CCMHC case studies

CCMHC · Put your knowledge to work in context.

The Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) is a national specialty certification offered through NBCC. According to NBCC, CCMHCs "offer the highest standards of practice in clinical mental health counseling because they have met stringent education, examination, supervision, experience, and ethical requirements." The credential is aimed at clinical mental health counselors who want national recognition of advanced clinical preparation beyond entry-level licensure, and who are prepared to document graduate education, supervised clinical experience, ethical standing, and examination performance. The CCMHC case studies are 5 cases and about 5,136 words.

Four-Day 'Wired' Episodes: Bipolar II, ADHD, or Both?

Marcus, 26, self-refers through an employee assistance program that authorizes six sessions. He reports two episodes last spring, each lasting about four days, when he slept three hours a night, felt "wired but great," launched two online businesses, and talked so quickly that his roommate commented.

967 words, about 5 min 2

A 16-Year-Old, a Ten-Day Plan, and a Mother Who Wants Details

Jasmine, 16, was brought to counseling by her mother for "school anxiety." Her mother consented to treatment and has twice asked what Jasmine talks about; her father is not involved in daily life. At the fourth session Jasmine discloses cutting her left forearm three times in the past month and says she has hidden 20 of her mother's sleeping pills.

1,044 words, about 5 min 3

Eight Sessions, Daily Drinking, and PTSD: Sequencing Integrated Care

Damon, 38, is a National Guard veteran of two deployments who self-refers after a supervisor's warning about absenteeism. His PCL-5 score is 52, with nightmares, avoidance of crowded stores, and hypervigilance when driving.

1,032 words, about 5 min 4

The Client Moved: Telehealth, Licensure, and a Request for a Letter

Renee, 34, has had nine weekly video sessions for panic disorder. Her PDSS score has fallen from 18 to 9 and she has had no panic attacks in three weeks.

1,055 words, about 5 min 5

A Nine-Year-Old, a School That Has Already Diagnosed Him

Diego, 9, a third grader, is referred by his school's student support team for "inattention and disruptive behavior." His mother, who speaks mostly Spanish and has requested an interpreter, says teachers report he "can't sit still" and is "falling behind in reading." The family moved twice in the past year, including six weeks in a shelter after an eviction, and his father is incarcerated. Diego sleeps about six hours, wakes at small sounds, and repeatedly asks whether his mother will come back whenever she leaves the house.

1,038 words, about 5 min