Glossary
A glossary for parents
Plain-language explanations of terms you often hear in psychology.
A
- Attachment
- The emotional bond a child forms with their caregivers. Secure attachment helps a child feel safe while exploring the world.Related service: Attached at the Heart parent education →
E
- Emotion regulation
- The ability to notice, name and cope with feelings. Children learn it over time, with support from adults.Related service: Child and adolescent psychology →
M
- Mental training
- Work that strengthens an athlete’s mental preparation through skills like focus, goal setting, imagery and breathing.Related service: Sport psychology →
P
- Perfectionism
- Expecting flawlessness from yourself and meeting mistakes with harsh self-criticism. It is often linked to anxiety and burnout.
- Performance anxiety
- Intense tension in situations where we are evaluated, such as games, exams or performances. It can be managed with the right skills.Related service: Sport psychology →
- Play-based approach
- A way of working that uses play, the language children express themselves in best, to understand their feelings and experiences.Related service: Play groups →
- Positive discipline
- An approach to discipline based on respect, consistency and teaching rather than punishment and fear.Related service: Parent counselling →
S
- Screen time
- Time a child spends on phones, tablets, computers and TV. What matters is not only how long, but also the content and using screens together.Related service: Parent counselling →
- Self-compassion
- Treating ourselves with the same understanding and kindness we would offer someone we love when things are hard.
- Separation anxiety
- Strong worry a child feels when apart from a caregiver. It is natural at certain ages; if it lasts and affects daily life, support helps.Related service: Child and adolescent psychology →
- Setting boundaries
- Showing a child calmly and clearly what is and isn’t okay. Good boundaries make children feel safe.Related service: Parent counselling →
- Sibling rivalry
- Natural feelings that come up when a new sibling arrives or siblings share attention. Parents’ responses can make this easier.Related service: Parent counselling →