NCE Study Guide – Module 13 of 20

Host: Glenn Ostlund
Date: December 17, 2024
Guests/AI Study Buddies: Emma and Alex

Episode Overview

This episode of the NCE Study Guide podcast provides a deep-dive review of Study Module 13, focusing on key theories, counseling approaches, major psychological concepts, and mock exam questions essential for the National Counselor Exam (NCE). Using a conversational, flashcard-style format, hosts Emma and Alex—in collaboration with AI tools—guide listeners through 10 representative multiple-choice questions, breaking down the answers and offering memorable explanations and exam tips.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the "Triangle"

• Question (04:19): Which therapy connects thoughts, feelings, and behaviors?
  • Answer: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Insight: CBT focuses on how cognitions, emotions, and actions form interconnected cycles that influence mental health.
  • Quote:

    "It's so practical… Our thoughts impact our feelings, feelings influence our behaviors, and our behaviors can reinforce our thoughts." – Emma (02:48)

  • Memorable Analogy: CBT = Triangle (thoughts/feelings/behaviors)

2. Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development

• Question (07:12): Which stage features logical thinking about abstract ideas?
  • Answer: Formal Operational Stage
  • Insight: Begins around age 12, marked by abstract, hypothetical, and complex problem-solving abilities.
  • Memorable Example:

    "You can understand those big concepts like justice and fairness… the world beyond their own immediate experiences." – Emma (06:33, 06:39)

3. Motivational Interviewing (MI)

• Question (09:25): What is MI’s primary goal?
  • Answer: Enhancing client motivation to change
  • Approach: Focuses on empowering ambivalent or resistant clients to find their own internal drive.
  • Quote:

    "It's like being a gentle guide… like a dance partner. Not dragging them along." – Emma (08:43)

4. Functional Symptoms in Family Systems

• Question (11:44): What concept describes symptoms serving a purpose in families?
  • Answer: Functional Symptom
  • Insight: Sometimes symptoms maintain family balance (homeostasis), even if unhealthy.
  • Quote:

    "Even though the symptom is causing pain for the individual, it's inadvertently holding the family system together." – Alex (11:07)

5. Jung’s Shadow Concept

• Question (13:51): What does the 'shadow' represent in Jungian theory?
  • Answer: Unconscious aspects of the self that are repressed or denied
  • Insight: Integration of the shadow is key for wholeness.
  • Quote:

    "It's like the basement of our personality. All the stuff we don't want to face." – Emma (13:18)

6. Gestalt Therapy and the Empty Chair Technique

• Question (15:56): Which therapy uses the empty chair for 'unfinished business'?
  • Answer: Gestalt Therapy
  • Insight: Allows direct, experiential working-through of unresolved feelings or conflicts.
  • Quote:

    "They're engaging in a dialogue with an imagined person or even part of themselves… It's amazing what comes up." – Emma (14:49)

7. Variable Interval Reinforcement

• Question (17:53): Example of a variable interval schedule?
  • Answer: Checking email at unpredictable times
  • Memorable Analogy:

    "That little dopamine rush when you see a new message… keeps you coming back for more." – Emma (16:56)

  • Insight: Reinforcement comes at unpredictable time intervals, encouraging persistent behaviors.

8. ‘Exception’ Questions in Solution Focused Brief Therapy

• Question (19:40): What is the goal of exception questions?
  • Answer: Identify times when the client’s problem was absent or less severe
  • Technique Purpose: Uncovers successes and resources by focusing on ‘what worked’ in the past.
  • Quote:

    "It's about finding those glimmers of hope, those times when the problem wasn't front and center." – Emma (19:35)

9. Systematic Desensitization in Behavior Therapy

• Question (21:58): What is systematic desensitization?
  • Answer: Gradual exposure to feared stimuli while teaching relaxation
  • Technique: Used for reducing phobias by pairing gradual exposure with coping skills.
  • Quote:

    "You wouldn't just throw someone with a fear of spiders into a room full of spiders… It's about taking small, gradual steps." – Emma (20:40, 20:45)

10. Erikson’s Psychosocial Stage — Late Adulthood

• Question (23:47): What is the major challenge of late adulthood?
  • Answer: Integrity vs. Despair
  • Insight: Involves reflecting on one’s life, coming to terms with achievements and regrets.
  • Quote:

    "It's about coming to terms with the life they've lived, the choices they've made. And hopefully finding peace." – Alex (23:12)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On applying theory to practice:

  "We want you to not only know the right answer, but… understand the concept behind it so you can apply it on the exam and beyond, right?” – Emma (01:26)

• On the family system analogy:

  "Kind of like a mobile. Right. If you move one piece, the whole thing shifts." – Emma (10:00)

• On the Jungian shadow:

  "It's so important to acknowledge those hidden parts, even the uncomfortable ones… It's part of becoming a whole person." – Emma (13:57, 14:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:39 | Start of Mock Question 121 (Therapy and Awareness) | | 04:40 | Question 122 – Piaget & Abstract Thinking | | 07:31 | Question 123 – Motivational Interviewing | | 09:41 | Question 124 – Functional Symptoms in Family System | | 11:56 | Question 125 – Jung’s Shadow Concept | | 14:07 | Question 126 – Gestalt Therapy & Empty Chair | | 16:06 | Question 127 – Reinforcement Schedules | | 18:08 | Question 128 – Exception Questions (SFBT) | | 19:58 | Question 129 – Systematic Desensitization | | 22:11 | Question 130 – Erikson’s Challenge in Late Adulthood |

Summary Flow

Emma and Alex expertly navigate through complex counseling topics with casual, engaging banter, helping listeners connect theory to practice. Using relatable analogies (“triangle” for CBT, “mobile” for family systems, “basement” for Jung’s shadow), they strip away confusion and reinforce key test points with real-world relevance. The conversation models how to move beyond rote memorization—ideal for auditory learners and those aiming to apply this knowledge both in the exam and the counseling field.

For more study resources, visit: NCE Study Guide Website

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