum Support International is a support group for women who are
recovering from the physical and emotional affects of childbirth.
PSNCC =
Puget Sound Network for Compassionate Communication is a regional non-profit association of
volunteers that offers regional support for The Center for Nonviolent
Communication, a global organization whose vision we share by living and teaching
the process of nonviolent communication, which strengthens the ability of people
to connect compassionately with themselves and with one another, to share
resources, and to resolve conflicts.
psnl =
an abbreviation for the word "personal."
PsyA or PSYA =
(1.) an abbreviation used by colleges and
universities to indicate classes in Applied Psychology
(as in
PSYA908 - Applied Psychology 8, at MacQuarie University in
Australia). (2.) PsyA as a therapist's credentials is
apparently not authorized. The American Psychoanalytic
Association does not use the PsyA designation, and the National
Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis registered
psychoanalysts are identified by the title NCPsyA.
Email Message on 29 May 2009, "NCPsyA stands for nationally
certified psychoanalyst. I am not aware of any organization
that uses PsyA." [Thanks to Margery Quackenbush, Executive Director,
National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis, 80
Eighth Avenue, Suite 1501, New York, NY 10011.]
PsyD =
Doctor of Psychology degree, similar to a Ph.D., but the dissertation is usually required
to be directly applicable to clinical practice. [Thanks to
Kenneth M. Maguire, Doctoral Candidate in Clinical Psychology, Widener University, Pennsylvania]
PT =
(1.) physical therapist, (2.) physical therapy.
(3.) in California,
psychiatric technician, [must work under a licensed registered
nurse, physician, or Director of Services]
pthc =
Pre-Teen Hard-Core. "Most often used as part of filenames in File-Sharing programs.
Often linked to spam, but occasionally actually child pornography and sex acts (also known as kiddie porn,) which are, of
course, illegal in most countries and also considered evil, immoral and perverted by most of Society as a
whole. [Extract from "Social Services Child Protection Department Advisor Dec 27, 2006" included as one of several
Urban Dictionary definitions.]
PTS = post-traumatic
stress (see PTSD)
PTSD =
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [See the National
Institute for Clinical Excellence, UK,
Clinical Guideline for Treatment.
(a pdf file which can be printed out.) recommends only EMDR or CBT based treatment.
"Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies (CBT) and Eye Movement
Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)--especially when paired with
pharmacological interventions--are among the most effective
techniques for treating PTSD. [Anita Neuer and Gary Williams,
"Understanding and Treating PTSD: A Primer," The Advocate, December
2007, Vol.30, No.11, a AMHCA publication]
PVD =
peripheral vascular disease caused by
restricted blood flow to the arms or legs. Easily treated, it often goes
undiagnosed. Some symptoms can be skin discoloration, burning, pain or
swelling, numbness, or difficulty walking.
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QA = (1.)
quality assurance, (2.)
Center for Quality Assurance in International Education
QATA = Quebec Art Therapy Association.
QCDC =
Qualified Chemical Dependency Counselor.
This is an obsolete designation formerly used to identify a counselor who met all the basic
requirements to work as an alcohol or drug counselor under Washington State laws.
QCSW =
Qualified Clinical Social Worker. The QCSW is recognition of those social workers who have met the National Association of Social Workers’
standards of knowledge, skill and experience in clinical social work practice and who have agreed to abide by the NASW standards of ethics and education.
QSOA =
Qualified Service Organization Agreement. (An agreement
between two organizations to provide services and maintain client
confidentiality.)
To top
Looking for initials that aren't here?
Contact Us.
RA =
relational aggression.
"Unlike boys, who resort to physical or verbal means to harm someone, girls target the subject's feelings of social acceptance.... through rumors,
name-calling, backstabbing or other nonviolent means." [Thanks Regina Reitmeyer, "Sugar nor Spice," Counseling Today, June 2002]
RAC = 1. Regional Advisory Council,
Canada, 2. Registered Addiction Counselor
(Louisiana, 2005).
RACA =
Recovered Alcoholic Clergy Association
RACC =
The Research and Assessment Corporation for Counseling, Inc.,
is an affiliate of the National Board for Certified Counselors.
RAD =
(1.) Reactive Attachment Disorder [DSM-IV 313.89] Social and psychological problems in a child who needs to be in control
and does not allow himself to be parented, most often caused by parental mistreatment, abuse, neglect or abandonment (especially
during the first three years of life) characterized by problems relating to others, temporary relationships with parents and other
caregivers that are made indiscriminately on the basis of need, aggression toward others, poor impulse control, lack of remorse,
and difficulty thinking in "cause and effect" terms.
(2.) Race Against Drugs, Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf, [more RAD definitions]
RADI = Registered Alcohol
and Drug Intern. This term was
eliminated in 2007, when the California Certification Board of
Alcohol and Drug Counselors through a board resolution changed the
name to Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Associate (CADCA).
