Therapeutic Techniques

noun the act of alleviating something

verb to make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe

• The new medication is designed to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis.
• Taking a hot bath can help alleviate muscle soreness after a workout.
• Eating some ginger might alleviate your stomach ache.
• Listening to music can alleviate the stress of a long day.

adjective relating to or serving as a means of alleviating or reducing pain or discomfort

• The doctor prescribed an alleviative medication to help manage the patient's pain.
• I heard that using ice packs can be alleviative for muscle soreness.
• Taking a hot bath is super alleviative for stress relief.
• Listening to music is like an alleviative balm for my soul.

verb action word that indicates bringing something or someone to a particular place or state

• The lawyer will bring to the court all the necessary evidence to support his case.
• I'll bring to the meeting the report you asked for.
• She always brings to the party some good vibes.
• His speech brought to light the issues that had been hidden for so long.

noun a situation where two or more people or groups come together in a hostile manner, often to address a disagreement or conflict

• The two nations decided to engage in diplomatic talks to prevent a military confrontation.
• I heard there was a confrontation between the neighbors about the loud music last night.
• I'm not looking for a confrontation, I just want to talk things out.
• The protagonist's internal confrontation with his fears was beautifully portrayed in the novel.

noun a person trained to give guidance on personal, social, or psychological problems

• The counselor provided guidance on career options to the students.
• I always feel better after talking to my counselor about my problems.
• My counselor is like my personal therapist, always there to listen.
• The counselor acted as a lighthouse in the stormy sea of my emotions.

noun a close and affectionate embrace

verb to hold close in one's arms as a way of showing love or affection

• The couple enjoyed a quiet evening together, ending with a gentle cuddle on the couch.
• Let's cuddle up and watch a movie tonight.
• I just want to cuddle with my dog and forget about everything else.
• The warmth of the sun felt like a gentle cuddle on my skin.

noun a mental process initiated unconsciously to protect oneself from difficult emotions or situations

• The human mind often employs defense mechanisms to protect itself from overwhelming emotions or thoughts.
• When she feels stressed, her go-to defense mechanism is to retreat and avoid talking about it.
• His defense mechanism when feeling attacked is to throw shade and make sarcastic remarks.
• Procrastination can be seen as a defense mechanism to avoid facing difficult tasks or responsibilities.

noun a person's facial expression or features

adverb in close proximity or direct contact with someone or something

• The two business executives finally met face to face to discuss the merger.
• I can't wait to see you face to face at the concert tomorrow!
• Let's have a chat face to face about what's been going on.
• The two rival gangs came face to face in a tense standoff.

verb to put someone into a state of hypnosis, or to captivate or mesmerize someone

• The stage magician was able to hypnotize the audience with his mesmerizing performance.
• I swear, that movie always manages to hypnotize me into watching it every time it's on TV.
• She's so good at dancing, she can hypnotize anyone with her moves.
• The beautiful scenery seemed to hypnotize me, making me forget all my worries for a moment.

noun a person's account of their life, typically published in the form of a book or article

• She published her life story in a memoir that detailed her upbringing and career achievements.
• I can't wait to hear your life story over a cup of coffee.
• Her life story is lit, you have to hear all the crazy stuff she's been through.
• The old abandoned house seemed to hold a life story within its walls, each creak and groan telling a different chapter.

noun a form of imaginative play or fantasy

verb to pretend or imagine

• Children often engage in make believe play to develop their imagination and creativity.
• Let's play make believe and pretend we're pirates searching for treasure!
• My little sister loves to do make believe with her dolls.
• Sometimes it's easier to make believe everything is okay rather than facing reality.

noun the act of reflecting or imitating closely

verb to reflect or imitate closely

• The therapist observed that the patient was mirroring the behavior of their family members.
• I noticed you were mirroring my gestures during our conversation.
• Stop mirroring me, it's getting annoying.
• The artist created a masterpiece by mirroring the beauty of nature in their painting.

