NCMHCE Questions and Answers 5

Question 1

A counselor working with a grieving client who lost her spouse 18 months ago notices the client continues to avoid reminders of the deceased and has withdrawn from all social activities.
Which diagnosis should the counselor consider?

Accepted Answer

Prolonged Grief Disorder

Answer

Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode

Answer

Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood

Answer

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

Question 2

In an NCMHCE simulation, a client with schizophrenia is stable on antipsychotics but resistant to attending group therapy. The counselor's BEST approach is:

Accepted Answer

Explore the client's specific concerns about group therapy before problem-solving

Answer

Require group participation as a condition of continued individual therapy

Answer

Accept the refusal and focus solely on individual therapy indefinitely

Answer

Consult the prescribing physician to adjust medication to improve socialization

Question 3

A counselor receives a subpoena for a client's therapy records in a custody dispute. What is the MOST appropriate initial action?

Accepted Answer

Notify the client and consult with a legal professional before releasing records

Answer

Release records immediately to comply with the legal order

Answer

Refuse to release records on the basis of therapeutic privilege

Answer

Contact the court directly to request a records seal

Question 4

Which of the following NCMHCE simulation responses reflects accurate application of the DSM-5 criterion for Substance Use Disorder severity?

Accepted Answer

Mild = 1-2 criteria, Moderate = 3-5 criteria, Severe = 6+ criteria

Answer

Mild = 2-3 criteria, Moderate = 4-5 criteria, Severe = 6+ criteria

Answer

Severity is determined by frequency of use, not number of criteria

Answer

Severity is clinician-rated on a 1-10 scale based on functional impairment

Question 5

A counselor is planning termination with a client who has met all treatment goals but is anxious about ending. What is the MOST therapeutically appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Explore the client's anxiety about termination as part of the therapeutic work

Answer

Extend treatment until the client feels completely comfortable with termination

Answer

Normalize the anxiety verbally and proceed with scheduled termination

Answer

Transfer the client to a support group to ease the transition

Question 6

During an NCMHCE simulation, a client discloses he is HIV-positive and is having unprotected sex with a partner who is unaware of his status. The counselor's BEST response is:

Accepted Answer

Explore the client's barriers to disclosure while assessing duty-to-protect obligations

Answer

Report the situation to public health authorities immediately

Answer

Warn the identified third-party partner directly

Answer

Maintain strict confidentiality as the situation involves private health information

Question 7

A client reports that antidepressants have eliminated her depressive symptoms but she now feels emotionally 'flat' and has no motivation. From a counseling perspective, the MOST appropriate next step is:

Accepted Answer

Explore the experience in depth and coordinate with the prescribing provider

Answer

Recommend that the client discontinue antidepressants and try therapy alone

Answer

Document the report and continue current treatment without changes

Answer

Interpret the flatness as emotional avoidance and address it with cognitive techniques