Health & Support Professionals Glossary (A–Z)

Clear, calm definitions for clinical health and community support terms — so reports, referrals, and services feel easier to understand.

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Welcome

Make the system feel less confusing

This glossary explains terms used by clinical health professionals (GPs, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, allied health) and community support professionals (support workers, case managers, social workers, disability services, peer support).

“Clarity is care — understanding words can reduce fear.”

A gentle reminder

This is educational and written in everyday language. Role titles vary by country and service — the goal is to help you recognise what a term usually means.

Tip: Search hides non-matching terms as you type.

Quick overview

Common roles and what they do

Role (common name)	What they usually help with	What you can ask them
GP / Family Doctor	First contact for health concerns, referrals, medications, medical letters.	“Can you explain my results?” “Can you refer me to a specialist?”
Psychologist	Therapy, coping skills, mental health plans; assessments in some settings.	“Can we build a plan for anxiety and overwhelm?”
Psychiatrist	Mental health diagnosis, medication review, specialist care.	“What are the benefits/risks of this medication?”
Occupational Therapist (OT)	Daily living supports, sensory needs, routines, school/work accommodations.	“Can you suggest sensory-friendly strategies for daily tasks?”
Speech-Language Therapist (SLT)	Communication, language, social communication; feeding in some services.	“Can we support communication in stress?”
Social Worker	Accessing support, advocacy, safety planning, systems navigation.	“What supports am I eligible for?” “Can you help with forms?”
Case Manager / Navigator	Coordinating services, referrals, support plans, follow-ups.	“What are the next steps and timeframes?”
Support Worker	Practical day-to-day support (home, community access, routines).	“Can we set goals for daily living and independence?”
Peer Support	Lived-experience support, encouragement, practical tips.	“What helped you when you were in this stage?”

How it often flows

Common pathway words

Word	What it means (plain language)	Why it matters
Referral	A formal request to another service or specialist.	Often required to access specialist/funded support.
Triage	Prioritising people based on urgency and need.	Explains waitlists and who is seen first.
Assessment	Gathering information to understand needs and plan support.	Shapes recommendations, accommodations, and funding.
Care Plan	A written plan of goals, supports, and follow-up.	Helps services stay coordinated and consistent.
Informed Consent	Agreeing to something after it’s explained clearly (including options/risks).	You have the right to understand and choose.
Discharge	Leaving a service (improved, moved to another service, or plan completed).	Ask what the next steps and supports are.

Quick note

You can say: “Can you explain that in everyday words?” or “Can you write that down for me?”

Letter A

Access Needs: Supports or adjustments needed to participate fully and safely.Example: “My access needs include extra processing time and written instructions.”
Acute: Sudden or short-term, often needing quick attention.Example: “Acute distress means support is needed sooner.”
Advocacy: Support to help someone communicate needs and access services.Example: “An advocate helped me request accommodations.”
Allied Health: Health professionals who aren’t doctors/nurses (OT, physio, SLT, dietitian).Example: “Allied health helped with sensory strategies and routines.”

Letter B

Baseline: Your usual level of functioning or wellbeing.Example: “My baseline energy is lower in winter.”
Brief Intervention: Short-term support focused on a specific goal.Example: “A brief intervention helped me build a sleep routine.”
Burnout: Ongoing exhaustion and reduced capacity from prolonged overload/stress.Example: “Burnout required reduced demands and recovery supports.”

Letter C

Care Plan: A written plan describing goals, supports, and follow-up steps.Example: “My care plan lists therapy, check-ins, and safety steps.”
Case Manager: A person who coordinates services and helps with next steps.Example: “My case manager organised referrals and appointments.”
Clinical Notes: Records kept by professionals about visits, observations, and plans.Example: “You can ask for a copy of notes in many services.”
Consent (Informed): Agreeing after information is explained clearly, including options/risks.Example: “I asked questions so I could decide.”

Letter D

Diagnosis: A name describing a cluster of experiences; can guide support and treatment.Example: “Diagnosis can help access accommodations.”
Discharge: When a service ends or transitions you to another support.Example: “Before discharge, I asked about next steps.”
Duty of Care: Responsibility to provide safe and appropriate support.Example: “Duty of care includes taking safety concerns seriously.”

