Clinical Language

Clinical Language

 * Hold

Non-perjorative / Non-paternalistic Language
Strengths-based / collaboration-focused terms for referring to the client.
 * Consumer
 * Client
 * Partner
 * Customer
 * Survivor
 * Story-teller
 * Person in therapy
 * Discharge (instead of "termination").
 * Caregiver (instead of "parent").
 * Competing attachment (instead of "adulterer", "floozy", etc)

SFT also has some interesting terms to offer as a means for identifying the client's motivations during case conceptualization.
 * Visitor - client with no identified problem or complaint. May initiate counseling at the prodding of someone else.  May be resistant or noncompliant.
 * Complainant - client that identifies a problem and seeks a solution. Uses observational or thinking tasks.
 * Customer - similar to the complainant but is cooperative and willing to change disruptive patterns.