SWK TEST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS ALL CORRECT
A social worker is conducting an assessment with a client. The client talks about having
superhuman powers, stating he knows when something bad is going to happen to
people and is able to intervene to prevent it from happening. Which is the most likely
explanation for the client's symptoms?
The client has narcissistic personality disorder.
The client is using mood-altering substances that are causing delusions and
hallucinations.
The client is in a manic phase of bipolar disorder.
The client has an anxiety disorder that is causing him to think bad things are going to
happen to others. - Answer- The client is in a manic phase of bipolar disorder.
The client's delusional belief that he has superhuman powers that enable him to rescue
people is indicative of mania.
When people are in a manic phase of bipolar disorder, they may experience grandiose
delusions of superhuman powers.
A social worker is meeting with a 22-year-old female who has a mild intellectual
disability. The client resides with her parents but is her own guardian. The social worker
describes the potential risks and benefits of attending a day program for adults with
developmental disabilities. The social worker is uncertain if the client really understands.
What should the social worker do? - Answer- When a client is struggling to understand
informed consent, a social worker should take reasonable efforts to discuss the
potential risks and benefits with a third party who has the client's best interests in mind.
Request permission to talk to her parents and include them in making the decision
about whether to attend or not.
It is appropriate to ask for the client's permission to talk to her parents. If she is
agreeable, the social worker can explain the risks and benefits and the parents can
assist the client in making the decision.
As a social worker is trying to establish treatment goals with a client, the client declares
she just wants someone to vent to on a weekly basis. She says she has a lot of stress
in her life and wants to blow off steam about the problems she has with her husband
and three children. How should the social worker respond? - Answer- Discuss linking
the client to other supports, such as free community resources, so she can have people
to vent to while utilizing the social worker's services to learn new skills.
It is important to educate the client on possible treatment plan goals and to offer ways to
link the client to other outlets if the client simply wants to vent.
,An outpatient social worker is working with a 22-year-old college student. The college
student reports that she recently discovered she is pregnant. She is fearful of how her
family may react and is afraid that a baby will make it impossible to continue college.
She is considering an abortion. The social worker does not approve of abortion. How
should the social worker respond? - Answer- The social worker should support the
client's decision to do whatever she feels is best despite the social worker's own values.
Supporting the client's right to self-determination is correct, even when there are
differences in values.
A mother is seeking assistance from the school social worker because she is concerned
about her seven-year-old son. She states that he has been diagnosed with ADHD and
he does not currently take any medication; she prefers to manage her son's symptoms
by using behavior modification techniques. She states that her son's teacher takes away
his recess because he does not get his work done during class time. She states that he
is easily distracted during class and it takes him longer than others to complete his
assignments. She has talked to the teacher about her concerns and states that nothing
has changed. She is requesting assistance from the social worker on how to help her
son. What should the social worker do?
Recommend that she consider medication as an option for her son as his symptoms are
clearly impairing his school work.
Recommend the child have psychological testing to see if he has any other learning
disabi - Answer- Children with ADHD often struggle to get their work done on time due
to their difficulties with attention and concentration. Teachers can often benefit from
consultation with a social worker to learn strategies that can help motivate children and
keep them on task.
Consult with the teacher and recommend that he be allowed a daily recess as a way to
help manage his ADHD symptoms.
It can be helpful to consult with the teacher and recommend that the child receive his
recess privileges even if his work is not complete. Children with ADHD require outlets to
release their energy and this can help him to be more focused.
A mother takes her ten-year-old son to see a social worker in a community mental
health center. The mother states that she and the child's father are divorced and he
visits with his father on the weekends. She states that there is an ongoing custody battle
and the child dislikes visiting with his father every weekend. The child discloses to the
social worker that his father smokes cigarettes inside the house, pays little attention to
him, and says bad things about his mother. The mother states she wants the social
worker to testify in an upcoming custody hearing. How should the social worker
respond? - Answer- Explain to the mother that treatment is about helping her son cope
with the distress, not gathering evidence against his father, and explain how testimony
could ruin the therapeutic relationship.
A social worker has been working with a ten-year-old child for several months and is
concerned that he is not being parented well. The social worker finds herself thinking
about this client often and worrying about him. She has even dreamed about him at
, times and finds herself wishing that she could "just take him home." What should the
social worker do?
Talk to the client about how much she worries about him.
Transfer the client to another social worker.
