COMP XM EXAM 2026 FINAL ASSESSMENT
PAPER CLINICAL REASONING
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
VERIFIED A+
◉ A social worker employed by a community-based organization
finds her professional decision-making to be influenced by elements
other than concern about the client. What ethical issue is this social
worker facing?
a. dual relationships
b. conflict of interest
c. incompetence
d. duty to warn. Answer: b. conflict of interest
◉ What core value of the social work profession is violated when a
client is coerced into consenting to treatment?
a. service
b. commitment to clients
c. dignity and worth of a person
d. altruism. Answer: c. dignity and worth of a person
,◉ During a counseling session at a mental health center, a social
worker is told by their client that the client intends to shoot a
specific relative after leaving the session. What professional duties
are in conflict in this situation?
a. duty to warn per the Tarasoff decision and confidentiality
b. privileged communication and informed consent
c. privileged communication and informed consent
d. confidentiality and dignity and worth of the person. Answer: a.
duty to warn per the Tarasoff decision and confidentiality
◉ A 16-year-old has become a client of an outpatient clinical social
worker after surviving a sexual assault by the sibling of a classmate
at her school. The client's parents have signed a release of
information allowing the social worker to communicate directly
with the school staff. The social worker is contacted by one of the
teachers who is concerned that the client's school work has declined
drastically. The teacher wants to know if something has happened to
the client. What should the social worker do in this situation?
a. contact a supervisor before disclosing any information
b. talk to the client about whether they want any information
disclosed and the possible implications of disclosure
c. tell the teacher that a traumatic event is affecting the student
,d. contact the client's parents to determine what information they
feel comfortable sharing with the teacher. Answer: b. talk to the
client about whether they want any information disclosed and the
possible implications of disclosure
◉ Adele, a social worker employed by a program serving at-risk
youth at a local YMCA in an urban community, lives in an apartment
complex within walking distance of her work. As an avid reader, she
frequently visits the local library and has joined a monthly reading
group. At her most recent visit, the group welcomed a new member
who happens to be the mother of one of the youths in her program.
To determine how to respond to this situation, what should Adele do
first?
a. assess the situation for risk of potential harm of exploitation of the
client
b. quit the reading group even though she enjoys it
c. ask the youth's mother to find another reading group since Adele
is a long time member and has seniority in the group
d. ignore the situation/pretend that she does not recognize the
youth's mother to protect her client's confidentiality.. Answer: a.
assess the situation for risk of potential harm of exploitation of the
client
◉ During a counseling session, a client with a history of relationship
problems shares a text she received from one of your co-workers
, inviting her to a social event as their date. Your co-worker is part of
the treatment team that regularly reviews client cases (including
your client) and evaluates their progress. The client is seeking your
advice about whether to accept the date and attend the event. What
should you do?
a. tell the client that you cannot discuss your co-workers and cannot
give advice
b. advise the client to decline the initation
c. report the situation to your supervisor
d. ignore the question and change the subject as this is not the focus
of your work together. Answer: c. report the situation to your
supervisor
◉ According to the Nuremberg Code, which provides the basis for
Institutional Review Boards' (IRB) requirements for human subjects
research, voluntary consent to participate in research activities is
imperative. Which of the following statements does NOT meet the
criteria defining voluntary informed consent?
a. the consent needs to have been obtained without coercion
b. the participant must legally be allowed to provide consent
c. the participant must be compensated either financially or by
directly benefiting from the study
PAPER CLINICAL REASONING
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
VERIFIED A+
◉ A social worker employed by a community-based organization
finds her professional decision-making to be influenced by elements
other than concern about the client. What ethical issue is this social
worker facing?
a. dual relationships
b. conflict of interest
c. incompetence
d. duty to warn. Answer: b. conflict of interest
◉ What core value of the social work profession is violated when a
client is coerced into consenting to treatment?
a. service
b. commitment to clients
c. dignity and worth of a person
d. altruism. Answer: c. dignity and worth of a person
,◉ During a counseling session at a mental health center, a social
worker is told by their client that the client intends to shoot a
specific relative after leaving the session. What professional duties
are in conflict in this situation?
a. duty to warn per the Tarasoff decision and confidentiality
b. privileged communication and informed consent
c. privileged communication and informed consent
d. confidentiality and dignity and worth of the person. Answer: a.
duty to warn per the Tarasoff decision and confidentiality
◉ A 16-year-old has become a client of an outpatient clinical social
worker after surviving a sexual assault by the sibling of a classmate
at her school. The client's parents have signed a release of
information allowing the social worker to communicate directly
with the school staff. The social worker is contacted by one of the
teachers who is concerned that the client's school work has declined
drastically. The teacher wants to know if something has happened to
the client. What should the social worker do in this situation?
a. contact a supervisor before disclosing any information
b. talk to the client about whether they want any information
disclosed and the possible implications of disclosure
c. tell the teacher that a traumatic event is affecting the student
,d. contact the client's parents to determine what information they
feel comfortable sharing with the teacher. Answer: b. talk to the
client about whether they want any information disclosed and the
possible implications of disclosure
◉ Adele, a social worker employed by a program serving at-risk
youth at a local YMCA in an urban community, lives in an apartment
complex within walking distance of her work. As an avid reader, she
frequently visits the local library and has joined a monthly reading
group. At her most recent visit, the group welcomed a new member
who happens to be the mother of one of the youths in her program.
To determine how to respond to this situation, what should Adele do
first?
a. assess the situation for risk of potential harm of exploitation of the
client
b. quit the reading group even though she enjoys it
c. ask the youth's mother to find another reading group since Adele
is a long time member and has seniority in the group
d. ignore the situation/pretend that she does not recognize the
youth's mother to protect her client's confidentiality.. Answer: a.
assess the situation for risk of potential harm of exploitation of the
client
◉ During a counseling session, a client with a history of relationship
problems shares a text she received from one of your co-workers
, inviting her to a social event as their date. Your co-worker is part of
the treatment team that regularly reviews client cases (including
your client) and evaluates their progress. The client is seeking your
advice about whether to accept the date and attend the event. What
should you do?
a. tell the client that you cannot discuss your co-workers and cannot
give advice
b. advise the client to decline the initation
c. report the situation to your supervisor
d. ignore the question and change the subject as this is not the focus
of your work together. Answer: c. report the situation to your
supervisor
◉ According to the Nuremberg Code, which provides the basis for
Institutional Review Boards' (IRB) requirements for human subjects
research, voluntary consent to participate in research activities is
imperative. Which of the following statements does NOT meet the
criteria defining voluntary informed consent?
a. the consent needs to have been obtained without coercion
b. the participant must legally be allowed to provide consent
c. the participant must be compensated either financially or by
directly benefiting from the study
