9 Content Areas
Nine Approved Content Areas for NCC Recertification
Counseling Theory/Practice and the Helping Relationship
Approved topics in the area include: historic and well-established contemporary counseling theories, principles and techniques of counseling and their application to professional settings; information on the use of the current edition of the DSM; diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders; the mind-body connection and its applications in the counseling setting; psychopharmacology and the role and effect of psychotropic medications in mental health; burn-out prevention designed for helping professionals; counselor self-understanding designed for mental health professionals; crisis/disaster counseling; mediation or coaching training designed for mental health professionals.
Human Growth and Development
Approved topics in this area include: the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels; normal and abnormal human behavior; personality theory; life-span theory; learning theory; and end-of life issues.
Social and Cultural Foundations
Approved topics in this area include: societal changes and trends; human roles; societal subgroups; social mores and interaction patterns; multicultural and pluralistic trends; social or cultural issues affecting individuals, couples and families; differing lifestyles; major societal concerns, including violence, poverty, terrorism, stress, person abuse, substance abuse, religious/spiritual issues, and discrimination; and methods for alleviating such concerns.
Group Dynamics, Processing and Counseling
Approved topics in this area include: group development, dynamics and counseling theories; group counseling leadership styles; basic and advanced group counseling methods and skills; other group counseling approaches; theories of family counseling; family dynamics and roles of family members; and addictions group counseling.
Career Development and Counseling
Approved topics in this area include: career developmental theories; occupational and educational information sources and systems; career and leisure counseling, guidance and education; lifestyle, career and retirement decision-making; career development program planning, resources and effectiveness evaluation; worker behavior and adjustment; and workplace issues affecting worker performance and behavior.
Assessment
Approved topics in this area include: group and individual educational and psychometric theories, and approaches to appraisal; data and information gathering methods; psychometric statistics; factors influencing appraisals; administering appraisal instruments and interpreting appraisal results in helping processes; and, legal issues affecting counselor rights to administer and interpret tests and inventories that assess psychopathology, abilities, interests, and career options.
Research and Program Evaluation
Approved topics in this area include: types of academic and professional research; basic statistics; research-report development; research implementation; counseling program evaluation; needs assessment in the counseling setting; publication of counseling research information; and, ethical and legal considerations in counseling research.
Counselor Professional Identity and Practice Issues
Approved topics in this area include: philosophic bases of helping processes; professional roles and functions; professional goals and objectives; professional organizations and associations; professional history and trends; ethical and legal standards; professional preparation standards; professional credentialing in mental health; federal and state laws and regulations affecting counselors; practice management issues for mental health professionals; the counselor as professional consultant; administration and management of counseling programs; clinical supervision of mental health professionals.
Multiple Sessions/Conferences
Includes total clock hours earned through multiple sessions which earned several NBCC approved content areas. Examples (under this content area) would include ACA National Conferences and a series of in-service sessions covering many topics.