LCSW Social Work Questions And
Answers.
A new social worker begins to establish professional rapport with a group of school
aged youths. After a few weeks, the social worker discovers that their former social
worker still sees the youths, gives them new school supplies, and takes them out for
social events. The new social worker should FIRST: -
\speak directly to the former social worker
A parent in great distress consults a social worker. Because of having heard so much in
the media about sexual abuse, the parent is unsure how to respond to recently finding
her five-year-old exploring the body of another child. The parent does not know whether
this is deviant behavior. The social worker should: -
\reassure the parent that this is normal for children this age
A social worker is the new manager of a human service organization that is
simultaneously struggling with maintaining positive employee morale, increasing client
services, and improving outcomes. The manager should FIRST: -
\initiate a staff recognition program
What is MOST important to remember about defense mechanisms? -
\Defense mechanisms are unconscious process.
A 27-year-old male with a history of hospitalizations for bipolar disorder and alcohol
abuse recently stopped taking his medication, became manic, and resumed drinking. At
his landlord's request, the police take him to the hospital and arrange an involuntary
admission to the acute psychiatric unit. The client has all of the following rights EXCEPT
the right to: -
\leave the hospital regardless of his condition
A social worker assesses an elderly client for suicide risk. The BEST approach is to use
the clinical interview and the: -
\Geriatric Depression Inventory
A couple married for 30 years seeks help at a crisis clinic. The husband describes his
wife's emotional and erratic behavior and radical change in appearance and dress,
which is contrary to their religious beliefs. The wife talks openly and happily about
spending more time outside the home with her friends and hobbies, and her desire to
work for the first time. The social worker should assess the couple for evidence of: -
\Issues related to family transition
A client is seen by a social worker at a family service agency complaining that she has
been feeling depressed. She states that she shouldn't feel this way because there are
,no problems in her life. She has a husband, a good job, and two healthy children. The
social worker should FIRST: -
\clarify what the client means by depression
A social worker meets with an adolescent who frequently misses school and is having
academic problems. Psychological testing found the client is above average in
intelligence, but with poor impulse control and at high risk for antisocial behaviors. The
social worker completes the social history to: -
\understand factors that affect the client's behavior
At a community mental health agency, a new social worker replaces a social worker
who resigned with short notice due to a family emergency. Within a few weeks, the
social worker has met with all the clients. While in the public waiting room, a social work
colleague hears the new social worker say to a client that it was "unprofessional and
harmful" for the prior social worker to leave the agency so suddenly. The colleague
should FIRST: -
\talk to the new social worker about the conversation
A social worker conducts a support group for adults who are caregivers for their elderly
parents. During one group meeting, a member begins to describe how she behaves
toward her parent when she becomes frustrated. The social worker becomes concerned
that the behavior may constitute abuse. The social worker should: -
\meet with the member individually after the group to review the situation
A 14-year-old girl comes to a family service agency for help. She is four weeks
pregnant, unmarried, and depressed. She lives with her parents who are unaware of her
pregnancy. Local law requires parental consent for treatment of minors who live with
their parent(s) or legal guardian. The social worker should FIRST: -
\discuss the need for parental involvement with the client
A 25-year-old woman seeks help at a local mental health clinic. She complains of
nightmares, agitation, an inability to concentrate, and weight loss. During the
assessment phase, the social worker learns that the client had been recently raped and
mugged. The social worker should FIRST focus on: -
\potential for self-harm
A social worker in private practice is temporarily moving to another city. Following
consideration of the risks and benefits that may be experienced by each client, the
social worker offers to continue the therapeutic relationship with several clients through
email. This suggestion is MOST appropriate for clients who: -
\are able to cope with day-to-day issues
A 49-year-old woman seeks therapy citing problems with her 74-year-old mother. She
reports that her mother moved to a retirement community seven years ago after the
death of the client's father. The mother has adjusted well and made many new friends.