noun a tangible item used to demonstrate or illustrate a concept or idea

• The teacher used the experiment as an object lesson to illustrate the concept of gravity.
• The failed science experiment was definitely an object lesson on what not to do.
• That embarrassing moment was a real object lesson in humility.
• The team's defeat served as an object lesson in the importance of teamwork.

noun the action of stroking or caressing an animal

verb to stroke or caress an animal

• The act of petting a dog can help to strengthen the bond between the owner and the pet.
• I love petting my cat while watching TV in the evenings.
• She was caught petting her boyfriend in the back of the movie theater.
• The soft music was like gently petting my soul, soothing and calming.

noun an act of pretending

verb to act as if something is true when it is not

• She had to pretend to enjoy the opera even though she found it boring.
• Let's pretend we're on a tropical island for the day.
• Stop pretending to be someone you're not.
• He tried to pretend that everything was fine, but deep down he was struggling.

noun a type of therapy used to treat emotional and mental health conditions

• Psychotherapy is a form of treatment that involves talking to a therapist to address mental health issues.
• I've been going to psychotherapy sessions to help me work through my anxiety.
• My friend swears by psychotherapy for dealing with her stress.
• Sometimes, it feels like psychotherapy is peeling back the layers of my mind to reveal the root of my problems.

adjective describing something that reveals or discloses itself without external influence or assistance

• The author's self-revealing memoir provided a deep insight into their personal struggles.
• Her self-revealing blog post got a lot of attention online.
• I can't believe how self-revealing he was on social media last night.
• The painting was so self-revealing, it felt like it was speaking directly to my soul.

noun A facial expression formed by flexing the muscles around the eyes and mouth, often indicating happiness or amusement

• She greeted everyone with a warm smile as they entered the room.
• Whenever she sees her crush, she can't help but smile from ear to ear.
• His cheesy pickup lines always make her smile, no matter how bad they are.
• The thought of her upcoming vacation made her heart smile with anticipation.

noun the action of crying noisily, making loud, convulsive gasps

verb present participle of the verb 'sob', which means to cry noisily

• The witness was sobbing uncontrollably on the stand during the trial.
• I walked in on my little sister sobbing after she lost her favorite toy.
• She was sobbing her heart out after watching that sad movie.
• The violin's mournful melody seemed to be sobbing through the concert hall.

noun the part of the mind that operates below the level of conscious awareness

adjective existing or operating in the mind beneath or beyond conscious awareness

• The subconscious mind is responsible for storing memories and controlling automatic bodily functions.
• Sometimes our subconscious thoughts can influence our behavior without us even realizing it.
• I swear my subconscious is always looking out for me, like when I randomly remember where I left my keys.
• His fear of failure was deeply rooted in his subconscious, holding him back from taking risks.

noun a proposal or idea put forward for consideration

verb to put forward for consideration

• The research findings suggest a strong correlation between exercise and mental health.
• I suggest we take a different route to avoid traffic.
• I suggest we grab some grub before heading to the party.
• His silence suggested that he was not in agreement with the decision.

noun a treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder

• The patient underwent cognitive behavioral therapy to address their anxiety disorder.
• I've been going to therapy to work through some stuff.
• Therapy is my weekly sanity check.
• Music has always been my therapy during tough times.

noun the act of relieving someone of a burden or something troubling

verb to relieve (someone) of a burden or something troubling

• It is important to unburden yourself of any unnecessary stress in order to maintain optimal mental health.
• Hey, if you need to talk about it, I'm here to help you unburden yourself.
• Sometimes you just gotta spill the tea to unburden yourself, ya know?
• By forgiving others, you can unburden your heart and find peace within yourself.

noun A noun is a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'unsaid' can also be used as a noun to refer to things that have not been expressed.

adjective An adjective describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'unsaid' describes something that has not been expressed verbally or in writing.

