News-Inspired Case Studies is a new series from Glenn Ostlund and the NCE StudyGuide Podcast.
Each episode begins with a current news story and unfolds like a counseling case study — exploring how real-world events ripple through the human nervous system, emotions, and behavior.
Created for both NCE preparation and ongoing professional development, this series bridges counseling theory, neuroscience, and culture to show how the world outside our therapy rooms shapes what happens inside them.
These episodes are also part of Glenn’s own continuing education — what he calls his AI puppet show — where tools like ChatGPT and Notebook LM help research, organize, and synthesize ideas into layered, soul-centered learning experiences.
Whether you’re studying for the National Counselor Exam or seeking to deepen your clinical understanding, News-Inspired Case Study offers a timely, integrative, and thought-provoking way to stay grounded, informed, and inspired.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
News-Inspired Case Studies is a new series from Glenn Ostlund and the NCE StudyGuide Podcast.
Each episode begins with a current news story and unfolds like a counseling case study — exploring how real-world events ripple through the human nervous system, emotions, and behavior.
Created for both NCE preparation and ongoing professional development, this series bridges counseling theory, neuroscience, and culture to show how the world outside our therapy rooms shapes what happens inside them.
These episodes are also part of Glenn’s own continuing education — what he calls his AI puppet show — where tools like ChatGPT and Notebook LM help research, organize, and synthesize ideas into layered, soul-centered learning experiences.
Whether you’re studying for the National Counselor Exam or seeking to deepen your clinical understanding, News-Inspired Case Study offers a timely, integrative, and thought-provoking way to stay grounded, informed, and inspired.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Resurrected listener essays from the Infants on Thrones podcast being used as case studies for NCE prep.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Resurrected listener essays from the Infants on Thrones podcast being used as case studies for NCE prep.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Resurrected listener essays from the Infants on Thrones podcast being used as case studies for NCE prep.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Resurrected listener essays from the Infants on Thrones podcast being used as case studies for NCE prep.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
This 28-day meditation series is now available on Patreon. It is designed to prepare you for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) in a way that is both effective and deeply calming. Each session blends counseling content review with gentle, imagery-based meditation, supported by theta-state audio techniques that promote memory retention, focus, and relaxation.
Across the modules, you’ll journey through the full scope of NCE material: ethics, confidentiality, supervision, multicultural competence, and technology in counseling; intake, assessment, diagnosis, and clinical documentation; major mental health disorders, trauma, addiction, special populations, and systemic influences; treatment planning, theoretical models, cultural considerations, and collaboration; and the core of practice—counseling skills, microskills, the therapeutic process, and counselor self-development.
Each meditation helps anchor knowledge while reducing anxiety, transforming study into a practice of presence and resilience. Here, learning is not rushed—it is integrated, with warmth, safety, and compassion guiding every step.
Join the community → patreon.com/NCEStudyGuide
🎧 Like what you hear?
➡️ Give the show a 5-star rating—it really helps others find these resources.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
This 28-day meditation series is now available on Patreon. It is designed to prepare you for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) in a way that is both effective and deeply calming. Each session blends counseling content review with gentle, imagery-based meditation, supported by theta-state audio techniques that promote memory retention, focus, and relaxation.
Across the modules, you’ll journey through the full scope of NCE material: ethics, confidentiality, supervision, multicultural competence, and technology in counseling; intake, assessment, diagnosis, and clinical documentation; major mental health disorders, trauma, addiction, special populations, and systemic influences; treatment planning, theoretical models, cultural considerations, and collaboration; and the core of practice—counseling skills, microskills, the therapeutic process, and counselor self-development.
Each meditation helps anchor knowledge while reducing anxiety, transforming study into a practice of presence and resilience. Here, learning is not rushed—it is integrated, with warmth, safety, and compassion guiding every step.
Join the community → patreon.com/NCEStudyGuide
🎧 Like what you hear?
➡️ Give the show a 5-star rating—it really helps others find these resources.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
The Full Library Is Live + New Study Group Details!
The NCE Study Guide Patreon Library—91 audio-based study modules now fully organized by CACREP content areas and exam domains.
Study Group is held every Tuesday at 5 PM Pacific / 8 PM Eastern. If you're serious about passing the NCE and want community-based support, this is for you.
Join the community → patreon.com/NCEStudyGuide
🎧 Like what you hear?
➡️ Give the show a 5-star rating—it really helps others find these resources.
The Full Library Is Live + New Study Group Details!
In this episode, Glenn announces the long-awaited completion of the NCE Study Guide Patreon Library—91 audio-based study modules now fully organized by CACREP content areas and exam domains.
You’ll learn:
Beginning Tuesday, June 24th at 5 PM Pacific / 8 PM Eastern, the live Zoom-based study group will meet weekly. If you're serious about passing the NCE and want community-based support, this is for you.
🎧 Glenn also shares a full sample module from the library—Module 43: History and Philosophy of Counseling—so you can hear what to expect.
Join the community → patreon.com/NCEStudyGuide
🎧 Like what you hear?
➡️ Give the show a 5-star rating—it really helps others find these resources.
