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WORDS ELIZABETH SMITH

a mom approved wellness Glossary

In our Mom

Approved Wellness survey,

we asked readers to tell us about the local health practitioners who’ve made a positive impact on their families’ well-being. Then we gave the practitioners our own examination, fact checking their credentials. This list covers a broad selection of disciplines, some of which may be unfamiliar. So we’ve compiled a glossary of terms as a brief introduction.

ABA Therapy Applied behavior analysis is a widely accepted approach that tracks a child’s progress in improving their skills. Different types of ABA therapy are commonly used to treat autism spectrum disorder. Licensed by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, bacb.com

Audiology An audiologist is a health care professional who is trained to evaluate hearing loss and related disorders, including balance (vestibular) disorders and tinnitus, and to rehabilitate individuals with hearing loss and related disorders. Licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, tdlr.texas.gov Chiropractic Chiropractic emphasizes the body’s ability to heal itself. Treatment typically involves manual therapy, often including spinal manipulation. Other forms of treatment, such as exercise and nutritional counseling, may be used as well. Licensed by the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners,tbce.state.tx.us

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one type of psychotherapy that can help people with anxiety disorders. It teaches different ways of thinking, behaving and reacting to anxiety-producing objects and situations. Licensed by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, bhec.texas.gov Counseling Counselingempowers diverse individuals, families and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education and career goals.Types of specialists include licensed professional counselors (LPC), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT) and licensed clinical social workers (LCSW).Licensed by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council,bhec.texas.gov

Energy Healing Energy healing therapy is a technique that involves channeling healing energy through the hands of a practitioner into the client’s body to restore a normal energy balance and, therefore, health. There is no state licensing for energy healing.

Holistic Medicine While there’s no state licensing for holistic medicine specifically, it’s generally known as an approach to healing that considers the whole person—body, mind and soul—with a view that optimal health can be achieved by gaining proper balance in life. Music Therapy Music therapy interventions can address a variety of healthcare and educational goals, such as to manage stress, alleviate pain, improve communication or promote physical rehabilitation. Licensed by the Certification Board for Music Therapists, cbmt.org Occupational Therapy Through the therapeutic use of everyday activities, occupational therapists help patients to develop, recover, improve or maintain skills needed for daily living and working. Licensed by the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners, ptot.texas.gov

Physical Therapy Physical therapists, often called PTs, help improve movement and manage pain in patients of all ages. Licensed by the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners, ptot.texas.gov

Play Therapy Through play therapy, children learn to communicate with others, express feelings, modify behavior, develop problemsolving skills and learn a variety of ways of relating to others. Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credentials, awarded by the Association for Play Therapy, are not required for mental health professionals to practice play therapy but signify their additional education, supervision and experience.

Psychology Generally, psychologists treat many kinds of problems using evidenced-based interventions. Psychologists administer and interpret tests and assessment tools that help diagnose a condition or tell more about the way a person thinks, feels and behaves. Licensed by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, bhec.texas.gov

Speech Therapy Speech-language pathologists work with children and adults who have problems with speech and language, including related cognitive or social communication problems. Those treated may be unable to speak at all, or they may speak with difficulty or have rhythm and fluency problems, such as stuttering. Licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, tdlr.texas.gov

Therapeutic Recreation Recreational therapy, also known as therapeutic recreation, is a treatment service designed to restore, remediate and rehabilitate a person’s level of functioning and independence in life activities. Licensed by the National Council of Therapeutic Recreation Certification, nctrc.org