LCSW EXAM SECTION 3: PSYCHOTHERAPY,
CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS, AND CASE
MANAGEMENT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Principles for obtaining and providing feedback - Answers - 1. Feedback may be either
verbal or nonverbal, so social workers must take efforts to see what clients are trying to
convey verbally via their behavior and nonverbal cues in order to see whether
interventions should be altered
2. When social workers involve consultants or others in the feedback process related to
client care, clients should provide consent
3. Social workers should ask for feedback in difficult circumstances-not just when
circumstances appear neutral or positive. It can be tempting to only ask for feedback
from people who will say something positive. Sometimes the best learning can be from
those who will be critical. Talking through difficult feedback in supervision is important.
4. Feedback is especially critical at key decision points (as when transferring or closing
cases)
5. It is important to guard against influencing people to respond in a particular way-this
may be unintentional because a social worker may have more influence or power than
the individual from whom feedback is sought
6. Confidentiality should be respected if the informant wants it
7. Always be clear about why feedback is needed and what will be done with the
information
8. Documentation of feedback is essential
9. Be aware that the feedback may be very different depending upon when it is solicited.
It is critical to realize how recent events may have influenced information received.
Getting feedback repeatedly at several different times may be needed to see if
responses differ
10. A social worker must make sure that the communication method is appropriate. For
a younger person, texting, email, or an online questionnaire may work, whereas face-to-
face conversation may be needed for others. The language should be jargon-free and
issues such as language, culture, and disability may affect that ways in which people
both understand and
Congruence - Answers - Matching of awareness and experience with communication
(verbal and nonverbal); congruence is essential for the vitality of a relationship and to
facilitate true helping as part of the problem-solving process
Verbal and nonverbal communication techniques - Answers - -Active listening
-Silence
-Questioning (open and closed ended)
-Reflecting or validating
-Paraphrasing and clarifying
,-Reframing
-Exhibiting desirable facial expression (eye contact, warmth and concern, etc.)
-Using desirable postures and gestures (matching client, etc.)
One-on-One Feedback - Answers - Method for feedback
An individual delivering feedback to another, face-to-face, is probably the most common
form. Such feedback needs to be delivered sensitively and according to principles of the
profession
Intragroup Feedback - Answers - Method for feedback
Individuals in a group provide feedback to the group and/or to one or more individuals
within the group. If the feedback is directed to the performance of the group, it can be
particularly effective
Group-to-Group Feedback - Answers - Method for feedback
This might take place between two groups that are working together. The feedback may
go in one direction or both. The feedback might be directed at particular individuals or at
the group as a whole
Consultative Feedback - Answers - Method for feedback
An individual or group serves as a formal or informal consultant to another (usually to a
group, but occasionally to an individual). The individual or group receiving the feedback
may be more apt to accept and consider the feedback, given the expertise of the
consultative entity, but has no obligation to do so
360-Degree Feedback - Answers - Method for feedback
It involves feedback from all directions-supervisors, peers, subordinates, the
community, and so forth. The idea is that the feedback reflects multiple viewpoints and
gives a complete picture
Empathic Communication - Answers - -Establishes rapport with clients-empathic
communication is one means of bridging the gap between a social worker and a client
-Starts where a client is and stays attuned to a client throughout the encounter (being
perceptive to changes in frame of mind)
-Increases the level at which clients explore themselves and their problems
-Responds to a client's nonverbal messages (a social worker can observe body
language and make explicit a client's feelings)
-Decreases defensiveness and engages a client in processing and testing new
information
-Defuses anger that represents obstacles to progress
, The core of the helping process is.... - Answers - acceptance of a client and the use of
objective feedback
Social role theory - Answers - Terms that relate to role issues:
-Role ambiguity: lack of clarity of role
-Role complementarity: the role is carried out in an expected way (i.e. parent-child,
social worker-client)
-Role discomplementarity: the role expectations of others differs from one's own
-Role reversal: when two or more individuals switch roles
-Role conflict: incompatible or conflicting expectations
Transference - Answers - Refers to redirection of a client's feelings for a significant
person to a social worker (i.e. attraction, rage, parentification, extreme dependence,
etc.)
Countertransference - Answers - Defined as redirection of a social worker's feelings
toward a client, or more generally, as a social worker's emotional entanglement with a
client
Basic conditions for therapeutic process - Answers - -There must be trust with a social
worker
-Recognition that therapeutic process is a joint exploration
-There must be listening on both sides
-Accepting what is said in a nonjudgmental manner
Biopsychosocial-spiritual-culutral model - Answers - Biological dimension refers to the
role of biological systems within the body (i.e. genetic predispositions) and outside (i.e.
airborne pathogens that impact functioning)
Psychological dimension refers to the role of thoughts, emotion, and behavior on an
individual, group, or community functioning. Inclusion of this dimension also
acknowledges the mind-body connection in the assessment of problems
Social dimension refers to how a client relates to various groups and institutions in
society, as well as how groups and institutions relate to him or her. Social workers
assist not only individual clients, but all others who might be similarly affected by an
issue.
