The Resources page will provide and help you access psychological and mental health information for a wide range of topics and includes a Glossary area (scroll to bottom for terms). If you know of a resource which would be helpful for others to know about or have ideas of how I can improve the page, please leave feedback.
Websites
Houston Licensed Professional Counselors Association (HLPCA) is a local based non-profit organization promoting the professional development of therapists of all types (LPC, LCDC, PhD, LMSW, LMFT, etc.) through networking, awareness, and monthly CEU accredited presentations. Students, interns, and anyone interested in learning more about the field of psychology are welcome.
KidsHealth has tons of information including emotional and behavioral articles (not just specific to kids). The information is very easy to read and straight forward without too much technical jargon.
Mental Health America of Greater Houston (MHA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is “to enhance the mental health of all Houstonians and improve the lives of those with mental illness… through collaborative education, outreach and advocacy.” If you are in need of services and can afford little or no fee payment, please visit their Pro Bono Counseling Program page to see if you may be eligible. Also visit their Resource page as it is rather comprehensive.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a national non-profit organization “dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness”. There are chapters all over the United States offering programs and helping consumers in getting appropriate services. Houston Area monthly support meetings are held in Clear Lake, Humble, Memorial, Meyerland, Sugar Land, and Tomball. Visit Houston Metro Chapter for more local info and for specifics of the monthly meetings.
Support Groups
OCD Support Group- The Houston OCD Program hosts a free support group to anyone interested in attending. It is centrally located near 59 & Montrose and is professionally led every 2nd and 4th Wednesday in the evening (check links for any changes in dates or times).
Publications
As a proponent of healthy and empathic communication as a method to improve relationships, The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman is a rich yet wieldy resource.
Social support can be difficult to come by, especially if a person is shy or has difficulty engaging others. The Art of Conversation by James A. Morris is an older publication (you won’t see anything in here about Facebook), yet the ideas for face to face discussion and methods still apply.
Glossary
This glossary is a reference to help in understanding CIT and therapy in general.
Approach- the way in which issues, problems, situations, etc. are conceptualized in the service of understanding and addressing them. (EX: Sally used an existential approach due to Bill’s difficulty with being able to identify hobbies he liked that didn’t involve his wife.)
DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)- document published by the American Psychiatric Association used to define and maintain criteria for mental disorders and other related information.
Integration* (for the purposes of this website)- combining or the concurrent use of therapeutic approaches and associated techniques in the service of meeting the client where he or she is and in a way most conducive to therapeutic progress. Aka eclectic therapy.
Modality- the structure of a therapeutic process including stages, steps, or general progression of how therapeutic services are delivered. Also “therapeutic model”. (EX: Izzy preferred a stages of change modality to help clients further their internal motivation to stop using drugs.)
Technique- a specific therapeutic “tool” intended to address an issue, effect a specific change (behavioral, cognitive, emotional, etc.), or bring to light useful understanding. (EX: Kate used the empty chair technique to help Roger address his grief and find closure due to the passing of his father.)
Theoretical orientation- the researched and established theory from which techniques and conceptualizations are based. There are a number of these- some having similar aspects, others being very different.
Therapeutic style- the manner in which therapeutic services are delivered. (EX: The therapist used a Socratic style of therapy in which he posed questions to help the client search for understanding and make self-discoveries.)
Therapeutic process- the delivering of therapeutic services in its entirety including assessments, therapy sessions, therapeutic assignments, development and practice of coping skills/strategies, therapeutic planning, etc.
Therapy- the process of communicating between a therapist and an individual(s) in the service of addressing psychological issues and/or easing psychological stress. aka: counseling, psychotherapy, talk therapy. Clients can be an individual, a couple, a family, or a group of individuals having some commonality.
Looking for a term but don’t see it? Leave a suggestion so it may be included.
*A note about integration
The term “integration” has also been used to describe the combining of therapeutic ideas and concepts on a theoretical level. Integration as it applies to CIT is in regards to the delivering of therapeutic services. The use of integration in this manner is a well established practice among therapists and clinicians. This site does not claim, in any way, that integration is a CIT exclusive idea or concept.