In person in Providence & telehealth across Rhode Island
NCMHCE PREP
The NCMHCE Pattern Recognition System
A live NCMHCE exam prep cohort with Donna Handy, LMHC. You're already a counselor. This test just isn't testing counseling. Here's how to pass it anyway.
At a glance
The NCMHCE Pattern Recognition System
A 6-week live NCMHCE cohort starting January 9, 2027, with Donna Handy, LMHC (Rhode Island).
• Who it's for: Counselors preparing for a first attempt or a retake
• Starts: Saturday, January 9, 2027 · 11 AM ET
• Length: 6 live Saturdays, plus quizzes, handouts, a video library, a community, and at least one 30-minute 1:1 tutoring session
• Price: $500 · or 4 interest-free PayPal Pay in 4 payments of about $125
• Launch pricing, through January 9 only: 1:1 tutoring $50 · small groups $25 per person. Joining the 6-week cohort? What you spent on tutoring comes off your $500.
• Taught by: Donna Handy, LMHC · RI license MHC02039 (publicly verifiable)
You're already a counselor. This test just isn't testing counseling. Here's how to pass it anyway.
Failed the NCMHCE? You don't need to study harder. You need to study differently.
If you failed the NCMHCE, or you're scared you will, more practice exams probably aren't the answer. The NCMHCE asks you to think like it's your first day of practicum across every population at once, and that isn't how anyone actually practices. The NCMHCE Pattern Recognition System teaches you to see what each case is really testing, remember where you are in the case, and pick the best next step instead of a reasonable one. It works for first-time test takers and for NCMHCE retakes.
Who I am
I'm Donna Handy, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Rhode Island with a master's in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. I see clients through my private practice, Second Breath Counseling.
As an undergrad I was a teaching assistant for about three years, including biopsychology. My study sessions raised the class average by more than three points. Teaching people how to learn is something I've been doing for a long time.
My result
Days before my exam, I failed a practice test. Then I used the method I now teach, and I passed the NCMHCE on my first try, 17 points above the cut score. I got 15 out of 16 treatment-planning questions right. Three friends who used my materials also passed on their first attempt.
What the NCMHCE Pattern Recognition System teaches
You already have the knowledge. You've been practicing for two years or more. The NCMHCE asks you to think like it's your first day of practicum across every population at once, and that isn't how anyone actually practices.
So I don't reteach counseling. I teach the small pivots that change your score:
• A five-minute brain dump of your own mix-ups before case one
• A time bank so you never run out of clock
• "Remember where you are in the case": would you do that right now?
• Pattern recognition through chunking, since working memory only holds a few things at once
• Retrieval practice: recalling information, not rereading it, because recall is what holds up under pressure
Failed the NCMHCE? What to do differently
Failing the NCMHCE usually isn't a knowledge problem. It's a format and timing problem. Here's what to change before you retake:
1. Brain dump. Before case one, write down your own mix-ups so they stop competing for space.
2. Time bank. Track minutes per case so you never run out of clock.
3. Remember where you are in the case. Before you pick an answer, ask: would I do that right now with this client?
4. Pattern recognition. Chunk what you're seeing. Working memory only holds a few things at once.
5. Retrieval practice. Recall under timed conditions instead of rereading notes. Recall is what holds up under pressure.
The January 9, 2027 live cohort of The NCMHCE Pattern Recognition System is built for retakes as well as first attempts. Six Saturdays at
11 AM ET, $500, with PayPal Pay in 4 available.
"I met Donna later in my journey, and she was truly God sent! After being out of school for years, I committed to 12 weeks of studying, about 15 hours a week. My biggest advice is to treat studying like a job and make it nonnegotiable!
The brain dump, practice questions, and timed exams helped me most, especially during my final two weeks. Donna's guidance on timing and her genuine desire to see her students succeed made a huge difference. Trust the process, listen to Donna, and be willing to put in the work!"
— AG
Live NCMHCE Study Cohort: January 2027
Enroll in the January Cohort – $500
A 6-week live class, Saturdays at 11 AM ET, starting January 9, 2027. Each week includes:
• A live teaching session
• Weekly class quizzes to practice
• Charts and handouts you can keep
Anytime, you also get:
• A video library to look up disorders, modalities, or anything you're struggling to understand
• A community where you can ask questions
Plus at least one 30-minute one-on-one tutoring session near the end of the program, so you can ask questions or go over anything you're struggling with.
Pay in full or in 4 interest-free payments with PayPal Pay in 4.
There are no refunds, including if you don't pass. No one can promise a passing score, and I won't. If you don't pass, you can take the full class again one time for free, within 6 months of your class ending. Just send me your score report showing you didn't pass.
Verify my license
Anyone can look me up on Rhode Island's public license search. Search "Handy" under Mental Health Counselor.
Rhode Island License: Mental Health Counselor MHC02039, expires 7/1/2028.