Letter E

Eligibility: Whether you meet criteria for a service or funding.Example: “Ask what evidence is needed for eligibility.”
Evidence-Based: Supported by research and/or strong clinical evidence.Example: “Some therapies are evidence-based for specific needs.”
Executive Function: Skills for planning, starting, and completing tasks (often supported by OT/coaching).Example: “We built routines to support executive function.”

Letter F

Follow-Up: A planned check-in after an appointment or intervention.Example: “We booked a follow-up in two weeks.”
Formulation: A shared explanation of what’s happening and what might help (not just a label).Example: “My formulation included sleep, stress, and sensory overload.”
Functional Assessment: Assessment of day-to-day skills and supports needed.Example: “A functional assessment supported my accommodation request.”

Letter G

GP (General Practitioner): First contact doctor for health concerns and referrals.Example: “My GP referred me to a specialist service.”
Goal Setting: Turning needs into clear, manageable goals.Example: “My goal is 10 minutes of movement after lunch.”
Guardianship (legal): Legal arrangements for decision-making (varies by country).Example: “Guardianship rules depend on local law.”

Letter H

Health Literacy: How easy it is to understand health information and make choices.Example: “Glossaries can improve health literacy.”
Holistic Care: Care that considers mind, body, environment, and social needs.Example: “Holistic care included sleep, safety, and connection.”
Handover: When one professional/service transfers information to another.Example: “I asked for a written handover summary.”

Letter I

Informed Consent: Consent after you understand what’s involved and the options.Example: “I requested written information to decide.”
Intake: The first stage of joining a service (questions, forms, screening).Example: “Intake asked about needs, goals, and safety.”
Interdisciplinary Team: Professionals from different fields working together.Example: “The team included OT, nurse, and social worker.”

Letter J

Joint Care: Two or more services sharing responsibility for support.Example: “My GP and specialist provided joint care.”
Journal (tracking tool): A record you keep to track symptoms, triggers, or progress.Example: “A journal helped me explain patterns to my clinician.”

Letter K

Key Worker: Your main contact person within a service.Example: “My key worker coordinates appointments and plans.”
KPIs (service context): Measures services use to track performance (e.g., wait times).Example: “Some services track follow-up rates as KPIs.”

Letter L

Lived Experience: Knowledge gained through personal experience (often used in peer support).Example: “Peer workers use lived experience to offer hope.”
Long-Term Condition: A health condition lasting months/years needing ongoing management.Example: “Long-term conditions often need coordinated care.”
Letter of Support: A letter describing needs and recommendations (for school/work/services).Example: “My OT wrote a letter for workplace adjustments.”

Letter M

Medication Review: Checking benefits, side effects, and whether meds are still right for you.Example: “We reviewed medication after my sleep changed.”
Mental Health Plan: A structured plan for support (varies by country).Example: “A plan can organise therapy and follow-ups.”
Multidisciplinary Team (MDT): A team of professionals from different fields working together.Example: “The MDT coordinated health and daily living supports.”

Letter N

Needs Assessment: Looking at what supports you need to live well and safely.Example: “A needs assessment clarified my support hours.”
Neuroaffirming Care: Care that respects neurodivergent differences and reduces shame.Example: “Neuroaffirming care supports accommodations, not masking.”
Non-Pharmacological Support: Support that doesn’t involve medication (therapy, routines, skills).Example: “We started with non-pharmacological supports first.”

Letter O

Occupational Therapist (OT): Supports daily living, routines, sensory needs, and functional goals.Example: “OT helped me plan low-overwhelm mornings.”
Outcome Measures: Tools to track progress (scales, questionnaires, goal tracking).Example: “We used measures to see changes over time.”
Overlapping Needs: When multiple factors affect wellbeing at once.Example: “Pain, sleep, and anxiety overlap for me.”