• The unsaid agreement between the two parties was never officially documented.
• We both knew what was left unsaid during our conversation.
• There's a lot of unsaid stuff between them that no one talks about.
• The unsaid emotions in the room were palpable, hanging in the air like a heavy cloud.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

adjective a word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it

pronoun a word that can function by itself as a noun phrase and that refers either to the participants in the discourse or to someone or something mentioned elsewhere in the discourse

• The new therapy program provides just what someone needs to recover from their injury.
• That coffee shop has the best pastries, it's just what someone needs for a pick-me-up.
• This playlist is fire, it's just what someone needs to get pumped up for the party.
• Her words of encouragement were just what someone needs to lift their spirits.

adjective characterized by or expressing affection or love through hugs

• She greeted her old friend with a warm and huggy embrace.
• I'm feeling really huggy today, can I give you a hug?
• I'm in a huggy mood, let's cuddle up on the couch.
• His words were like a huggy blanket, comforting and reassuring.

noun a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition

adjective relating to or characteristic of Zen

• The practice of zen meditation has been around for centuries.
• I like to create a zen space in my home with candles and soft music.
• I'm feeling so zen after that yoga class, dude.
• Her mind was in a state of zen as she watched the sunset.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action or state of being

adverb a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb

pronoun a word that takes the place of a noun

• During the team meeting, the manager encouraged everyone to let it all hang out and share their honest opinions.
• At the party, we just decided to let it all hang out and have a good time.
• When you're on vacation, just let it all hang out and relax.
• In order to truly express yourself, you have to let it all hang out and be vulnerable.

noun a word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance, or quality

verb a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

article a word that is used to indicate whether a noun is specific or unspecific

• During the lecture, I could only listen with half an ear due to my headache.
• I was so tired that I could only listen with half an ear during the meeting.
• I was so zoned out that I could only listen with half an ear in class.
• She listened to her friend's complaints with half an ear, not fully paying attention.

noun a person's acceptance and support of another person regardless of their actions or beliefs

• Therapists are trained to provide unconditional positive regard to their clients, regardless of their behavior or thoughts.
• In therapy, it's important for the counselor to show unconditional positive regard towards the client to create a safe space for healing.
• Therapists gotta give that unconditional positive vibes to their clients, no matter what.
• Just like a flower needs sunlight to grow, individuals thrive in an environment of unconditional positive regard.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action or a state of being

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence

article a word that is used to specify a noun as definite or indefinite

• Her comments really touched him on the raw during the meeting.
• What she said really hit a nerve with him during the conversation.
• Her words really got under his skin and bothered him a lot.
• The movie's portrayal of loss and grief really touched viewers on the raw.

noun a structure made by draping blankets over furniture to create a hidden space

• The children spent the afternoon constructing a cozy blanket fort in the living room.
• We should totally build a blanket fort for our movie night.
• Let's chill in the blanket fort and watch some Netflix.
• She retreated into her blanket fort of denial when faced with the harsh truth.

noun an extreme fear or phobia of birds

• Her ornithophobia, or fear of birds, made it difficult for her to enjoy outdoor activities.
• I heard Sarah has ornithophobia, so we have to be careful not to plan any bird-watching trips with her.
• Dude, I can't even look at a pigeon without freaking out - I definitely have ornithophobia.
• His ornithophobia towards criticism was evident in how he avoided any feedback on his work.

noun the process of making something less dangerous, tense, or intense

• The therapist used cognitive defusion techniques to help the patient separate from their negative thoughts.
• I tried some defusion exercises to calm my mind before bed.
• Defusion is key to keeping a clear head in stressful situations.
• The defusion of tension between the two parties allowed for a peaceful resolution.

noun an irrational fear of horses

• Hippophobia is a rare phobia characterized by an extreme fear of horses.
• My friend has hippophobia, so she avoids going near any horses.
• I didn't know you had hippophobia, that's why you never come to the horse races with us!
• His hippophobia extended to a fear of anything associated with horses, including horseback riding.

noun an extreme or irrational fear of dogs

• Cynophobia is a serious condition that can greatly impact a person's quality of life.
• My friend has cynophobia, so we always have to avoid dogs when we hang out.
• I didn't know you had cynophobia, that's rough.
• His cynophobia towards change has prevented him from trying new things.