RAINN =
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, the
nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization and operates the
National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE and carries out programs
to prevent sexual assault, help victims and ensure that rapists are
brought to justice.
RAM = Relationship
Attachment Model, Terry Real and Dr John Van Epp’s
analytical model which..."informs the person on the major areas that
predict what a person will be like in a marriage and the bonding
forces that must be kept in balance as a relationship grows."
(See also: the acronym, PICK.) [Thanks to Angela Kennedy
in her Counseling Today article "How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk,"
July 2005.]
RAS = (1.)
Registered Addiction Specialist™
Addiction professionals with a CADC, MAC, MFCC, CAS, CAP, CSAC or similar certificate or license may register with The Register of Addition Specialists,
8880 Greenback Lane, Orangevale, California 95662-4019.
(2.) Relational Aggression Scale.
RC = (1.) Rehabilitation Counselors
(an abbreviation)
(2.) Registered Counselor [Washington State] a former category of
unlicensed counselors which included persons from a wide range of
training--starting with those persons with no academic
qualifications at the bottom and up to and including those with
bachelors or masters degrees. In the later case, the persons
with masters degrees have not yet completed the hours of supervised
counseling necessary to achieve licensure. [Second Substitute
House Bill (2SHB) 2674 (Chapter 135, Laws of 2008) amends
credentialing standards for Registered Counselors. The legislation
creates eight new counseling professions, effective 7/1/09, and
abolished the registered counselor (RC) credential effective
7/1/10.]
(3.)
Re-evaluation Counseling, a theory of counseling founded by Carl Harvey Jackins (1916-1999)
was the founder and principal theorist. Crying, laughter, shaking and
other types of bodily "discharge" were found to be useful in venting or
releasing bottled-up old emotional feelings--feelings which Jackins believed
caused shortcomings or limitations on the flexibility and intelligence or
rationality with which people processed everyday situations. Jackins found
that effective discharge frequently led to improved clarity of thought, or
"re-evaluation." In 1952, Jackins formed a corporation named Personal
Counselors Inc. to "engage in, conduct and teach the art and science of
Dianetics." His "Co-Counseling" began to be called Re-evaluation Counseling in
the late 1950s. In the early 1960s, Jackins organized his views into a new
system or disciplined approach to encouraging discharge and
re-evaluation--Re-evaluation Counseling.
RCA = 1.
Recovering Couples Anonymous 2.
Refugee Cash Assistance
RCC =
Registered Clinical Counsellor,
Canada.
[Thanks to Linda Stieler, RCC]
RCP =
Registered Career Paraprofessional
RCV = Returning Combat
Veterans
RCW = the
Revised Code of Washington is a codified (organized by a number code) book of state laws--Washington
State. (See also, WAC.)
RD = Registered Dietitian
RDA = Research and Data Analysis
provides valid, rigorous, and policy-relevant analyses of government-funded social and health services in the State of Washington.
RDT =
Registered Drama Therapist,
National Association for Drama Therapy.
RDT/BCT =
a Board Certified Trainer in drama therapy is a Registered Drama Therapist
(RDT) who has the responsibility of training, guiding and mentoring
individuals who aspire to becoming RDTs, certification by the National
Association for Drama Therapy.
REBT =
rational emotive behavior therapy
(current name for former RET) "Albert Ellis, PhD...created
rational emotive behavior therapy in 1955...(when) he concentrated
on changing people's behavior by confronting them with their
irrational beliefs and persuading them to adopt rational ones....REBT
was initially scorned by the mental health community as superficial
and shallow, but eventually his methods along with those of Dr.
Aaron Beck, a psychiatrist who was working independently, provided
the basis for what is known as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)."
[Thanks to "Noteworthy" column (page 10) "The Advocate" (a
publication of the American Mental Health Counselors Association)
September 2007, Vol. 30, No. 8.]
REDA =
Registered Eating Disorders Associate
a specialty certification of IAEDP
RET =
Rational-emotive therapy
was the initial name that Dr. Albert Ellis, PhD, gave to his process of changing behavior by challenging persons irrational
beliefs and substituting rational beliefs. (see REBT, above.)
RD =
Registered Dietitian
RDA™ = Relationship
Development Assessment™ for autism. See RDI®.
RDI® = Relationship
Development Intervention®. Connections Center of Houston,
TX, developed the RDI® program. The RDI® Certification Program
typically takes 18 months to complete. Consultants are trained to
administer the RDA™ (Relationship Development Assessment™) and
provide ongoing support to parents. The RDI® program is a cognitive
model designed to work with children who have Autism Spectrum
Disorders by providing consultation to families to address the core
deficits, which include flexible thinking, communication, and
development of self and social and emotional relationships.
