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The research design most often used by social workers to improve their practice is:
a. experimental design
b. single-subject design
c. longitudinal design
d. quasi-experimental design

A 26 yr/old female client shares with her male social worker that she is becoming attached to him and often has sexual fantasies about him. She also shares that she would like to see him socially. What should be the social worker's first responsibility?
a. discuss the client's feelings about her sexual fantasies
b. immediatly refer the client to a female social worker
c. clarify the professional nature of the social worker-client relationship
d. discuss the client's pas relationships.

The primary purpose of a service plan is to
a. establish goals
b. assess the home situation
c. monitor behavioral changes
d. evaluate client progress

In treating a client in crisis, the caseworker should focus on...
a. the immediate presenting problem
b. a few specific problems in day-to-day functioning
c. a wide range of problems in day to day functioning
d. underlying personality problems

When faced by a hostile client in an agency setting, it is best for the social worker to
a. suggest that the client's attitude is making the situation worse
b. accept the client's hostility and talk about non-threatening topics
c. set limits and structure on the interview session
d. acknowledge the client's feelings and encourage discussion of them

You are a social worker in an outpatient setting. A new client arrives for her first session with you. The client has noticeable hair loss and tells you that she is very tense and is having problems in her relationship with her boyfriend. Your first diagnosis would likely be
A. Borderline personality disorder
B. generalized anxiety disorder
C. Schizophrenia
D. Trichotillomania

A social worker who attempts to impose their judgement on clients is most likely to elicit the client's
a. acquiescence
b. cooperation
c. resistance
d. appreciation

Establishing rapport with a client is essential in the initial stages of counseling. All of the following techniques are effective except
a. moderate levels of self-disclosure
b. admitting your mistakes
c. sharing personal experience
d. responding to a client's nonverbal messages

A social worker meets with a refugee couple in the hospital soon after the birth of their baby. The infant has Down syndrome and cardiac problems. The couple asks that the child be allowed to die. The social worker should first:
a. report the case ot child protection services becuause of the at-risk nature of the situation
b. offer the parents the option of relinquishing the child for adoption
c. encourage the parents to meet with other parents of Down syndrome children
d. perform a biopsychosocial assessment including cultural, religious and familial factors.

The youngest child of a single parent is hospitalized for the second time in four months because of lead poisoning. The child is now ready for discharge, but the doctor refuses to go ahead with the release, citing an unsafe home environment. When interviewed by the hospital social worker, the parent says that the landlord will no have their apartment repainted or make other necessary repairs. The parent wants to move, but is unable to afford living arrangements that will also allow four children. After reporting the situation to child welfare authorities, the social worker should
a. advise the parent to withhold rent until repair work is done.
b. advocate for the child to return home with the parent
c. refer the parent to a resource that can help locate suitable housing
d. report the landlord's lack of cooperation to the housing authority

A client who has received services for several years in a dialysis unit appears for a routine visit. The nurse notices a markedly changed affect and refers the client to to the social worker. When seeing the social worker, the client seems detached, self-absorbed, and tearful. The social worker should first assess the client's
a. life situation and recent changes
b. compliance with medical care
c. concerns about dying
d. feelings about dialysis

A widower requests help from a social service agency for himself and his two young children. The man explains that his wife died three weeks ago and that he now needs childcare services for his children so that he can return to work. He is obviously in a state of grief and shock over the loss of his wife. The presenting problem in this situation is.
a. the recent death of his wife
b. the absence of supporting relatives
c. the need for childcare services
d. the need for employment

A social worker employed at a residential youth services agency learns that a fellow employee has multiple convictions for sexual molestation of young children. The agency is unaware of his history. Sexual offenses automatically disqualify applicants for employment in the agency. The social worker's professional and ethical obligation is met by:

a. saying and doing nothing
b. urging the employee to reveal his history to management
c. immediately notifying the responsible agency supervisor of the situation
d. notifying the man's probation officer

During Mrs. S's first appointment in a family agency, the social worker encourages her to express her feelings about the recent placement of her child in a residential facility for the developmentally disabled. Mrs. S talks at length about her physcial health problems. The social worker should,
a. use Mrs. S's remarks about her health to identify unresolved parenting issues
b. refocus the interview on the child's behavior and the reason for the residential placement
c. explore with Mrs. S how her health problems are related to the recent placement of her child.
d. listen to Mrs. S's description of her health as a beginning of a relationship and means of assessing her self-perception.