Continue working with the client but schedule appointments less often to prevent herself
from becoming overwhelmed by his situation.
Seek clinical supervision to discuss the difficulties she is experiencing. - Answer- Seek
clinical supervision to discuss the difficulties she is experiencing.
It is important to seek supervision to discuss options and get help with the feelings the
client is evoking.
A social worker is working with a 20-year-old Latina. The woman lives at home with her
parents and younger siblings. As they discuss resources to help increase her
community involvement, the social worker suggests she take a class at a local
community college. The client states that she thinks she would be interested but will
need to ask her father first. How should the social worker respond?
The NASW is clear that social workers need to be culturally competent. A social worker
should not pass judgment on clients or try to change their values but should instead
respect cultural differences. It is not uncommon in Latino culture for women to consult
with the men in the family before making big decisions. - Answer- Agree with the client
about discussing this with her father and assure her they can continue talking about this
option at a future session, as this is likely a cultural issue.
It is appropriate to encourage the client to follow through with talking to her father as this
is likely an important part of her cultural beliefs.
A family is meeting with a social worker to discuss a baby that they are hoping to adopt.
The baby's birth mother drank heavily throughout her pregnancy. What information
should the social worker provide the family about complications the baby may face?
The baby may experience some initial developmental delays but is likely to be able to
catch up to same age peers with appropriate early intervention.
The baby is at risk of having a seizure disorder.
The baby will have an increased risk of developing attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder.
The baby is likely to face some cognitive deficits, motor skill problems, and behavioral
issues. - Answer- Fetal alcohol syndrome results from mothers consuming alcohol
during pregnancy. FAS can cause a variety of problems for children including mental
retardation, heart problems, behavioral issues, and developmental delays.
The baby is likely to face some cognitive deficits, motor skill problems, and behavioral
issues.
These are realistic problems that the baby is likely to face.
A 60-year-old divorced man is seeking services for depression. He reports that he lacks
interest in activities, feels isolated, and spends a lot of time sleeping. He states that
since retiring six months ago, he has not had the energy to do a lot of the projects he
planned to work on after retirement. How should the social worker intervene?
Encourage him to begin dating in order to decrease his social isolation.
ANSWERS ALL CORRECT
A social worker is conducting an assessment with a client. The client talks about having
superhuman powers, stating he knows when something bad is going to happen to
people and is able to intervene to prevent it from happening. Which is the most likely
explanation for the client's symptoms?
The client has narcissistic personality disorder.
The client is using mood-altering substances that are causing delusions and
hallucinations.
The client is in a manic phase of bipolar disorder.
The client has an anxiety disorder that is causing him to think bad things are going to
happen to others. - Answer- The client is in a manic phase of bipolar disorder.
The client's delusional belief that he has superhuman powers that enable him to rescue
people is indicative of mania.
When people are in a manic phase of bipolar disorder, they may experience grandiose
delusions of superhuman powers.
A social worker is meeting with a 22-year-old female who has a mild intellectual
disability. The client resides with her parents but is her own guardian. The social worker
describes the potential risks and benefits of attending a day program for adults with
developmental disabilities. The social worker is uncertain if the client really understands.
What should the social worker do? - Answer- When a client is struggling to understand
informed consent, a social worker should take reasonable efforts to discuss the
potential risks and benefits with a third party who has the client's best interests in mind.
Request permission to talk to her parents and include them in making the decision
about whether to attend or not.
It is appropriate to ask for the client's permission to talk to her parents. If she is
agreeable, the social worker can explain the risks and benefits and the parents can
assist the client in making the decision.
As a social worker is trying to establish treatment goals with a client, the client declares
she just wants someone to vent to on a weekly basis. She says she has a lot of stress
in her life and wants to blow off steam about the problems she has with her husband
and three children. How should the social worker respond? - Answer- Discuss linking
the client to other supports, such as free community resources, so she can have people
to vent to while utilizing the social worker's services to learn new skills.
It is important to educate the client on possible treatment plan goals and to offer ways to
link the client to other outlets if the client simply wants to vent.
,An outpatient social worker is working with a 22-year-old college student. The college
student reports that she recently discovered she is pregnant. She is fearful of how her
family may react and is afraid that a baby will make it impossible to continue college.
She is considering an abortion. The social worker does not approve of abortion. How
should the social worker respond? - Answer- The social worker should support the
client's decision to do whatever she feels is best despite the social worker's own values.
