NCMHCE EXAM PREP UPDATED QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
Question:
1. Professional Practice and Ethics
Answer:
Section 1
Question:
2. Intake, Assess-ment, and Diag-nosis
Answer:
Section 2
Question:
3. Areas of Clinical Focus
Answer:
Section 3
Question:
4. Treatment Plan-ning
Answer:
Section 4
Question:
5. Client Collabora-tion
Answer:
Treat the client as the expert on their own life; gather both client-provided and collateral information.
Question:
6. Intake Process Collaboration
Answer:
Begin goal-setting during intake; gather client's hopes, desired outcomes, and steps they believe will
help.
Question:
7. Accountability Tools
Answer:
Plans and resources used to track progress and encourage client follow-through.
Question:
8. SMART Goals
Answer:
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound — framework for setting clear and
trackable goals.
Question:
9. Specific (SMART)
,Answer:
Defines exactly what is to be accomplished, why, and who is involved.
Question:
10. Measurable (SMART)
Answer:
Identifies how progress will be tracked (e.g., financial factors, symptom check-lists).
Question:
11. Achievable (SMART)
Answer:
Ensures the goal is realistic given client resources and limitations.
Question:
12. Relevant (SMART)
Answer:
Confirms the goal aligns with client needs and priorities
Question:
13. Time-Bound (SMART)
Answer:
Sets a deadline for goal completion.
Question:
14. Reciprocal Goals
Answer:
Goals agreed upon by multiple members of a system, addressing the same target problem from
different angles.
Question:
15. Shared Goals
Answer:
Goals where multiple members of a system choose the same target outcome.
Question:
16. Barriers to Goal Attainment
Answer:
Obstacles like lack of motivation, resistance, or external factors preventing progress.
Question:
17. Indicators of Mo-tivation
Answer:
Client voluntarily attends, engages in sessions, expresses willingness to partici-pate in treatment.
Question:
18. Resistance
, Answer:
Behaviors like minimizing problems, rationalizing, disengaging, arriving late, or skipping sessions.
Question:
19. Strengths As-sessment
Answer:
Identifying biological, mental, social, spiritual, or emotional abilities that support problem-solving
and stability.
Question:
20. Ego Strength
Answer:
Ability to be resilient under stress and return to normal functioning after crisis.
Question:
21. Levels of Care — Inpatient
Answer:
For severe/chronic issues, daily sessions, high supervision, removal from harmful environments.
Question:
22. Levels of Care — Residential
Answer:
Live-in care with group support, less intensive than inpatient, good for ongoing skill-building.
Question:
23. Levels of Care — Outpatient
Answer:
Flexible schedule, allows work/school; ranges from weekly to monthly sessions.
Question:
24. Concurrent Treatment
Answer:
Working alongside other professionals (psychiatrists, counselors) to coordinate care.
Question:
25. Treatment Con-tracts
Answer:
Formal/informal agreements defining goals, tasks, timelines, and progress re-view.
Question:
26. Termination of Services
Answer:
Ending the counseling relationship when treatment goals are met or other cir-cumstances require it.
Question:
27. Discharge Plan-ning
CORRECT ANSWERS
Question:
1. Professional Practice and Ethics
Answer:
Section 1
Question:
2. Intake, Assess-ment, and Diag-nosis
Answer:
Section 2
Question:
3. Areas of Clinical Focus
Answer:
Section 3
Question:
4. Treatment Plan-ning
Answer:
Section 4
Question:
5. Client Collabora-tion
Answer:
Treat the client as the expert on their own life; gather both client-provided and collateral information.
Question:
6. Intake Process Collaboration
Answer:
Begin goal-setting during intake; gather client's hopes, desired outcomes, and steps they believe will
help.
Question:
7. Accountability Tools
Answer:
Plans and resources used to track progress and encourage client follow-through.
Question:
8. SMART Goals
Answer:
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound — framework for setting clear and
trackable goals.
Question:
9. Specific (SMART)
,Answer:
Defines exactly what is to be accomplished, why, and who is involved.
Question:
10. Measurable (SMART)
Answer:
Identifies how progress will be tracked (e.g., financial factors, symptom check-lists).
Question:
11. Achievable (SMART)
Answer:
Ensures the goal is realistic given client resources and limitations.
Question:
12. Relevant (SMART)
Answer:
Confirms the goal aligns with client needs and priorities
Question:
13. Time-Bound (SMART)
Answer:
Sets a deadline for goal completion.
Question:
14. Reciprocal Goals
Answer:
Goals agreed upon by multiple members of a system, addressing the same target problem from
different angles.
Question:
15. Shared Goals
Answer:
Goals where multiple members of a system choose the same target outcome.
Question:
16. Barriers to Goal Attainment
Answer:
Obstacles like lack of motivation, resistance, or external factors preventing progress.
Question:
17. Indicators of Mo-tivation
Answer:
Client voluntarily attends, engages in sessions, expresses willingness to partici-pate in treatment.
Question:
18. Resistance
, Answer:
Behaviors like minimizing problems, rationalizing, disengaging, arriving late, or skipping sessions.
Question:
19. Strengths As-sessment
Answer:
Identifying biological, mental, social, spiritual, or emotional abilities that support problem-solving
and stability.
Question:
20. Ego Strength
Answer:
Ability to be resilient under stress and return to normal functioning after crisis.
Question:
21. Levels of Care — Inpatient
Answer:
For severe/chronic issues, daily sessions, high supervision, removal from harmful environments.
Question:
22. Levels of Care — Residential
Answer:
Live-in care with group support, less intensive than inpatient, good for ongoing skill-building.
Question:
23. Levels of Care — Outpatient
Answer:
Flexible schedule, allows work/school; ranges from weekly to monthly sessions.
Question:
24. Concurrent Treatment
Answer:
Working alongside other professionals (psychiatrists, counselors) to coordinate care.
Question:
25. Treatment Con-tracts
Answer:
Formal/informal agreements defining goals, tasks, timelines, and progress re-view.
Question:
26. Termination of Services
Answer:
Ending the counseling relationship when treatment goals are met or other cir-cumstances require it.
Question:
27. Discharge Plan-ning