RFP =
Request for Proposals. This acronym is frequently used in a plural form as people talk about "RFPs." Government bodies may "Call for RFPs"
before issuing or re-issuing contracts to service providers. Interested agencies must detail what services will be provided if they receive the contract.
RH =
recovery house. A level of care
that is less intensive than intensive inpatient but more intensive
than intensive outpatient treatment. Participants reside at the
recovery house and are monitored on a 24 hour basis.
RHDAC =
Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee, part of the FDA.
RIBA =
recombinant immunoblot assay
or western blot assay test for virus infection.
RJC =
Regional Justice Center
RMA =
Refugee Medical Assistance
(Washington State)
RMHC =
Registered Mental Health Counselor (New Mexico)
[I have also seen RMHC used in an unscrupulous way in Washington
State, where a person listed himself as a RMHC when he was a
Registered Counselor and more properly should have used RC.
However, by claiming to be a registered mental health counselor, he
would appear closer to an LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor)
without technically breaking the law, which would still appear to be
an unethical and misleading practice.]
RMS =
records management system or records management services
RMTP =
Registered Movement Therapy Practitioner.
It is a training facility registration that was formerly offered by The Institute For
Transformational Movement in Seattle. Practitioners continue to use the initials although the training program no longer exists. Movement Therapy is body-based
mental health counseling. The client uses physical movement along with talking to express their feelings. (See also: DTR, ADTR and CMA.)
RN =
Registered Nurse--a university degree (usually four years of full-time study) in nursing.
R/O =
Rule Out (to consider as a possibility,
as in "R/O borderline personality disorder.")
ROAR =
Registry of Addiction Recovery
sponsored by the National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.
[Thanks to Mark Clark in Professional Counselor
Magazine, Feb 1999.]
ROI =
(1) return on investment, cost-benefit analyses. or
(2) Release of Information Form.
RPC =
Registered Professional Counselor (General Practice)
The terms RPC and RPCC are used by the California Registry for
Professional Counselors to certify professional counselors, and
formerly career counselors, because there is no counselor licensure in
California at this time. This certification reflects the same
standards that 46 states require for counselor licensure. [Thanks to Dean Porter in
CCDA News, Vol. XVIII,
No.1, Oct. 2002] (see also: LPC)
RPCC =
Registered Professional Career Counselors. In 2/2003 all RPCCs
will automatically be folded into the general practice category RPC,
but they may keep their RPCC designation as long as they maintain
their RPC status. [Thanks to Dean Porter in CCDA News, Vol. XVIII,
No.1, Oct. 2002]
R.Ph. (RPh) =
registered pharmacist
RPRC =
Registered Professional Rehabilitation Counselor
R Psych = Registered Psychologist
(Canada)
RPT = (1.) Relapse Prevention Therapy, cognitive-behavioral principles
through development of self-control strategies. Marlatt & Gordon (Eds.), Relapse Prevention: Maintenance
Strategies in the Treatment of Addictive Behaviors, Guilford, New York, 1985. Also Carroll, Rounsaville, & Keller (1991),
Relapse Prevention Strategies for the treatment of cocaine abuse. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 17 (3),
249-265. (2.) Registered Physical Therapist or (3.) Registered Play Therapist
[Thanks to Alicia Farrell, MA, San Diego, CA.] The RPT and
RPT/S credentials are issued by the Association for Play Therapy
(APT). There are 43 state chapters across the USA--but not in
Washington State.
[Thanks to Mary Phillips Green, Puyallup, WA.] Note: In a number of states, RPT is a
"protected" physical therapist
acronym. In those states the RPT credential is not to be used
by others such as a Registered Play Therapist.
See list of states that restrict public display of the RPT acronym to "physical therapists."
RPT-S or RPT/S = Registered Play Therapist
Supervisor (See RPT, above.)
RRS =
Rational Recovery Systems
RSA =
Rehabilitation Services Administration
RSAT =
Residential Substance Abuse Treatment
RSN =
Regional Support Network, means a county, a combination
of counties, or a private nonprofit entity that administers and
provides publicly funded mental health services for a designated
geographic area within the state. [Washington State, WAC
388-865-0150]
RST =
Rational Suggestion Therapy, advanced by Richard A. Blumenthal in a series of journal articles has led to the development of patent pending
HypnoSoft™ and its use in counseling.
RSW =
Registered Social Worker (Canada)
rsvp =
répondez s'il vous plait which translates
"please respond." It usually appears on an invitation and
means, "Please let us know whether you are going to attend."
The recipient of the invitation is expected to notify the persons
who issued the invitation so that they can plan for food, seating,
etc.
Rx or rx =
(1) prescribed medication (2) course of treatment with medication.
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