LMSW Licensing Exam – Licensed Master Social Worker Study Guide
(Comprehensive Review and Exam Preparation Material)
B. Potential for suicidal behavior
Rationale: FIRST, the social worker would act to determine the client's safety. The only option
that addresses the client's safety is (Key B.) Options a, C, & D may be appropriate later, once the
safety of the client has been addressed. - correct answer ✔✔1) A 35-year-old individual has
recently experienced the death of a parent and the loss of a job and has increased consumption
of alcohol. Which of the following areas should be assessed FIRST by the social worker?
A. Financial resource availability
B. Potential for suicidal behavior
C. Need for grief counseling
D. Extent of substance abuse
C. Professional Boundaries
Rationale: This requires knowledge of the definition of professional boundaries (key C). Since
the question asks for the BEST response, the secondary responsibilities in the other options are
not correct. - correct answer ✔✔2) The ability to keep personal feelings and needs separate
from work relationships BEST represents which social work ethical standard?
A. Professional discretion
B. Responsibility to the profession
C. Professional Boundaries
D. Responsibility to colleagues
,A. Consult with an agency supervisor about the case
Rationale: Consulting with a supervisor (key A) is the BEST response because it assists in helping
to understand and address the situation. Options (B) & (D) are clearly unethical. Transferring the
client (C) may be done later, but it is unclear if this action is required at this point and there is
not enough information in the stem to conclude this. - correct answer ✔✔3. A social worker has
been treating a client for two months in an agency setting and is experiencing intense sexual
attraction toward the client. The social worker's BEST response is to:
A. Consult with an agency supervisor about the case
B. Reveal the attraction to the client
C. Transfer the client to another agency worker
D. Work toward ending the client's services at the agency
C. Provide staff training about culturally competent social work practice. - correct answer ✔✔4.
In a routine review of case records at a mental health center, a social worker supervisor
discovers that case managers routinely after all Native American/First Nations clients to either
Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon. In discussing this practice with the case managers, the
supervisor learns that the referrals are made without obtaining information about the clients'
use or abuse of substances. How can the supervisor effectively address the practice?
A. Reprimand case managers about providing client services based on stereotyping
B. Educate the staff about services provided by Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon
C. Provide staff training in culturally competent social work practice.
D. Allow no referrals to be made without approval from the supervisor
C. Obtain more information about the client's use of alcohol
Rationale: While options A, B & D may all be appropriate actions for the social worker to take,
none would be the first. As a part of the assessment process, the social worker needs to FIRST
,further explore the issue of alcohol use (key C). - correct answer ✔✔5. At an intake session, a
client requests medication for sleep. Since becoming unemployed, the client has used alcohol as
a sedative. The client is worried about finances and is afraid of being evicted. The social worker
should FIRST:
A. Refer the client for evaluation for sleep medication
B. Refer the client to public assistance
C. Obtain more information about the client's use of alcohol
D. Refer the client to the local unemployment office
D. Support
Rationale: The correct answer is (key D) because ventilation is one of the techniques used in
providing support. - correct answer ✔✔6. A client with whom a social worker has worked for
several years suddenly dies. The social worker is very distressed by the death. During
supervision, the supervisor encourages expressional and ventilation of feelings. The supervisor
is providing:
A. Education
B. Consultation
C. Therapy
D. Support
A. Identification with the abuser
Rationale: This item is a basic recall of cycle of abuse concepts and dynamics. Option (D) is not
reasonable given the information in the stem and is not diagnosed until adulthood. He may be
hostile toward peers (B), but it is because of his identification with the abuser. Option (C) & (D)
are not indicated and do not BEST explain his behavior. (Key A) is the BEST descriptor of what is
occurring. - correct answer ✔✔7. A school-age boy is being beaten almost daily by his father,
, who has a drug and alcohol problem for which he received no treatment. The boy solves his
school conflicts by punching and kicking younger children. The behavior is BEST described as:
A. Identification with the abuser
B. Hostility toward peers
C. Conduct, disorder, childhood onset
D. Antisocial personality disorder
D. Discusses related material
Rationale: The effectiveness of a response can be accessed through client reaction. Continuing
to stay on target in the discussion (Key D) indicates a good progression - correct answer ✔✔8.
Client feedback that indicates a social worker's interpretation is on target is BEST displayed
when the client:
A. Argues with the social worker
B. Changes the subject
C. Expresses anger at the social worker
D. Discusses related material
D. Store records for the number of years required by law
Rationale: Social workers are required to follow the laws of the jurisdictions in which they
practice. Such statutes vary in their requirements. Hence, the only option that is correct is to
maintain files for the length of time required by law (key D). Options A, B & C might not apply in
all locations. - correct answer ✔✔9) A social worker administrator is responsible for record
keeping at a large agency. Which approach is MOST appropriate for maintaining client records?