Six months ago the client's mother began dating a man and they have decided to live
, together. Since this decision, the client and her mother argue each time they see each
other. The client states that her mother "is not thinking clearly," and "is betraying my
father." The client is very upset to think of her mother being sexually active. The social
worker should FIRST: -
\focus on the client's feelings about her mother's changes in behavior
A social worker sees a family for family therapy. During one session, the youngest
family member tells the social worker, "I need to share something with you." Another
family member responds by saying, "Don't talk about it." The social worker makes
several unsuccessful attempts to assist family members in more open discussion. To
increase open communication, what should the social worker do NEXT? -
\Use circular questioning with all family members
A social worker sees a 60-year-old man who reports feeling irritable and unhappy in his
35-year marriage. The man also describes loss of interest in his longtime hobbies, and
trouble sleeping. Six months ago he had a serious heart attack and is currently on
disability after working all his adult life. The social worker should FIRST: -
\refer the client for medication evaluation
A social worker sees a new client referred because of heavy alcohol use. During the
initial assessment the client questions the social worker's credentials and competence.
What should the social worker do NEXT? -
\Ask how the client feels about seeking help
A 19-year-old is brought to a family service agency by the parents who report a history
of school truancy, deliberate destruction of their property, lying, and stealing since age
14. According to the DSM-IV-TR, which of the following diagnoses BEST describes the
client? -
\Antisocial personality disorder
A couple brings their four-year-old child to a social worker concerned that the child
cannot yet recite the alphabet. They tell the social worker that they know other four-
year-olds who can say the alphabet and they have tried to teach it to their child without
success. They believe something may be wrong with their child. The MOST likely
explanation is that the: -
\child may not have reached this level of cognitive development
Parents bring a 14-year-old to a social worker because the adolescent questions
authority, is late for curfew, and no longer desires to attend church with the family. The
adolescent states that the parents "treat me like a baby" and that the adolescent wants
to go to a "more upbeat" church. The social worker should explain to the parents that
the adolescent is MOST likely: -
\trying to find a personal identity
A social worker is working with a woman who was recently diagnosed with HIV. The
client abruptly stopped her medication. Her doctor asked that the social worker address
Answers.
A new social worker begins to establish professional rapport with a group of school
aged youths. After a few weeks, the social worker discovers that their former social
worker still sees the youths, gives them new school supplies, and takes them out for
social events. The new social worker should FIRST: -
\speak directly to the former social worker
A parent in great distress consults a social worker. Because of having heard so much in
the media about sexual abuse, the parent is unsure how to respond to recently finding
her five-year-old exploring the body of another child. The parent does not know whether
this is deviant behavior. The social worker should: -
\reassure the parent that this is normal for children this age
A social worker is the new manager of a human service organization that is
simultaneously struggling with maintaining positive employee morale, increasing client
services, and improving outcomes. The manager should FIRST: -
\initiate a staff recognition program
What is MOST important to remember about defense mechanisms? -
\Defense mechanisms are unconscious process.
