LCSW Exam Review: Human Development, Ethics, Assessment,
and Intervention
speak directly to the former social worker - correct answer ✔✔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:
reassure the parent that this is normal for children this age - correct answer ✔✔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:
initiate a staff recognition program - correct answer ✔✔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:
Defense mechanisms are unconscious process. - correct answer ✔✔What is MOST important to
remember about defense mechanisms?
leave the hospital regardless of his condition - correct answer ✔✔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:
Geriatric Depression Inventory - correct answer ✔✔A social worker assesses an elderly client for
suicide risk. The BEST approach is to use the clinical interview and the:
,Issues related to family transition - correct answer ✔✔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:
clarify what the client means by depression - correct answer ✔✔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:
understand factors that affect the client's behavior - correct answer ✔✔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:
talk to the new social worker about the conversation - correct answer ✔✔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:
meet with the member individually after the group to review the situation - correct answer
✔✔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:
discuss the need for parental involvement with the client - correct answer ✔✔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:
potential for self-harm - correct answer ✔✔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:
are able to cope with day-to-day issues - correct answer ✔✔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:
focus on the client's feelings about her mother's changes in behavior - correct answer ✔✔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:
Use circular questioning with all family members - correct answer ✔✔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?
refer the client for medication evaluation - correct answer ✔✔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
and Intervention
speak directly to the former social worker - correct answer ✔✔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:
reassure the parent that this is normal for children this age - correct answer ✔✔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:
initiate a staff recognition program - correct answer ✔✔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:
Defense mechanisms are unconscious process. - correct answer ✔✔What is MOST important to
remember about defense mechanisms?
leave the hospital regardless of his condition - correct answer ✔✔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:
Geriatric Depression Inventory - correct answer ✔✔A social worker assesses an elderly client for
suicide risk. The BEST approach is to use the clinical interview and the:
,Issues related to family transition - correct answer ✔✔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:
clarify what the client means by depression - correct answer ✔✔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:
understand factors that affect the client's behavior - correct answer ✔✔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:
talk to the new social worker about the conversation - correct answer ✔✔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:
meet with the member individually after the group to review the situation - correct answer
✔✔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:
discuss the need for parental involvement with the client - correct answer ✔✔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:
potential for self-harm - correct answer ✔✔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:
are able to cope with day-to-day issues - correct answer ✔✔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:
focus on the client's feelings about her mother's changes in behavior - correct answer ✔✔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:
Use circular questioning with all family members - correct answer ✔✔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?
refer the client for medication evaluation - correct answer ✔✔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
