LMHC Evaluation Requirements 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which standardized instrument is most appropriate for screening an adult client for alcohol use disorder severity?
- PHQ-9
- AUDIT (Correct answer)
- PCL-5
- GAD-7
Correct answer: AUDIT
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is the WHO-developed gold-standard screen for hazardous and harmful alcohol use.
Question 2: A licensed mental health counselor reviewing intake paperwork notices a client scored 20 on the PHQ-9. What does this score indicate?
- Mild depression
- Moderate depression
- Moderately severe depression
- Severe depression (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Severe depression
PHQ-9 scores of 20–27 indicate severe depression, warranting urgent clinical attention.
Question 3: When conducting a mental status examination, which domain specifically assesses a client's ability to think abstractly?
- Orientation
- Insight
- Thought process
- Cognition (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Cognition
Cognitive functioning in the MSE includes abstract thinking, often assessed with proverb interpretation or similarities tasks.
Question 4: A counselor uses the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). What is the primary purpose of this tool?
- Diagnosing depressive disorders
- Stratifying suicide risk severity (Correct answer)
- Assessing trauma history
- Measuring treatment progress
Correct answer: Stratifying suicide risk severity
The C-SSRS is designed to systematically categorize suicidal ideation and behavior to stratify risk level.
Question 5: Which type of reliability refers to the consistency of scores across different raters administering the same assessment?
- Test-retest reliability
- Internal consistency
- Inter-rater reliability (Correct answer)
- Parallel-forms reliability
Correct answer: Inter-rater reliability
Inter-rater reliability measures agreement between two or more evaluators scoring the same client or instrument.
Question 6: An LMHC is assessing a client whose primary language is not English. What is the most ethical approach to standardized testing in this situation?
- Use the English version to maintain standardization
- Translate questions verbally during administration
- Use a validated instrument normed for the client's language/culture (Correct answer)
- Skip standardized testing entirely
Correct answer: Use a validated instrument normed for the client's language/culture
Using culturally and linguistically validated instruments ensures assessment validity and protects against biased results.
Question 7: In a biopsychosocial assessment, which component specifically addresses a client's support networks and community resources?
- Biological
- Psychological
- Social (Correct answer)
- Cultural
Correct answer: Social
The social component of a biopsychosocial assessment covers interpersonal relationships, social supports, and community resources.
LMHC Evaluation Requirements 2
Which standardized instrument is most appropriate for screening an adult client for alcohol use disorder severity?