A 27-year-old male with a history of hospitalizations for bipolar disorder and alcohol
abuse recently stopped taking his medication, became manic, and resumed drinking. At
his landlord's request, the police take him to the hospital and arrange an involuntary
admission to the acute psychiatric unit. The client has all of the following rights EXCEPT
the right to: -
\leave the hospital regardless of his condition
A social worker assesses an elderly client for suicide risk. The BEST approach is to use
the clinical interview and the: -
\Geriatric Depression Inventory
A couple married for 30 years seeks help at a crisis clinic. The husband describes his
wife's emotional and erratic behavior and radical change in appearance and dress,
which is contrary to their religious beliefs. The wife talks openly and happily about
spending more time outside the home with her friends and hobbies, and her desire to
work for the first time. The social worker should assess the couple for evidence of: -
\Issues related to family transition
A client is seen by a social worker at a family service agency complaining that she has
been feeling depressed. She states that she shouldn't feel this way because there are
,no problems in her life. She has a husband, a good job, and two healthy children. The
social worker should FIRST: -
\clarify what the client means by depression
A social worker meets with an adolescent who frequently misses school and is having
academic problems. Psychological testing found the client is above average in
intelligence, but with poor impulse control and at high risk for antisocial behaviors. The
social worker completes the social history to: -
\understand factors that affect the client's behavior
At a community mental health agency, a new social worker replaces a social worker
who resigned with short notice due to a family emergency. Within a few weeks, the
social worker has met with all the clients. While in the public waiting room, a social work
colleague hears the new social worker say to a client that it was "unprofessional and
harmful" for the prior social worker to leave the agency so suddenly. The colleague
should FIRST: -
\talk to the new social worker about the conversation
A social worker conducts a support group for adults who are caregivers for their elderly
parents. During one group meeting, a member begins to describe how she behaves
toward her parent when she becomes frustrated. The social worker becomes concerned
that the behavior may constitute abuse. The social worker should: -
\meet with the member individually after the group to review the situation
A 14-year-old girl comes to a family service agency for help. She is four weeks
pregnant, unmarried, and depressed. She lives with her parents who are unaware of her
pregnancy. Local law requires parental consent for treatment of minors who live with
their parent(s) or legal guardian. The social worker should FIRST: -
\discuss the need for parental involvement with the client
A 25-year-old woman seeks help at a local mental health clinic. She complains of
nightmares, agitation, an inability to concentrate, and weight loss. During the
assessment phase, the social worker learns that the client had been recently raped and
mugged. The social worker should FIRST focus on: -
\potential for self-harm
A social worker in private practice is temporarily moving to another city. Following
consideration of the risks and benefits that may be experienced by each client, the
social worker offers to continue the therapeutic relationship with several clients through
email. This suggestion is MOST appropriate for clients who: -
\are able to cope with day-to-day issues
A 49-year-old woman seeks therapy citing problems with her 74-year-old mother. She
reports that her mother moved to a retirement community seven years ago after the
death of the client's father. The mother has adjusted well and made many new friends.
Six months ago the client's mother began dating a man and they have decided to live
, together. Since this decision, the client and her mother argue each time they see each
other. The client states that her mother "is not thinking clearly," and "is betraying my
father." The client is very upset to think of her mother being sexually active. The social
worker should FIRST: -
\focus on the client's feelings about her mother's changes in behavior
A social worker sees a family for family therapy. During one session, the youngest
family member tells the social worker, "I need to share something with you." Another
family member responds by saying, "Don't talk about it." The social worker makes
several unsuccessful attempts to assist family members in more open discussion. To
increase open communication, what should the social worker do NEXT? -
\Use circular questioning with all family members
A social worker sees a 60-year-old man who reports feeling irritable and unhappy in his
35-year marriage. The man also describes loss of interest in his longtime hobbies, and
trouble sleeping. Six months ago he had a serious heart attack and is currently on
disability after working all his adult life. The social worker should FIRST: -
\refer the client for medication evaluation
A social worker sees a new client referred because of heavy alcohol use. During the
initial assessment the client questions the social worker's credentials and competence.
What should the social worker do NEXT? -
\Ask how the client feels about seeking help
A 19-year-old is brought to a family service agency by the parents who report a history
of school truancy, deliberate destruction of their property, lying, and stealing since age
14. According to the DSM-IV-TR, which of the following diagnoses BEST describes the
client? -
\Antisocial personality disorder
A couple brings their four-year-old child to a social worker concerned that the child
cannot yet recite the alphabet. They tell the social worker that they know other four-
year-olds who can say the alphabet and they have tried to teach it to their child without
success. They believe something may be wrong with their child. The MOST likely
explanation is that the: -
\child may not have reached this level of cognitive development
Parents bring a 14-year-old to a social worker because the adolescent questions
authority, is late for curfew, and no longer desires to attend church with the family. The
adolescent states that the parents "treat me like a baby" and that the adolescent wants
to go to a "more upbeat" church. The social worker should explain to the parents that
the adolescent is MOST likely: -
\trying to find a personal identity
A social worker is working with a woman who was recently diagnosed with HIV. The
client abruptly stopped her medication. Her doctor asked that the social worker address