Supporting the client's right to self-determination is correct, even when there are
differences in values.
A mother is seeking assistance from the school social worker because she is concerned
about her seven-year-old son. She states that he has been diagnosed with ADHD and
he does not currently take any medication; she prefers to manage her son's symptoms
by using behavior modification techniques. She states that her son's teacher takes away
his recess because he does not get his work done during class time. She states that he
is easily distracted during class and it takes him longer than others to complete his
assignments. She has talked to the teacher about her concerns and states that nothing
has changed. She is requesting assistance from the social worker on how to help her
son. What should the social worker do?
Recommend that she consider medication as an option for her son as his symptoms are
clearly impairing his school work.
Recommend the child have psychological testing to see if he has any other learning
disabi - Answer- Children with ADHD often struggle to get their work done on time due
to their difficulties with attention and concentration. Teachers can often benefit from
consultation with a social worker to learn strategies that can help motivate children and
keep them on task.
Consult with the teacher and recommend that he be allowed a daily recess as a way to
help manage his ADHD symptoms.
It can be helpful to consult with the teacher and recommend that the child receive his
recess privileges even if his work is not complete. Children with ADHD require outlets to
release their energy and this can help him to be more focused.
A mother takes her ten-year-old son to see a social worker in a community mental
health center. The mother states that she and the child's father are divorced and he
visits with his father on the weekends. She states that there is an ongoing custody battle
and the child dislikes visiting with his father every weekend. The child discloses to the
social worker that his father smokes cigarettes inside the house, pays little attention to
him, and says bad things about his mother. The mother states she wants the social
worker to testify in an upcoming custody hearing. How should the social worker
respond? - Answer- Explain to the mother that treatment is about helping her son cope
with the distress, not gathering evidence against his father, and explain how testimony
could ruin the therapeutic relationship.
A social worker has been working with a ten-year-old child for several months and is
concerned that he is not being parented well. The social worker finds herself thinking
about this client often and worrying about him. She has even dreamed about him at
, times and finds herself wishing that she could "just take him home." What should the
social worker do?
Talk to the client about how much she worries about him.
Transfer the client to another social worker.
Continue working with the client but schedule appointments less often to prevent herself
from becoming overwhelmed by his situation.
Seek clinical supervision to discuss the difficulties she is experiencing. - Answer- Seek
clinical supervision to discuss the difficulties she is experiencing.
It is important to seek supervision to discuss options and get help with the feelings the
client is evoking.
A social worker is working with a 20-year-old Latina. The woman lives at home with her
parents and younger siblings. As they discuss resources to help increase her
community involvement, the social worker suggests she take a class at a local
community college. The client states that she thinks she would be interested but will
need to ask her father first. How should the social worker respond?
The NASW is clear that social workers need to be culturally competent. A social worker
should not pass judgment on clients or try to change their values but should instead
respect cultural differences. It is not uncommon in Latino culture for women to consult
with the men in the family before making big decisions. - Answer- Agree with the client
about discussing this with her father and assure her they can continue talking about this
option at a future session, as this is likely a cultural issue.
It is appropriate to encourage the client to follow through with talking to her father as this
is likely an important part of her cultural beliefs.
A family is meeting with a social worker to discuss a baby that they are hoping to adopt.
The baby's birth mother drank heavily throughout her pregnancy. What information
should the social worker provide the family about complications the baby may face?
The baby may experience some initial developmental delays but is likely to be able to
catch up to same age peers with appropriate early intervention.
The baby is at risk of having a seizure disorder.
The baby will have an increased risk of developing attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder.
The baby is likely to face some cognitive deficits, motor skill problems, and behavioral
issues. - Answer- Fetal alcohol syndrome results from mothers consuming alcohol
during pregnancy. FAS can cause a variety of problems for children including mental
retardation, heart problems, behavioral issues, and developmental delays.
The baby is likely to face some cognitive deficits, motor skill problems, and behavioral
issues.
These are realistic problems that the baby is likely to face.
A 60-year-old divorced man is seeking services for depression. He reports that he lacks
interest in activities, feels isolated, and spends a lot of time sleeping. He states that
since retiring six months ago, he has not had the energy to do a lot of the projects he
planned to work on after retirement. How should the social worker intervene?
Encourage him to begin dating in order to decrease his social isolation.
