NCE Study Guide – Module 14 of 20

Host: Glenn Ostlund & AI “study buddies”
Date: December 17, 2024

Overview

This episode of the NCE Study Guide podcast features Module 14 (of 20), offering an engaging, conversational review of 10 mock multiple-choice questions tailored for National Counselor Exam prep. Through detailed discussions, the hosts break down foundational counseling concepts, ethics, theory, assessment, and cultural competence—making difficult exam material easy to understand and remember. Designed as "audio flashcards," the episode helps listeners both answer questions and deepen conceptual understanding for the NCE and their counseling careers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Types of Counseling Groups

(01:17 – 02:59)

• Main Point: Differentiation of group types by primary focus.
• Breakdown:
  • Therapy Group: Focuses on processing emotions with a therapist.
  • Support Group: Peer-based, offers encouragement for shared challenges.
  • Psychoeducational Group: Imparts knowledge and concrete skills—less on emotions.
  • Self-Help Group: Peer-led, mutual sharing, no professional facilitator.
• Key Insight:
  • Best Answer: Psychoeducational group focuses on providing information and teaching skills, not processing emotional issues.
  • Quote:

    “It’s more concrete skills… Less about processing emotions, more about giving you the tools to face those challenges.” – C (02:28)

2. Breaching Confidentiality in Counseling

(03:07 – 05:29)

• Main Point: Understanding when confidentiality can be breached.
• Breakdown:
  • Past Illegal Activity: Not an automatic breach unless current risk (e.g., to children); require supervision and careful guidance.
  • Threats to Others: Exception—must break confidentiality to protect potential victims.
  • Client Refusal of Treatment: Autonomy is respected; not a valid reason to breach.
  • Personal Disclosures (e.g., affairs): Remain confidential unless there is a risk of harm.
• Key Insight:
  • Best Answer: If a client threatens harm to another person, counselors have a duty to warn and may breach confidentiality.
  • Quote:

    “If there’s a credible threat, then a counselor has a duty to protect and warn." – C (04:12)

3. Social Learning Theory & Observational Learning

(05:39 – 07:17)

• Main Point: Clarifies the concept of modeling.
• Breakdown:
  • Modeling: Learning through observing and imitating others (e.g., children mimicking adults or learning dance moves).
  • Distinctions: Vs. conditioning, reinforcement, shaping.
• Key Insight:
  • Best Answer: Modeling is the term for learning by observing and imitating others.
  • Quote:

    “It’s about seeing and then copying… Learning through observation and imitation.” – C (06:04)

4. Statistics: Measuring Spread in Data

(07:32 – 08:59)

• Main Point: Understanding the meaning of standard deviation.
• Breakdown:
  • Standard Deviation: Average distance of scores from the mean; key for understanding data spread.
  • Variance: Related but expressed in squared units.
  • Median/Mode: Not about data spread.
• Key Insight:
  • Best Answer: Standard deviation indicates how spread out data is from the mean.
  • Quote:

    “Standard deviation is a bit more complex. Think of it as a measuring stick for how spread out your data is…on average, how far away each score is from that mean.” – C & A (08:01)

5. Adlerian Therapy’s Core Focus

(09:03 – 10:52)

• Main Point: Primary aim of Adlerian therapy.
• Breakdown:
  • Encouraging social interest and overcoming inferiority are key.
  • Not focused primarily on unconscious conflict (psychoanalysis), irrational beliefs (CBT), or just behavior change.
• Key Insight:
  • Best Answer: Encouraging social interest and overcoming feelings of inferiority.
  • Quote:

    “It’s about feeling connected, contributing to society, finding meaning in life…and addressing those feelings of inferiority.” – C (09:53)

6. Purpose of the Mental Status Exam

(11:05 – 12:57)

• Main Point: Role of a mental status exam in counseling assessment.
• Breakdown:
  • Snapshot of client’s current psychological functioning (appearance, mood, thought processes, cognition).
  • Not solely for diagnosis, past history, or direct treatment planning.
• Key Insight:
  • Best Answer: To assess the client's current psychological functioning.
  • Quote:

    “It’s like taking a snapshot of their mental state right then and there.” – C (12:12)

7. Reinforcement Schedules (Behavioral Psychology)

(13:05 – 14:31)

• Main Point: Distinguishes between fixed/variable ratio and interval schedules.
• Breakdown:
  • Fixed Interval: Reinforcement after set time, regardless of responses (e.g., biweekly paycheck).
• Key Insight:
  • Best Answer: Fixed interval—reinforcement after a fixed period of time.
  • Quote:

    “Fixed interval is all about time. Like getting paid every two weeks. Doesn’t matter how much you did.” – C (13:45)

8. Understanding Ethnocentrism

(14:41 – 15:59)

• Main Point: Definition and dangers of ethnocentrism.
• Breakdown:
  • Belief in cultural superiority leads to prejudice/discrimination.
  • Contrasted with cultural relativism, competence, and acculturation.
• Key Insight:
  • Best Answer: Ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s own culture is superior.
  • Quote:

    “It’s when you think your culture’s the best and you judge everyone else based on your own standards.” – C (15:10)

9. Existential Therapy – Concept of Angst

(16:12 – 17:42)

• Main Point: Defines “angst” within existential therapy.
• Breakdown:
  • Angst: Anxiety from freedom and responsibility, distinct from isolation, nihilism, and despair.
• Key Insight:
  • Best Answer: Angst is the anxiety from realizing our responsibility in freedom.
  • Quote:

    “Angst is that deep unease that comes from realizing we have freedom, but also responsibility for our choices.” – C (16:41)

10. Person-Centered Therapy: Conditions of Worth

(17:43 – 19:18)

• Main Point: Origins and aims regarding “conditions of worth.”
• Breakdown:
  • Unique to person-centered (Rogerian) therapy; focus on overcoming learned conditional self-acceptance from childhood.
  • Contrasted with psychoanalytic, Gestalt, and behavioral therapies.
• Key Insight:
  • Best Answer: Person-centered therapy addresses conditions of worth imposed during childhood.
  • Quote:

    “Person centered therapy really looks at those messages we get as kids. Like, we’re only loved if we do certain things.” – C (19:06)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s about equipping you with those skills and knowledge, not delving into those deep emotional issues.” – C (02:33)
• “You’re putting well being first for everyone.” – C (04:26)
• “High standard deviation? Your data’s all over the place. Low standard deviation? It’s clustered nice and close.” – A & C (08:13)
• “The weight of freedom, I guess you could say.” – A (17:40)
• “Remember, keep learning. Keep asking questions.” – C (19:28)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Time | |------------------------------------------------------------------|-------| | Counseling group types & functions | 01:17 | | Confidentiality & exceptions | 03:07 | | Social learning theory—modeling | 05:39 | | Standard deviation/statistics | 07:32 | | Adlerian therapy’s primary focus | 09:03 | | Mental status exam in counseling | 11:05 | | Reinforcement schedules | 13:05 | | Ethnocentrism and related terms | 14:41 | | Existential therapy: Angst | 16:12 | | Person-centered therapy: Conditions of worth | 17:43 |

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a friendly, encouraging, and accessible tone—often using relatable analogies (e.g., “middle child” for median, “slot machine” for variable ratio) and reaffirming the listener’s progress and confidence.

Takeaway

This episode reinforces NCE exam success through clear, practical discussions of group counseling, ethics, theories, assessment, behaviorism, culture, and therapeutic concepts. Listeners are not only prepared for the test but also for real-world counseling scenarios, while feeling supported and motivated.