A social worker is interviewing a new patient who presents with some symptoms of depression. The patient reports recent changes such as diminished functioning, marked weight gain, early morning awakening, fatigue, inability to concentrate, and headaches. The patient mentions that he started a new medication for a medical condition three weeks ago. The worker would first.
a. arrange a psychiatric consultation in order to have an anti-depressant prescribed
b. ascertain the prescribed medication and investigate its side-effects
c. proceed with a thorough psychosocial history and precipitating events
d. hospitalize the patient

The policy of Permanency Planning refers to
a. children who are at risk of removal or are removed from their own homes
b. the development of a plan through which abused and neglected children will be assured of a stable family situation throughout childhood
c. a stable foster care plan for children removed from their homes
d. the use of adoption for children at risk

An adolescent has been referred to a social worker because of school-related difficulties. During the intake interview with the family, the parents become angry and begin verbally attacking the teen. The social worker's most appropriate action is to
a. allow the parents to continue to vent their anger
b. stop the interview and see the teen alone
c. focus on the parent's expression of anger
d. ask the teen to leave the room.

In preparing for an interview with a client who is receiving ongoing services, the MOST important thing for the social worker to do is to:
a. clearly identifying the purpose of the upcoming interview
b. review previous case notes in the client's folder
c. determine if there are new agency policies that pply to this client
d. mentally review progress the client that has made toward goal attainment

A hospital patient is referred to social services after she complains of insufficient money for food. After talking with the patient, the worker's diagnosis is that the patient, although from a low income family, is not indigent. She seems to constantly have difficulties managing money and does not appear to handle her funds appropriately. Her diet appears nutritionally adequate. The worker's most appropriate action would be to:
a. help the patient obtain assistance from a casework agency for help with money management
b. provide continuing casework treatment though the hospital social services department to insure that her diet remains adequate
c. suggest to the patient that she apply to the public welfare agency to determine eligibility for public assistance
d. reassure the patient that her income can be made to cover her essential needs

During a first interview, a social worker observes that the client moves slowly, has a stooped posture, talks slowly and in a lifeless way, lacks spontaneity, and shows little change in facial expression. The worker would most likely suspect:
a. depression
b. a manic stage
c. anxiety
d. delusional thinking

A couple expressing extreme anger at each other come to a social worker for marital counseling. The social worker should FIRST:
a. explore the goals the anger is masking
b. clarify whether each partner is willing to hear the other
c. acknowledge the anger each partner has towards the other
d. use the interview to probe for positive feelings each has for the other

A social worker has been asked to assist an elderly client in making alternative living arrangements. In the initial interview, the client repeatedly attempts to discuss past experiences. What is the social worker's MOST appropriate response to the client?
a. ignore the references to the past
b. facilitate discussion of the recollections
c. refer the client for psychiatric evaluation
d. administer a geriatric evaluation scale

A hospital social worker interviews a couple whose six month old infant has recently been hospitalized for cystic fibrosis. The social worker notices that the parents are reluctant to touch the child. Based on this information, the social worker's first intervention should be to:
a. explore the parent's reaction to the child's illness
b. refer the couple to a support group
c. evaluate the situation for out-of-home placement
d. provide the couple with information

A social worker makes a home visit to a Cambodian family whose young child was diagnosed with CP. The worker found that the child waws kept in a darkened room and though fed, was isolated from the family, denied any affection, and seldom bathed. The grandfather wanted the child removed from the family. The social worker should first
a. try to relate to the family to learn more about their values
b. ask the mother to ask the grandfather to move out
c. call Cambodian community agencies to ask for support.
d. report the situation to child protective services