noun an extreme or irrational fear of clowns

• Coulrophobia is a specific phobia characterized by an irrational fear of clowns.
• I heard she has coulrophobia, so we should avoid taking her to the circus.
• I can't stand clowns, they give me the creeps - must be my coulrophobia acting up.
• His coulrophobia towards public speaking was evident as he broke into a cold sweat before the presentation.

noun a reading or consultation by a psychic, often involving the interpretation of supernatural or paranormal phenomena

• She scheduled a psychic reading to gain insight into her future.
• I'm getting a psychic reading next week, wanna come with?
• I heard she gives bomb psychic readings, you should check her out.
• His intuition was so strong, it was like he was giving me a psychic reading.

noun a personality construct characterized by the subclinical inability to identify and describe emotions in the self

• Individuals with alexithymia have difficulty identifying and expressing their emotions.
• My friend with alexithymia often struggles to talk about how they're feeling.
• People with alexithymia can be described as emotionally clueless.
• Having alexithymia is like trying to navigate through a maze without a map for your emotions.

noun a type of therapy that uses music to help improve physical, emotional, cognitive, or social functioning

• Music therapy is a recognized form of treatment that uses music to help individuals improve their physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being.
• I heard that music therapy can really help with reducing stress and anxiety.
• Music therapy is like hitting the reset button for your mind and soul.
• To me, music therapy is like a soothing balm for the wounds of the heart.

verb To withdraw emotional investment or attachment from someone or something.

• The therapist recommended decathecting from negative thoughts to improve mental well-being.
• I need to start decathecting from my ex-boyfriend and move on.
• She's really decathecting from that toxic friend of hers.
• Decathecting from the past is like shedding a heavy burden off your shoulders.

noun A group hug is a physical embrace involving multiple people, typically expressing support, love, or solidarity.

• After a successful team meeting, the group hug symbolized unity and camaraderie among colleagues.
• When our friend group reunited after a long time apart, we all shared a big group hug.
• At the end of the concert, everyone in the crowd did a massive group hug to show their appreciation for the band.
• During difficult times, sometimes we all just need a virtual group hug to feel supported and loved.

noun an extreme or irrational fear of forests or wooded areas

• Hylophobia is a rare condition characterized by an irrational fear of forests or wooded areas.
• I heard that Jane has hylophobia and refuses to go camping with us.
• I can't believe Mark's hylophobia made him run away from a squirrel in the park!
• His hylophobia towards nature symbolizes a deeper fear of the unknown.

noun the act of sharing too much information or personal details

verb to share an excessive amount of information or personal details

• The act of oversharing personal information can sometimes lead to unintended consequences in professional settings.
• I think she was oversharing about her breakup with everyone at the party last night.
• Stop oversharing, no one wants to hear about your drama all the time.
• His tendency to overshare his emotions was like leaving the door wide open for anyone to come in and take advantage.

noun a noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'absent' can also be considered a noun when used in the phrase 'absent treatment' to refer to the act of being away or not present.

adjective an adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun. In this case, 'absent' functions as an adjective because it describes the type of treatment being given, indicating that it is lacking or missing.

• The patient was prescribed absent treatment for his chronic condition.
• The doctor recommended giving the injury some absent treatment.
• I'm just going to give my headache the ol' absent treatment.
• Ignoring the issue is like giving it absent treatment.

noun the quality or state of being accepting; the willingness to accept or tolerate others' beliefs, opinions, or behaviors

• The acceptingness of the community towards different cultural backgrounds is commendable.
• I appreciate your acceptingness of my quirks and habits.
• Her acceptingness of the situation was totally chill.
• The garden seemed to exude an atmosphere of acceptingness towards all creatures.

adjective showing a willingness to accept or receive something

• The team leader displayed an acceptive attitude towards the new project proposal.
• She seemed pretty acceptive of the changes to the schedule.
• He's usually not very acceptive of criticism, but he took it well this time.
• Her acceptive nature allowed her to embrace new challenges with ease.

