TCC Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. What is the focus of solution-focused brief therapy? → Building on strengths and solutions
2. What does differential diagnosis involve? → Ruling out other possible conditions
3. According to the DSM-5, how many criteria must be met within a 12-month period to diagnose a substance use disorder? → At least 2 of 11 criteria
4. The 12-step program model of recovery originated with which organization? → Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
5. The Strong Interest Inventory is built around which theoretical framework? → Holland's RIASEC model
6. What should a counselor do if a client threatens harm to another person? → Warn the intended victim or appropriate authority
7. Which term describes the developmental concept that children can hold two contradictory ideas simultaneously, mastered in Piaget's concrete operational stage? → Conservation
8. In Prochaska's Transtheoretical Model, the Action stage is best characterized by which of the following? → Actively modifying behavior for less than 6 months
9. In Gottfredson's Theory of Circumscription and Compromise, at what stage do children begin eliminating career options based on gender-role stereotypes? → Stage 2 (ages 6–8): Orientation to sex roles
10. The ASGW Best Practice Guidelines recommend that group counselors conduct pre-group screening primarily to: → Assess member suitability and prepare clients for group participation
11. What is a dual relationship in counseling? → Being both counselor and employer
12. Which career theory introduced the concept of 'happenstance' — the idea that unplanned events should be embraced as career opportunities? → Planned Happenstance Theory by Mitchell, Levin, and Krumboltz
13. What is the primary ethical concern a group counselor must address regarding confidentiality? → Counselors cannot guarantee that other group members will keep information confidential
14. Which of the following best describes the 'harm reduction' approach in addiction counseling? → Reducing the negative consequences of substance use without requiring abstinence
15. When using a cognitive-behavioral approach in group counseling, the leader would most likely structure sessions to include which element? → Homework assignments to practice skills between sessions
16. Which Texas agency requires school counselors to document and report program outcomes as part of the District Improvement Plan process? → Texas Education Agency (TEA)
17. In mental health counseling, the term 'dual diagnosis' refers to a client who has: → Both a substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health disorder
18. Which statistical measure describes the most frequently occurring score in a distribution? → Mode
19. Which intervention is considered evidence-based for treating PTSD in trauma-focused counseling? → Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and EMDR
20. Which counseling theory emphasizes unconditional positive regard? → Person-centered therapy
21. In program evaluation, 'formative evaluation' differs from 'summative evaluation' in that formative evaluation is conducted: → During program implementation to improve the program as it runs
22. In single-subject research designs used in counseling, what is the purpose of the 'baseline phase' (A phase)? → To measure the client's behavior before any intervention to establish a comparison point
23. Which of the following best describes the biopsychosocial model of addiction? → Addiction results from biological, psychological, and social factors interacting together
24. The concept of 'treatment fidelity' in counseling research refers to: → The degree to which an intervention is delivered as it was designed and intended
25. What is the principle of confidentiality in counseling? → Protecting client information unless legally required
26. Piaget's 'formal operational' stage, typically beginning around age 12, is characterized by: → Abstract reasoning and hypothetical-deductive thinking
27. When a group member monopolizes conversations and prevents others from participating, the group leader should best respond by: → Using a here-and-now intervention to redirect participation to the whole group
28. What is the purpose of a mental status examination (MSE)? → To assess current mental functioning
29. Which type of group is typically time-limited, highly structured, and focused on a specific problem or skill such as anger management? → Psychoeducational or counseling group
30. The CAGE questionnaire is primarily used to screen for which problem? → Alcohol use problems