In the initial phase of treatment, the primary task of the social worker is to:
a. establish a warm relationship with the client
b. understand why the client is seeking help
c. engage the client in treatment
d. gather information for psychological diagnosis

During an initial interview with a social worker, a client begins to express suicidal ideation. What should the social worker's first response be.
a. recommend hospitalization
b. assess the client's level of risk
c. establish a behavioral contract
d. provide supportive reassurance

A social worker maintains client records in a safe environment and only releases information as provided by law. The intent of these procedures is to protect
a. the client's right of due process
b. client confidentiality
c. agency record requirements
d. self-determination by the client

Which method should social workers use to assess practice activities and outcomes.
a. evaluate client's goal attainment
b. review their personal performance evaluations
c. Keep and review case records and notes
d. ask clients for anonymous evaluations.

A major criterion for a diagnosis of a substance abuse disorder involves
a. occasional use
b. an arrest record
c. family violence
d. impairment in social and/or occupational functioning due to use

Slurred speech, an unsteady gait, impaired attention, sudden mood changes, and impared judgement are symptoms frequently found in
a. anxiety disorder
b. ADHD
c. alcohol intoxication
d. schizophrenia

Delusions, hallucinations and inappropriate affect are characteristics of
a. narcissistic personality
b. anxiety disorder
c. antisocial personality
d. schizophrenia

In the social work/client relationship, acceptance is defined as:
a. a neutral stance
b. unconditional positive regard
c. agreement with client's values
d. an expression of approval

In the first interview with a battered woman who wants to leave her violent husband, the social worker should be most aware

a. that women often make false claims of violence to improve their situation in custody and financial battles associated with divorce.
b. that family treatment should be encouraged as it can reduce the levels of violence
c. that the woman may be in great danger, as men who batter are often enraged by the woman's effort to seek help.
d. that court orders of protection, social services, and community supports are readily accessible and available to most battered women.

In counseling battered women, social workers should keep in mind that most battered women are

a. do not care for the batter and find it easy to leave him.
b. believe that they can stop the violence by learning new techniques to control the behavior of their mates
c. trust the confidentiality and protection of the agency
d. do not experience ambivalence towards the batterer and their relationship

A family comes to an agency complaining of their child's behavior problems. As a result of the assessment phase, the social worker believes that the marital relationship is the primary problem. The social worker should focus on:

a. the parents, confronting them with their relationship issues
b. the child and the ways the parents should react to the behavior
c. a discussion of the social worker's perception of the marital relationship
d. developing the child's insight into behavior as a reaction to marital stress

The goal of the state when working with a family via dependency case is?

A. Create an environment that promotes self esteem for the children
B. Keep kids & their families together
C. Provide an education for the child
D. Establish a safe and permanent home ASAP

A 17 year old boy worries about undressing in the locker room at school. The boy has no genital or underarm hair and believes his genital s are underdeveloped. The adolescent is referred to the school social worker . The social worker would first

a. encourage the youth not to be ashamed
b. suggest the youth see a physician who specializes in this issue
c. refer the youth and his family to family therapy
d. discuss the issue with the physical education teacher

The contract is a basic concept in social work practice. Its major features do not include.

a. mutual agreement
b. differential participation in the intervention process
c. reciprocal accountability
d. free association

The long range focus of community organization techniques is to:

a. develop trust
b. alleviate anxiety
c. reduce dependability
d. arouse anger

A 28 year old client with a long standing history of drug use is referred to a social worker by a concerned relative. In the assessment interview, the client tells the social worker about frequent cocaine use. The social worker should first.

a. conduct a family interview to evaluate the families concern
b. begin treatment, focusing on the reason for drug abuse
c. refer the client to a substance abuse program
d. evaluate the client's motivation for change

The developmental task for self evaluation and skill learning are associate with what life stage?

a. toddlerhood 2-4 yr
b. early childhood 4-6 yr
c. middle childhood 6-12 yr
d. early adolescence 12-18 yr

