CACREP core area 9 of 9
Areas of Clinical Focus for the NCE
26 topics, each with a free study summary, a cheat sheet, and a practice question with rationales. New to this area? Start with the Areas of clinical focus for the NCE overview.
Mood & Anxiety Presentations
- Depressive disordersMDD essentials, persistent depressive disorder, bereavement distinctionHigh-yield
- Bipolar spectrummanic vs. hypomanic episodes; bipolar I, II, cyclothymiaHigh-yield
- Generalized anxiety disorderworry pattern, somatic features, distinguishing from normal stressHigh-yield
- Panic disorder & agoraphobiapanic attack features, anticipatory anxiety, avoidanceFrequently tested
- Specific & social phobiasdistinguishing features, common presentations
- Obsessive-compulsive & related disordersobsessions vs. compulsions; body dysmorphia, hoarding overviewFrequently tested
- PTSD & acute stresscriteria clusters, acute vs. post-traumatic timelinesHigh-yield
- Adjustment disordersstressor-linked presentation, distinguishing from other diagnosesFrequently tested
Substance Use & Addictive Behaviors
Other Clinical Presentations
- Psychotic spectrumpositive/negative symptoms, schizophrenia course basicsFrequently tested
- Personality disorder clustersclusters A/B/C: distinguishing among prominent exemplarsFrequently tested
- Eating disordersanorexia, bulimia, binge-eating: distinguishing features, medical seriousnessFrequently tested
- ADHD across the lifespanpresentations, adult manifestations
- Autism spectrum featuresrecognition-level features across ages
- Sleep, somatic & dissociative overviewrecognition-level features of each family
- Self-harm & non-suicidal self-injuryfunctions, assessment, response principlesFrequently tested
Relational & Situational Concerns
- Intimate partner violencecycle of violence, power/control dynamics, safety planningFrequently tested
- Child & adolescent clinical concernspresentation differences, systemic involvement
- Chronic illness & health adjustmentbiopsychosocial adjustment counseling
- Prolonged grief & grief counselingrecognition, approaches to grief work
Treatment Planning & Care Coordination
- Treatment plan constructionproblem/goal/objective/intervention structure, SMART goalsHigh-yield
- Level-of-care & referral decisionsoutpatient-to-inpatient continuum, stepped careFrequently tested
- Psychopharmacology basics for counselorsmajor medication classes, non-prescribing role, collaborationFrequently tested
- Clinical documentationSOAP/DAP note formats, medical-necessity language
Study this area with practice that adapts
Practice questions, flashcards, and a spaced-review queue for every topic, plus timed NCE practice exams. Start with a free topic.