Psychology Acronym Glossary
- Counseling and Psychology Degrees
- Mental Illnesses
- Therapies
- Counseling and Psychology Job Titles
- Organizations
During your academic studies and throughout your career in psychology, you will frequently use shorthand terms to communicate with your colleagues and clients. Our glossary of need-to-know psychology acronyms is organized into degrees, mental illnesses, therapies, job titles, and professional organizations.
Counseling and Psychology Degree Acronyms
BA: Bachelor of Arts
BS: Bachelor of Science
BSW: Bachelor of Social Work
DSW: Doctor of Social Work
MA: Master of Arts
MS: Master of Science
MSW: Master of Social Work
Ph.D.: Doctor of Philosophy
Psy.D.: Doctor of Psychology
Mental Illnesses Acronyms
ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
APD: Antisocial Personality Disorder
ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder
BD: Bipolar Disorder
BED: Binge Eating Disorder
BDD: Body Dysmorphic Disorder
BPD: Borderline Personality Disorder
DMDD: Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
ED: Emotional Disturbance or Eating Disorder
GAD: Generalized Anxiety Disorder
ID: Intellectual Disability
LD: Learning Disability
MDD: Major Depressive Disorder
OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OUD: Opioid Use Disorder
PPD: Paranoid Personality Disorder
PTSD: Most Traumatic Stress Disorder
SAD: Seasonal Affective Disorder
TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury
Therapy Acronyms
ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
CAT: Cognitive Analytic Therapy
CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CET: Cognitive Enhancement Therapy
CFT: Compassion Focused Therapy
CMT: Concentrative Movement Therapy
CPT: Cognitive Processing Therapy
DBT: Dialectical Behavior Therapy
EFT: Emotionally Focused Therapy
EFT: Emotional Freedom Therapy
FAP: Functional Analytic Psychotherapy
IBP: Integrative Body Psychotherapy
ISTDP: Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy
MDT: Mode Deactivation Therapy
PCIT: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy
PCT: Person-Centered Therapy
PE: Prolonged Exposure Therapy
REBT: Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
TFP: Transference Focused Psychotherapy
Counseling and Psychology Job Title Acronyms
CADC: Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor
CAC: Certified Addiction Counselor or Certified Alcoholism Counselor
CSAC: Certified Substance Abuse Counselor
LCMHC: Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
LCPC: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LICDC: Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor
LMFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
LMHC: Licensed Mental Health Counselor
LMHP: Licensed Mental Health Practitioner
LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor
LPCC: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor of Mental Health
LSSP: Licensed Specialist in School Psychology
MFCC: Marriage, Family, and Career Counselor
NCSP: Nationally Certified School Psychologist
Featured Online Programs
Organizations
ABCFP: American Board of Couple and Family Psychology
ABPN: American Board of Professional Neuropsychology
ABPP: American Board of Professional Psychology
ACSW: Academy of Clinical Social Workers
AMA: American Medical Association
APA: American Psychological Association
NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
NIMH: National Institute of Mental Health
Other Psychology Resources
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