CPCE Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CPCE facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which of these subjects does the CPCE test not cover? → Human Resources
2. DSM-5 requires PTSD symptoms to span how many symptom clusters? → Four
3. The diathesis-stress model of psychopathology proposes that mental disorders develop when: → A biological or psychological vulnerability is triggered by environmental stressors
4. What organizations should a counselor focus on professionally when a crisis occurs? → All of the above
5. In DSM-5, OCD was moved to its own chapter separate from anxiety disorders, reflecting that OCD is primarily driven by: → Obsessions and compulsions as its defining features
6. Which DSM-5 change eliminated the multiaxial diagnostic system used in previous editions? → The merger of all five axes into a single unified diagnosis
7. Which ADHD presentation in DSM-5 is characterized primarily by inattentive symptoms with few hyperactive-impulsive symptoms? → ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Presentation
8. In DSM-5, Cluster B personality disorders are characterized as: → Dramatic, emotional, or erratic
9. A member of a multidisciplinary team is anticipated to: → All of the above
10. Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct: → Personality states or identities with recurrent amnesia
11. In Olson's Circumplex Model of family functioning, which families demonstrate the best overall outcomes? → Balanced families with moderate levels of cohesion and flexibility
12. Counseling professionals define a multidisciplinary team as: → Groups of professionals in a variety of fields contacting for a certain purpose
13. Which feature most clearly differentiates Schizophrenia from Brief Psychotic Disorder in DSM-5? → Duration of symptoms lasting at least 6 months
14. John Gottman's research on couples identified which pattern as the strongest predictor of relationship dissolution? → The presence of criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling ('Four Horsemen')
15. Circular causality in family systems theory suggests that: → Family members mutually and recursively influence each other in ongoing patterns
16. In Judith Herman's three-stage model of trauma recovery, the first stage focuses on: → Safety and stabilization
17. According to DSM-5, Autism Spectrum Disorder requires persistent deficits in which two core domains? → Social communication/interaction and restricted/repetitive behaviors
18. How is the CPCE exam structured? → Multiple-choice
19. Secondary traumatic stress (STS) in counselors is best described as: → Trauma-like symptoms resulting from indirect exposure to clients' traumatic material
20. The Kübler-Ross five-stage grief model is primarily used in counseling to: → Help counselors understand potential emotional responses clients may experience after loss
21. Safe messaging guidelines for suicide prevention recommend that counselors and media avoid: → Providing detailed descriptions of suicide methods
22. Scapegoating in family systems refers to: → The process of one family member being blamed for the entire family's systemic problems
23. John Locke has referred to the idea that kids are "blank slates" when it comes to their development as → tabula rasa
24. The essential feature of Somatic Symptom Disorder in DSM-5 is: → Excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to somatic symptoms
25. A client with a long-standing pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy most likely meets criteria for which personality disorder? → Narcissistic Personality Disorder
26. In family systems theory, a genogram is primarily used to: → Map multigenerational family patterns and relationships
27. Reliability is a crucial psychometric characteristic of assessments and inventories. An accurate description of dependability is → consistency
28. Which of the following is a protective factor that research consistently associates with reduced suicide risk? → Reasons for living, social support, and access to mental health care
29. Which eating disorder is characterized by recurrent binge eating WITHOUT compensatory purging behaviors? → Binge Eating Disorder
30. Which therapeutic approach is considered the most evidence-based first-line treatment for PTSD according to current clinical guidelines? → Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)