In working with an acutely depressed client, a social worker's main concern in a first interview is

a. formulating the correct diagnosis
b. referring the client to a psychiatrist
c. determining suicidal intent
d. selecting the best medication

A social worker answered a call on a suicidal hotline from a call her who is sarcastic and hostile. The worker's best response is:

a. I have no time for this
b. I need to keep this line open, so please get to the point or hang up.
c. I am going to hang up, so you can call back when you are serious
d. I know it was hard for you to make this call, but could you tell me more about the reason for this call

According to the NASW code of ethics, a social worker's respect for a client's rights to confidentiality

a. forbids sharing confidences revealed by clients with others including insurers and supervisors.
b. is left to the worker's discretion
c. includes sharing information revealed by clients with others, without their consent, for compelling reasons.
d. requires workers to keep minimal records since these may not be absolute secure

A social worker uses self-disclosure most appropriately during an interview with a client to

a. communicate empathy
b. facilitate discussion of sensitive topics
c. express genuineness
d. express positive feelings about clients

The two most common defenses used by couples with marital problems are

a. repression and denial
b. repression and suppression
c. projection and displacement
d. projection and splitting

A client who expresses no overt anger accuses her social worker of being angry, hostile, suspicious and cold. The process being used is most likely

a. projective identification
b. paranoia
c. reaction formation
d. isolation of affect

A social worker consistently exceeds job standards. To help the social worker maintain the level of performance, the supervisor should:

a. put a letter of commendation in the social worker's personal file
b. provide the social worker with feedback on an ongoing basis
c. arrange a merit increase for the social worker
d. recommend the social worker for promotion

A social worker facilitates a group of young adults. One member rudely disagrees with the social worker's comments. The social worker is annoyed by this behavior. His best response is to:

a. communicate the feelings of annoyance
b. speak to the person after the group
c. allow the group to respond
d. do nothing until it happens again

A patient in a psychiatric hospital is stealing food and hoarding towels. A program of positive and negative reinforcement techniques is starting to address this behavior. The stealing and hoarding was reduced as a result. In this incident, the reinforcement technique would be considered the:

a. independent variable
b. dependent variable
c. parallel variable
d. causal variable

A client in a state of crisis is most likely to evidence

a. reliance on prior patterns of coping
b. preoccupation with the precipitating stress
c. resistance to change
d. reflection on early experiences of stress

During an adult support group, Jerry often speaks sarcastically of Henry's appearance and his inability to communicate well. Joe and Alice are irritated by Jerry's statements and finally tell them that they do not like his behavior. Jerry turns to the social worker and asks him what he did wrong. The social worker would:

a. suggest to Jerry that he ask Joe and Alice what they meant
b. do nothing
c. ask Jerry why he speaks so sarcastically
d. ask Jerry if he is aware of what he is doing

A clinic forms a treatment group session of young adults. 4 men and 4 women. All 8 clients are present for the first group session. The social worker introduces himself and the members introduce themselves. Then everyone looks expectantly at the social worker. There is silence. The social worker's most appropriate response is to

a. comment that they are clearly expecting her to start things
b. ask everyone to say something about the problems that have brought them to this group
c. not break the silence; wait for the group to start
d. Ask, "where would you like to start"

A middle aged women complaining of recent lack of motivation is seen by a social worker in a mental health agency. The worker would first rule out

a. depression
b. situational stress
c. anxiety
d. bi-polar

Mrs. Lopez, age 76 lives with her adult daughter. She was recently released from the hospital after hip replacement surgery. She refuses to enter a nursing home although her daughter works and cannot care for her full time. What is the most important task of the medical social worker at this time.

a. give the family phone numbers for community resources and tell them to make their own arrangements to assure self-determination
b. assess the strengths of the family for coping with a disabled parent and the potential goodness of fit with home care and visiting nurse agencies
c. insist that Mrs. Lopez enter a nursing home
d. ask the doctor to insist that Mrs. Lopez enter a nursing home.