Letter P

Peer Support: Support from someone with lived experience.Example: “Peer support helped me feel less alone.”
Primary Care: Frontline health services (often GP clinics).Example: “Primary care is usually the first step.”
Progress Notes: Notes documenting sessions and next steps.Example: “Progress notes help the team stay consistent.”
Psychosocial Support: Support for mental health, housing, work, relationships, daily life.Example: “Psychosocial support helped me manage appointments.”

Letter Q

Quality of Life: Overall wellbeing — comfort, safety, connection, meaning.Example: “Support should improve quality of life.”
Questionnaire (screening tool): A set of questions used to understand experiences and needs.Example: “A questionnaire guided what supports to try.”

Letter R

Reasonable Accommodations: Adjustments that help someone access school/work/services.Example: “Quiet spaces and flexible breaks are accommodations.”
Referral: A formal request to another professional or service.Example: “A referral opened access to a specialist.”
Risk Assessment: Assessing immediate safety needs and supports.Example: “A risk assessment can strengthen a safety plan.”

Letter S

Safety Plan: A plan for crisis moments (warning signs, coping steps, contacts).Example: “My safety plan is saved on my phone.”
Scope of Practice: What a professional is trained/allowed to do.Example: “Scope explains who can diagnose or prescribe.”
Secondary Care: Specialist services beyond primary care.Example: “Secondary care may involve specialist clinics.”
Support Plan: A written plan of supports and goals.Example: “My support plan includes sensory breaks.”

Letter T

Triage: Prioritising people based on urgency and need.Example: “Triage explains why someone is seen first.”
Treatment Plan: A plan for therapy, medication, or supports over time.Example: “My plan includes therapy and sleep supports.”
Trauma-Informed Care: Care that prioritises safety, trust, choice, and empowerment.Example: “They asked permission before sensitive questions.”

Letter U

Universal Design: Designing spaces/services to work for many people without special requests.Example: “Clear signage and quiet rooms support access.”
Urgent Support: Help needed quickly due to safety risk or severe distress.Example: “If you feel unsafe, seek urgent support now.”

Letter V

Validated Experience: When a professional recognises your experience as real and important.Example: “Validation reduced shame and supported trust.”
Vicarious Trauma: Stress reactions from hearing about others’ trauma (common in support roles).Example: “Supervision helps reduce vicarious trauma.”

Letter W

Wellbeing Plan: A personalised plan for daily supports and coping tools.Example: “My plan includes rest, food, movement, and connection.”
Waitlist: A queue to access services when demand is high.Example: “Ask what support exists while waiting.”
Work Capacity: How much work you can do safely without harm.Example: “Reduced capacity may need accommodations.”

Letter X

X-Ray (diagnostic imaging): A scan used to view bones and some internal structures.Example: “An X-ray can rule out a fracture.”
Xenophobia (social factor): Distrust of people seen as “outsiders,” which can affect care experiences.Example: “Services should be culturally safe and respectful.”

Letter Y

Youth Service: Services designed for children/teens/young adults.Example: “Youth services may offer extra school support.”
Your Rights: Your right to dignity, information, consent, and respectful care (varies).Example: “You can request clear explanations and options.”

Letter Z

Zero Tolerance (service policy): A policy stating certain behaviours aren’t accepted — should pair with de-escalation and support.Example: “Good services still prioritise safety and compassionate communication.”
Zone of Regulation (framework): A way of describing emotional states and planning regulation strategies.Example: “We used zones to choose coping tools.”

If you need support

Help options (NZ-friendly + global)

New Zealand

If you’re in immediate danger or need urgent help now, call your local emergency number.

1737 (NZ): Free call/text to talk with a trained counsellor (24/7).
Ask your GP/clinic for “urgent same-day” support options.
If speaking is hard: ask services if they offer SMS/chat support.

Worldwide

If you’re outside NZ, use an international directory or search for crisis lines in your country.

Search: “crisis hotline + your country” or “text crisis line + your country”.
Use your local emergency number if you feel unsafe.
If you prefer written support, look for chat or SMS options in your region.

Thank you for learning with care

Use this page to understand reports, appointments, and pathways — one term at a time.

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