Spiritual dimension refers to the role of religious or spiritual belief on well-being
Cultural dimension acknowledges the importance of considering customs, rituals,
values, and communications that may be part of a client's cultural heritage
CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS, AND CASE
MANAGEMENT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Principles for obtaining and providing feedback - Answers - 1. Feedback may be either
verbal or nonverbal, so social workers must take efforts to see what clients are trying to
convey verbally via their behavior and nonverbal cues in order to see whether
interventions should be altered
2. When social workers involve consultants or others in the feedback process related to
client care, clients should provide consent
3. Social workers should ask for feedback in difficult circumstances-not just when
circumstances appear neutral or positive. It can be tempting to only ask for feedback
from people who will say something positive. Sometimes the best learning can be from
those who will be critical. Talking through difficult feedback in supervision is important.
4. Feedback is especially critical at key decision points (as when transferring or closing
cases)
5. It is important to guard against influencing people to respond in a particular way-this
may be unintentional because a social worker may have more influence or power than
the individual from whom feedback is sought
6. Confidentiality should be respected if the informant wants it
7. Always be clear about why feedback is needed and what will be done with the
information
8. Documentation of feedback is essential
9. Be aware that the feedback may be very different depending upon when it is solicited.
It is critical to realize how recent events may have influenced information received.
Getting feedback repeatedly at several different times may be needed to see if
responses differ
10. A social worker must make sure that the communication method is appropriate. For
a younger person, texting, email, or an online questionnaire may work, whereas face-to-
face conversation may be needed for others. The language should be jargon-free and
issues such as language, culture, and disability may affect that ways in which people
both understand and
Congruence - Answers - Matching of awareness and experience with communication
(verbal and nonverbal); congruence is essential for the vitality of a relationship and to
facilitate true helping as part of the problem-solving process
Verbal and nonverbal communication techniques - Answers - -Active listening
-Silence
-Questioning (open and closed ended)
-Reflecting or validating
-Paraphrasing and clarifying
,-Reframing
-Exhibiting desirable facial expression (eye contact, warmth and concern, etc.)
-Using desirable postures and gestures (matching client, etc.)
One-on-One Feedback - Answers - Method for feedback
An individual delivering feedback to another, face-to-face, is probably the most common
form. Such feedback needs to be delivered sensitively and according to principles of the
profession
Intragroup Feedback - Answers - Method for feedback
Individuals in a group provide feedback to the group and/or to one or more individuals
within the group. If the feedback is directed to the performance of the group, it can be
particularly effective
Group-to-Group Feedback - Answers - Method for feedback
This might take place between two groups that are working together. The feedback may
go in one direction or both. The feedback might be directed at particular individuals or at
the group as a whole
Consultative Feedback - Answers - Method for feedback
An individual or group serves as a formal or informal consultant to another (usually to a
group, but occasionally to an individual). The individual or group receiving the feedback
may be more apt to accept and consider the feedback, given the expertise of the
consultative entity, but has no obligation to do so
360-Degree Feedback - Answers - Method for feedback
It involves feedback from all directions-supervisors, peers, subordinates, the
community, and so forth. The idea is that the feedback reflects multiple viewpoints and
gives a complete picture
Empathic Communication - Answers - -Establishes rapport with clients-empathic
communication is one means of bridging the gap between a social worker and a client
-Starts where a client is and stays attuned to a client throughout the encounter (being
perceptive to changes in frame of mind)
-Increases the level at which clients explore themselves and their problems
-Responds to a client's nonverbal messages (a social worker can observe body
language and make explicit a client's feelings)
-Decreases defensiveness and engages a client in processing and testing new
information
-Defuses anger that represents obstacles to progress
, The core of the helping process is.... - Answers - acceptance of a client and the use of
objective feedback
Social role theory - Answers - Terms that relate to role issues:
-Role ambiguity: lack of clarity of role
-Role complementarity: the role is carried out in an expected way (i.e. parent-child,
social worker-client)
-Role discomplementarity: the role expectations of others differs from one's own
-Role reversal: when two or more individuals switch roles
-Role conflict: incompatible or conflicting expectations
Transference - Answers - Refers to redirection of a client's feelings for a significant
person to a social worker (i.e. attraction, rage, parentification, extreme dependence,
etc.)
Countertransference - Answers - Defined as redirection of a social worker's feelings
toward a client, or more generally, as a social worker's emotional entanglement with a
client
Basic conditions for therapeutic process - Answers - -There must be trust with a social
worker
-Recognition that therapeutic process is a joint exploration
-There must be listening on both sides
-Accepting what is said in a nonjudgmental manner
Biopsychosocial-spiritual-culutral model - Answers - Biological dimension refers to the
role of biological systems within the body (i.e. genetic predispositions) and outside (i.e.
airborne pathogens that impact functioning)
Psychological dimension refers to the role of thoughts, emotion, and behavior on an
individual, group, or community functioning. Inclusion of this dimension also
acknowledges the mind-body connection in the assessment of problems
Social dimension refers to how a client relates to various groups and institutions in
society, as well as how groups and institutions relate to him or her. Social workers
assist not only individual clients, but all others who might be similarly affected by an
issue.
Spiritual dimension refers to the role of religious or spiritual belief on well-being
Cultural dimension acknowledges the importance of considering customs, rituals,
values, and communications that may be part of a client's cultural heritage