noun a word used to identify a person, place, thing, or idea, such as understanding

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, such as achieve or reach

preposition a word used before a noun or pronoun to show its relationship to another word in the sentence, such as an

• After several rounds of negotiations, the two parties were able to achieve an understanding on the terms of the contract.
• It took a while, but we finally reached an understanding about who is responsible for cleaning the kitchen.
• We had a heart-to-heart and managed to achieve an understanding about where we stand in our relationship.
• Through open communication and compromise, they were able to reach an understanding and move forward with their plans.

verb A word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence. In this case, 'acted out' is a verb phrase meaning to perform or portray something through actions.

adverb A word that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb. In this case, 'out' is an adverb that indicates the completion or conclusion of the action of acting.

preposition A word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. In this case, 'out' is a preposition that indicates the direction or extent of the action of acting.

• The actors in the play acted out the scene with precision and emotion.
• The kids were bored so they acted out their favorite movie scene.
• She totally acted out when she found out she didn't get the job.
• His anger was so intense that it felt like a storm was being acted out in the room.

adjective relating to or involving adjustment

• The therapist recommended an adjustive approach to help improve the patient's posture.
• I think an adjustive technique could help fix your computer problem.
• Let's try an adjustive method to see if it works better.
• Life is all about making adjustive changes to adapt to different situations.

adjective relating to or involving adjustment

• The therapist recommended some adjustmental techniques to help manage stress.
• I think a little bit of adjustmental tweaking can make a big difference.
• I need to do some serious adjustmental work on my attitude.
• Life requires constant adjustmental shifts to navigate its challenges.

adjective relating to or characteristic of the psychological theories of Alfred Adler, which emphasize the individual's sense of self and the role of social factors in shaping personality

• The therapist utilized Adlerian techniques to help the client explore their early childhood experiences.
• I've been reading about Adlerian psychology and it's really fascinating.
• Adlerian stuff is all about understanding how your past influences your present behavior.
• In the world of psychology, Adlerian principles are like a guiding light for understanding human behavior.

adjective relating to or providing support or assistance

adverb in a supportive or assisting manner

• The adminiculary evidence presented in the court was crucial for the case.
• I'm not sure if the adminiculary documents are in order, can you double check?
• I can't believe the adminiculary paperwork got lost, what a mess!
• Her words had an adminiculary effect on the team, inspiring them to work harder.

verb to confess or acknowledge something as true or valid

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence, in this case, 'to' indicates the action of admitting towards something

• The suspect finally confessed, admitting to the crime in front of the jury.
• She finally spilled the beans, admitting to eating the last slice of pizza.
• He came clean, admitting to skipping school to go to the concert.
• By opening up about his past, he was admitting to his mistakes and seeking forgiveness.

adjective providing advice or guidance

• The consultant provided some very adviceful recommendations for improving our marketing strategy.
• I always turn to my mom for some adviceful tips on cooking.
• My best friend is always so adviceful when it comes to relationships.
• The old wise man's words were always adviceful, guiding us through life's challenges.

noun the capacity to be affected or influenced by something

• The study aimed to measure the affectability of individuals towards different stimuli.
• Some people have a higher affectability than others when it comes to emotional situations.
• I can't believe how low his affectability is, he never seems to show any emotion.
• Her affectability towards criticism is like a shield, always protecting her from getting hurt.

adverb In a manner that shows affection or fondness

• The CEO affectuously greeted each employee at the annual company meeting.
• She always talks to her plants affectuously, believing it helps them grow better.
• The puppy wagged its tail affectuously when its owner returned home.
• The artist painted the sunset affectuously, capturing the vibrant colors in meticulous detail.

verb to state or assert positively; maintain as true

adjective expressing agreement or approval

• The court issued an affirming decision in favor of the plaintiff.
• She gave an affirming nod to show her agreement with the proposal.
• I'm totally affirming that plan, it's going to be awesome!
• The blooming flowers in the garden are affirming the arrival of spring.