Andrew A. Helwig Study Guide for the National Counselor Examination and CPCE

This vocabulary flashcard set covers essential terminology, theoretical concepts, and professional standards found in the 9th edition study materials for the National Counselor and CPCE exams.

Development

Systematic changes and continuities in the individual that occur between conception and death.

Tabula rasa

John Locke’s view that children begin as a blank slate, acquiring characteristics through experience.

Genotype

The genetic and inherited makeup of an individual.

Phenotype

The expression of an individual’s genotype through physical and behavioral characteristics.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter important for memory, optimal cognitive functioning, and emotional balance.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter affecting feelings, behavior, and thinking; critical for sleep and anxiety control.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter significant for emotional wellness, motivation, and pleasurable feelings.

GABA

Gamma amino butyric acid; a neurotransmitter that helps reduce anxiety and promotes relaxation.

Law of effect

Edward Thorndike’s law stating that a behavior’s consequences determine the probability of it being repeated.

Fixed ratio

A reinforcement schedule where reinforcement occurs after a fixed number of responses.

Variable ratio

A reinforcement schedule where reinforcement occurs on average after every nth response.

Fixed interval

A reinforcement schedule where reinforcement occurs after a fixed period of time.

Variable interval

A reinforcement schedule where reinforcement occurs on average after every nth minute.

Self-efficacy

Albert Bandura's concept regarding the belief that one can perform a specific behavior or task.

Relational-cultural theory

A developmental theory suggesting that people grow toward relationships throughout their lives.

Propinquity

A concept implying that nearness or proximity influences partner selection.

Prevalence

The percentage of a population that has a specific disorder.

Incidence

The number of new cases of a disorder occurring within a given time frame such as a year.

Etiology

The biological, psychological, and social dimensions involved in what causes a disorder.

Equifinality

The principle that multiple paths can lead to a given outcome.

Comorbidity

The condition of having two or more disorders at the same time.

Ego-dystonic

Symptoms or traits that an individual perceives as unacceptable and undesirable.

Ego-syntonic

Symptoms or traits that an individual perceives as acceptable.

V Codes

Conditions in the DSM-5-TR that are not attributable to a mental disorder but are important to intervention.

Millennials

A generation following Gen X raised to be self-confident, tech-aware, and multiculturally inclusive.

Emic

The belief that you need to understand and help groups from their specific cultural perspectives.

Etic

The belief in a global view of humanity focused on similarities instead of cultural differences.

Acculturation

The extent to which an individual from a minority group adopts the values and beliefs of the dominant culture.

Assimilation

When an individual is absorbed into a dominant group and loses their original values.

Cultural encapsulation

Gilbert Wrenn’s term for substituting model stereotypes for the real world and disregarding cultural variations.

Microaggression

Any comment, action, or gesture experienced as hurtful or inappropriate based on personal characteristics.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one’s own group is the center of everything and sets the standard for quality.

White privilege

Subtle advantages and entitlements experienced by European Americans, often without their awareness.

Cisgender

A term for individuals whose gender identity generally matches that assigned for their physical sex.

Transgender

An umbrella term for those whose gender identity does not match the sex assigned at birth.

Non-binary

A term describing anyone whose gender identity falls outside the binary of woman or man.

Locus of control

J. Rotter’s concept of whether rewards are perceived as contingent on one's own actions or on external chance.

988

The national $3$-digit telephone number authorized to reach the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.

Cognitive dissonance

Leon Festinger’s concept describing a state of tension that arises when a person holds conflicting perceptions.

Paralanguage

Vocal cues including loudness, pauses, silences, and inflections used to communicate.

Androgyny

A state where an individual possesses both male and female characteristics.

Transference

Projections involving feelings or attitudes made by a client onto the therapist.

Countertransference

Projections involving feelings or attitudes made by the therapist onto the patient.

BASIC ID

Arnold Lazarus’s multimodal acronym for Behaviors, Affect, Sensations, Images, Cognition, Interpersonal, and Drugs.

WDEP

Robert Wubbolding’s Reality Therapy system representing Wants, Doing, Evaluation, and Planning.

Neuroplasticity

The brain’s ability to reproduce and reorganize new neurons throughout life.

Circular causality

The systems theory concept that influences and results impact each other in complex, multi-directional ways.

Enmeshment

Blurred family boundaries where members are over-involved in each other’s lives.

Disengagement

Rigid family boundaries that limit individual interaction.

Genogram

A visual representation of family relationships and patterns typically extending through $3$ generations.

Identified patient

The family member identified as having the presenting symptom for which treatment is sought.

Triangulation

A process where a third person is brought in to resolve stress between two fused individuals.

Linking

A group leader skill of identifying and connecting common themes among members.

Blocking

A group leader skill used to stop unproductive behaviors like scapegoating or storytelling.

Universality

The curative group factor where members realize they are not alone in their problems.

Protagonist

The group member whose problem is being addressed during a psychodrama.

RIASEC

John Holland’s types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional.

Planned happenstance

John Krumboltz’s term for taking advantage of unplanned and chance events in career development.

Mean

The arithmetic average of a set of scores, symbolized by $\bar{X}$ or $M$.

Median

The middle score in a distribution of scores.

Mode

The most frequent score in a distribution of scores.

Standard deviation

A measure of variability that describes the dispersion of scores within a distribution.

Reliability

The consistency of a measure or the degree to which it provides similar results on repeated administrations.

Validity

The degree to which a test measures what it purports to measure for a specific purpose.

Ipsative

A method of interpretation where results are compared only within the individual rather than against others.

Type I error

The rejection of the null hypothesis when it is actually correct; also known as alpha error.

Type II error

The failure to reject the null hypothesis when an actual difference exists; also known as beta error.

Formative evaluation

Ongoing process evaluation conducted to measure the effectiveness of a technique or a part of a program.

Summative evaluation

Product evaluation conducted at the end of a cycle to measure overall program effectiveness.

Informed consent

The ethical and legal obligation to review rights, responsibilities, and procedures with clients before counseling begins.

Privileged communication

A legal concept that protects counselors from being forced to reveal what was said in counseling within a court of law.

Duty to warn

The mandate to break confidentiality to warn intended victims of harm based on the Tarasoff case.

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, also known as the Buckley Amendment, protecting educational record privacy.

HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, establishing national standards for protecting health information privacy.

Beneficence

The ethical principle of working for the good of the individual and society.

Nonmaleficence

The ethical principle of avoiding the infliction of harm.

Portability

The ability of a professional counselor licensed in one state to become licensed in another.

Accreditation

Public recognition granted to educational programs that meet specific established standards.

Certification

A voluntary title control process through which recognition is granted to an individual who meets predetermined qualifications.

Licensure

The passing of state laws to control either the practice or the title of an occupation.