A. Maintain all records for seven years following termination
B. Keep records indefinitely to assure their availability
(Comprehensive Review and Exam Preparation Material)
B. Potential for suicidal behavior
Rationale: FIRST, the social worker would act to determine the client's safety. The only option
that addresses the client's safety is (Key B.) Options a, C, & D may be appropriate later, once the
safety of the client has been addressed. - correct answer ✔✔1) A 35-year-old individual has
recently experienced the death of a parent and the loss of a job and has increased consumption
of alcohol. Which of the following areas should be assessed FIRST by the social worker?
A. Financial resource availability
B. Potential for suicidal behavior
C. Need for grief counseling
D. Extent of substance abuse
C. Professional Boundaries
Rationale: This requires knowledge of the definition of professional boundaries (key C). Since
the question asks for the BEST response, the secondary responsibilities in the other options are
not correct. - correct answer ✔✔2) The ability to keep personal feelings and needs separate
from work relationships BEST represents which social work ethical standard?
A. Professional discretion
B. Responsibility to the profession
C. Professional Boundaries
D. Responsibility to colleagues
,A. Consult with an agency supervisor about the case
Rationale: Consulting with a supervisor (key A) is the BEST response because it assists in helping
to understand and address the situation. Options (B) & (D) are clearly unethical. Transferring the
client (C) may be done later, but it is unclear if this action is required at this point and there is
not enough information in the stem to conclude this. - correct answer ✔✔3. A social worker has
been treating a client for two months in an agency setting and is experiencing intense sexual
attraction toward the client. The social worker's BEST response is to:
A. Consult with an agency supervisor about the case
B. Reveal the attraction to the client
C. Transfer the client to another agency worker
D. Work toward ending the client's services at the agency
C. Provide staff training about culturally competent social work practice. - correct answer ✔✔4.
In a routine review of case records at a mental health center, a social worker supervisor
discovers that case managers routinely after all Native American/First Nations clients to either
Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon. In discussing this practice with the case managers, the
supervisor learns that the referrals are made without obtaining information about the clients'
use or abuse of substances. How can the supervisor effectively address the practice?
A. Reprimand case managers about providing client services based on stereotyping
B. Educate the staff about services provided by Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon
C. Provide staff training in culturally competent social work practice.
D. Allow no referrals to be made without approval from the supervisor
C. Obtain more information about the client's use of alcohol
Rationale: While options A, B & D may all be appropriate actions for the social worker to take,
none would be the first. As a part of the assessment process, the social worker needs to FIRST
,further explore the issue of alcohol use (key C). - correct answer ✔✔5. At an intake session, a
client requests medication for sleep. Since becoming unemployed, the client has used alcohol as
a sedative. The client is worried about finances and is afraid of being evicted. The social worker
should FIRST:
A. Refer the client for evaluation for sleep medication
B. Refer the client to public assistance
C. Obtain more information about the client's use of alcohol
D. Refer the client to the local unemployment office
D. Support
Rationale: The correct answer is (key D) because ventilation is one of the techniques used in
providing support. - correct answer ✔✔6. A client with whom a social worker has worked for
several years suddenly dies. The social worker is very distressed by the death. During
supervision, the supervisor encourages expressional and ventilation of feelings. The supervisor
is providing:
A. Education
B. Consultation
C. Therapy
D. Support
A. Identification with the abuser
Rationale: This item is a basic recall of cycle of abuse concepts and dynamics. Option (D) is not
reasonable given the information in the stem and is not diagnosed until adulthood. He may be
hostile toward peers (B), but it is because of his identification with the abuser. Option (C) & (D)
are not indicated and do not BEST explain his behavior. (Key A) is the BEST descriptor of what is
occurring. - correct answer ✔✔7. A school-age boy is being beaten almost daily by his father,
, who has a drug and alcohol problem for which he received no treatment. The boy solves his
school conflicts by punching and kicking younger children. The behavior is BEST described as:
A. Identification with the abuser
B. Hostility toward peers
C. Conduct, disorder, childhood onset
D. Antisocial personality disorder
D. Discusses related material
Rationale: The effectiveness of a response can be accessed through client reaction. Continuing
to stay on target in the discussion (Key D) indicates a good progression - correct answer ✔✔8.
Client feedback that indicates a social worker's interpretation is on target is BEST displayed
when the client:
A. Argues with the social worker
B. Changes the subject
C. Expresses anger at the social worker
D. Discusses related material
D. Store records for the number of years required by law
Rationale: Social workers are required to follow the laws of the jurisdictions in which they
practice. Such statutes vary in their requirements. Hence, the only option that is correct is to
maintain files for the length of time required by law (key D). Options A, B & C might not apply in
all locations. - correct answer ✔✔9) A social worker administrator is responsible for record
keeping at a large agency. Which approach is MOST appropriate for maintaining client records?
A. Maintain all records for seven years following termination
B. Keep records indefinitely to assure their availability
