Intake Process and Initial Contact - A Focused Case Study Approach

Welcome to the first module in Collection 1.2 of the NCE Study Guide Library: Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis. In this episode, we follow new counselor Maya as she navigates her very first client intake—from the initial hello to building rapport, conducting a Mental Status Exam, and making sense of presenting problems through structured interviews and keen behavioral observations.

You’ll gain practical insight into essential concepts like intake interviews, the difference between chief complaint and presenting problem, how to develop a case conceptualization, and the subtle art of balancing structure with empathy. This foundational material not only prepares you for the NCE exam—it also helps shape your clinical intuition as a future counselor.

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