The word diagnosis refers to the process of identifying a disease, disorder, or condition based on a person’s signs, symptoms, medical history, physical examination, and often the results of diagnostic tests. It can also refer to the conclusion or label that results from this process. In both medicine and mental health, a diagnosis serves as a formal recognition and classification of a person’s health issue. It guides treatment planning, helps predict outcomes, facilitates communication among professionals, and may be necessary for insurance coverage or access to services.

The term comes from the Greek “diagignōskein”, meaning “to distinguish” or “to discern.” This root emphasizes that diagnosis is an act of distinguishing between various possible causes in order to determine the most likely explanation for a person’s condition. In a broader, non-medical sense, “diagnosis” can be used metaphorically to describe the identification of a problem or issue in other systems—such as a mechanical failure in a car, a software bug in a computer program, or a dysfunction in a social or political system.

In clinical mental health counseling, as well as in general healthcare, a diagnosis is not just a label—it’s a structured way to understand a person’s experience within a biopsychosocial-spiritual framework. This means that it should take into account not only biological and psychological data but also social, cultural, and spiritual factors that influence wellbeing.