Carl Jung – Archetypes, Shadow Work, and Counseling Applications
Episode Description:
In this episode of the NCE Study Guide, we take a deep dive into the foundational ideas of Carl Jung—his theories, legacy, and practical relevance for the National Counselor Examination. This module was inspired by Lily, a forward-thinking member of our Saturday study group who requested a focused exploration of Jungian psychology.
You’ll learn how concepts like the collective unconscious, archetypes, the Shadow, and individuation can show up on the NCE—not just in theory questions, but embedded in case vignettes that require symbolic, spiritual, or depth-oriented interpretation. We also explore Jung’s influence on transpersonal counseling, multicultural sensitivity, and personality assessments like the MBTI.
This resource is part of a growing, collaborative study effort. If you’d like to join the weekly Zoom group (Saturdays at 11 a.m. PT), suggest a topic, or ask a question, send an email to ncestudyguide@gmail.com. And if you find this podcast helpful, please consider leaving a 5-star rating—it helps others find us!
At the beginning of this episode, you’ll also hear the voice of Carl Jung himself with a quote that invites self-reflection and curiosity—a perfect mindset for both the exam and the counseling profession.
Let’s get started.
Case Study Module 10: Maya, the Young Girl with Big Worries
This case study module presents a fictional scenario designed to prepare you for the NCE by examining key clinical competencies: ethical considerations, appropriate diagnoses, applicable modalities and interventions, and core exam content areas. Each module ends with an NCE-style quiz to reinforce your understanding and retention.
Case Overview:
Maya, an 8-year-old girl, presents with separation anxiety and school refusal following a recent move. This case includes child-specific assessment tools, play therapy, and CBT for kids, along with a family systems approach to support consistent parenting strategies and emotional safety in treatment planning.
Case Study Module 9: Carlos, the Man with Many Masks
This case study module presents a fictional scenario designed to prepare you for the NCE by examining key clinical competencies: ethical considerations, appropriate diagnoses, applicable modalities and interventions, and core exam content areas. Each module ends with an NCE-style quiz to reinforce your understanding and retention.
Case Overview:
Carlos, a 38-year-old Latino male, is court-mandated to attend a domestic violence offender group. This case explores legal-ethical practice, group norms, and behavior change through the Duluth Model, CBT, and Motivational Interviewing. You'll examine how to support accountability in mandated clients while practicing cultural humility.
Case Study Module 8: Linda, the Grieving Widow
This case study module presents a fictional scenario designed to prepare you for the NCE by examining key clinical competencies: ethical considerations, appropriate diagnoses, applicable modalities and interventions, and core exam content areas. Each module ends with an NCE-style quiz to reinforce your understanding and retention.
Case Overview:
Linda, a 68-year-old woman, struggles with prolonged grief after losing her husband. This case highlights Worden’s Tasks of Mourning, Gestalt Therapy, and Narrative work in supporting older adults. You'll also explore assessment of complicated grief, somatic expression, and ethical care with aging clients.
Case Study Module 007: Devon, the College Student in Crisis
This case study module presents a fictional scenario designed to prepare you for the NCE by examining key clinical competencies: ethical considerations, appropriate diagnoses, applicable modalities and interventions, and core exam content areas. Each module ends with an NCE-style quiz to reinforce your understanding and retention.
Case Overview:
Devon, a 19-year-old non-binary student, presents with depression, academic stress, and identity confusion. This case explores Affirmative Therapy, Person-Centered, and Narrative approaches while integrating suicide risk assessment, multicultural ethics, and LGBTQIA+ inclusive practice in a college setting.
Case Study Module : Brian, the Career Crosser
This case study module presents a fictional scenario designed to prepare you for the NCE by examining key clinical competencies: ethical considerations, appropriate diagnoses, applicable modalities and interventions, and core exam content areas. Each module ends with an NCE-style quiz to reinforce your understanding and retention.
Case Overview:
Brian, a 45-year-old man, experiences depression and loss of purpose after being laid off. This midlife case focuses on career counseling integration, adult developmental transitions, and identity reconstruction using Career Construction Theory, CBT, and Existential Therapy. Ethical considerations include dual-focus care, scope, and career assessment tool interpretation.
This case study module presents a fictional scenario designed to prepare you for the NCE by examining key clinical competencies: ethical considerations, appropriate diagnoses, applicable modalities and interventions, and core exam content areas. Each module ends with an NCE-style quiz to reinforce your understanding and retention.
Case Overview:
Elena, a 24-year-old Latina woman, seeks therapy after surviving sexual assault. This trauma-informed case explores PTSD diagnosis, cultural stigma, and safety-centered care using EMDR, TF-CBT, and multicultural counseling practices. Ethical concerns include pacing, informed consent, and culturally responsive practice for survivors of interpersonal violence.
Case Study Module 4: Sofia and Jake, the Anxious Couple
This case study module presents a fictional scenario designed to prepare you for the NCE by examining key clinical competencies: ethical considerations, appropriate diagnoses, applicable modalities and interventions, and core exam content areas. Each module ends with an NCE-style quiz to reinforce your understanding and retention.
Case Overview:
Sofia and Jake, an engaged couple in their early 30s, present with emotional distance and communication breakdown. Through Emotionally Focused Therapy, the Gottman Method, and Structural Family Therapy, this case explores attachment wounds, relational anxiety, and therapist neutrality. Learn to navigate dual alliance ethics, relational dynamics, and psychoeducational tools for couples.
