NCE Study Guide

• Understanding Assessment and Testing – Clarity, Confidence, and Client Protection (Study Group Summary, May 3rd, 2025)

  Episode Description In this episode of the NCE Study Guide, we explore the domain of Assessment and Testing, one of the most technical—and crucial—areas of the NCE. This session is grounded in our May 3rd, 2025 study group, where Tiffany shared her journey navigating complex concepts like z-scores, validity types, and ethical test use.You’ll learn why assessment is not just about test-taking but about making accurate, client-centered decisions in practice. We break down key terms, offer metaphors to simplify abstract ideas, and model how these topics appear on the NCE. You'll also get a quiz with detailed explanations to sharpen your test-taking strategy.This episode aligns with the Assessment and Testing Work Behavior Domain and the CACREP core area of Assessment, helping you build both confidence and competence.If you find this helpful, please leave a 5-star review—it helps more future counselors find their way. And don’t forget to join our free weekly study group (email [email protected]).CACREP Core Area: Assessment and TestingIn this episode:Learn how to differentiate reliability vs. validityUnderstand z-scores, bell curves, and percentile ranksExplore how assessments protect client well-beingPractice with 5 NCE-style questions and explanationsHear how Tiffany uses real-world context to retain testing conceptsTakeaways:Think like a counselor, not a memorizerEthical test use = accurate, equitable careAssessment is your decision-making flashlightStudy Group Highlight:Tiffany’s story inspired this module. Her insight into struggling with technical content—and learning how to visualize it with clients in mind—makes this one of our most relatable and practical episodes yet.Join us Saturdays at 11 AM Pacific – email [email protected] to attend!

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• Study Group Summary: April 26, 2025

  The Study Group is a space for listeners of this podcast to meet and discuss their NCE prep.This episode isn’t just about prepping for a test—it’s about building community, owning your learning process, and redefining what success looks like in the face of pressure. Whether you’re weeks away or years out, this one’s for you. Let’s study smarter, together.You can request to join the study group by emailing [email protected]

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• Accidental Therapy Reflections on Andor S2: Maya Pei and the Basal Ganglia Brigade

  Cassian Andor didn’t just escape a crash — he landed in the middle of a fractured rebellion, where mistrust, fear, and instinct rule the day.In this episode, we explore the early chaos of the Rebel Alliance through the lens of the human brain: the survival-driven basal ganglia, the emotional currents of the limbic system, and the emerging wisdom of the neocortex.You'll meet the Maya Pei Brigade — not just a group of bickering rebels, but a mirror of your own nervous system under pressure.Guided by a binaural beat soundscape (think: a bacta tank for your brain), we dive into how hope survives through the chaos, how awareness can strengthen fractured alliances within, and why embracing your own shadows is the ultimate act of rebellion.Dedicated to my sister — and to anyone learning how to trust their own fragile, powerful thread of hope.Because the rebellion isn't just out there.It's inside you.

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• Accidental Therapy Reflections on Andor S2: More Than Your Fear

  Episode 1 – More Than Your FearWhen Cassian Andor climbs into a TIE fighter he’s never flown before, you feel your shoulders tense. You know he’s going to survive—this is a prequel, after all. But your body doesn’t care. That dissonance? It’s limbic resonance. And it’s just the beginning.In this premiere episode of Accidental Therapy, Glenn Ostlund breaks down how Andor Season 2 uses cinematic storytelling to activate your nervous system—blurring the lines between what you think and what you feel. You’ll explore:Why your brain can’t always calm your bodyThe evolution of fear through the basal ganglia, limbic system, and neocortexCassian Andor as a model of nervous system masteryThe Force as a metaphor for emotional regulationNightmares, trauma echoes, and felt experience as emotional realityHow to become your own inner rebel alliance through mindfulness and Internal Family Systems (IFS)Whether you're a therapist, a Star Wars fan, or someone simply trying to breathe more deeply in a chaotic world, this episode is for the Nia inside all of us.💥 Subscribe for weekly episodes exploring the intersection of pop culture, psychology, and personal transformation.

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• How Groups Really Work: Mastering Group Dynamics for the NCE

  In this episode of the NCE Study Guide, we dive deep into one of the most testable and misunderstood areas of the NCE: Group Dynamics.Learn to recognize and navigate the five stages of group development—forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning—and how they show up in NCE-style scenarios.We break down real-world examples of group member roles (like the scapegoat and monopolizer), the emotional rhythm of group counseling, and essential terms like universality, cohesion, catharsis, and more.Featuring practical tips and a 5-question mini quiz, this episode will help you think like a counselor, not just a test-taker.Brought to you by Glenn Ostlund and the NCE Study Guide community.📧 Join our free Saturday study group: [email protected]⭐ Like what you hear? Leave us a 5-star review to help more counselors find us!Tags: #NCEprep #GroupCounseling #CounselorExam #MentalHealth #StudyGuide #Tuckman #Yalom #NCEstrategies

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