A child who has been sexually abused asks her social worker to keep the abuse a secret. The social worker would:

a. agree to keep the secret
b. expose the secret without telling the child.
c. tell her that secrets that hurt people need to be talked about openly
d. ask the parents for guidance

In Piaget's theory of the cognitive stages of development, a 2-4 year old would be in the...
a. pre-operational stages
b. concrete operational stages
c. sensory motor stages
d. formal operational stages

A social worker meets a recently widowed 55 year old friend in the supermarket and talks with her briefly. She seems sad and says she has little appetite for food and reduced interest in her usual activities. She says she has a much diminished desire to visit with friends, though she is usually very social. The most probable DSM-IV diagnosis is.

a. depression
b. post-menopausal depression
c. grief reaction
d. there is no DSM-IV diagnosis

The NASW definition of social work includes an emphasis on

a. clinical practice
b. both macro and micro level practice
c. political action
d. continuing education

The unique focus of social work is on

a. psychological aspects of life
b. spiritual aspects of life
c. social functioning of individuals, families, and groups
d. ethical standards for practice

A 40-year-old male client explains that he is seeking care because he suffers from panic attacks. He notes that he gets chills, nausea, dizziness, and experiences fear about once a day. A social worker's FIRST step with this client would be to

a. Teach relaxation therapy
b. Set goals for reduction of anxiety
c. Arrange for a doctor's appointment
d. Assess the client's current situation

Your have accepted a position working in a sheltered workshop. You will be trained by the last social worker before she leaves her post for a new job. The workshop is specifically designed to help individuals suffering from a developmental delay. You would expect the social worker training you to us a primarily focused on a behavioral approach. Of the following interventions, which would she be LEAST LIKELY to use to train you?

a. Provide positive reinforcement to strengthen enhance work performance
b. Assess current familial relationships
c. Create a performance contract with the client
d. Review a new client's past workplace behavior

A counselor at a local high school contacts a social worker in the welfare protection agency and describes the situation of a 14-year-old girl reporting sexual abuse by her father. The social worker's FIRST step should be to:

A. Remove the child from the home
B. Interview the child immediately
C. Contact the police
D. Contact the family

During a group session, a client shares that 7 years ago he set a building on fire, which resulted in the death of a security guard. The social worker may do all of the following EXCEPT:

A. Ask group members how they want to handle the situation
B. Ignore the statement because the situation happened 7 years ago
C. Check out members' feelings
D. Encourage the client to speak with the police

The primary factor for a social worker to consider when setting up a behavioral treatment program for a client is:

A. The nature of the dysfunctional behavior
B. The outcome desired
C. The dysfunctional thoughts behind the behavior
D. The triggers for the behavior

The primary function of management is to

A. Attend to the staffing of the organization
B. Plan organizational activities
C. Achieve the goals of the organization
D. Maintain the morale of employees

The Sustaining system consists of

A. The individual's family
B. The "helping" professions
C. Institutions of the larger society
D. A physiological system that sustains life

There are many different types of groups that social workers lead. The type of group MOST associated with self-improvement and opportunities to expand self-awareness is

A. The Therapeutic Group
B. The Socialization Group
C. The Growth Group
D. The Recreational Group

A child welfare worker has been assessing custody of a child in a divorce case. The guardian ad litem has also been making this assessment. MOST LIKELY, the guardian ad litem's assessment will be:

A. Different
B. Similar
C. Biased
D. Formulative

A SW at an outpatient clinic is working with 38 yr old female who reports having difficulty sleeping for the past 2 weeks. The woman reports that she has been getting a lot of ideas of what she can do in her life and that she cannot keep up with all of them. The woman reports that she has spent all of her money on materials to advance her life and is now at risk for losing her house. The client has never been hospitalized and denies ever being on meds. What is the most likely diagnosis.

A. Bipolar I
B. Bipolar II
C. GAD
D. Schizophrenia

For rapport to develop, it is important for a social worker to:

a. always empathize with the client
b. have similar issues as the client
c. be congruent in words and behaviors
d. be aware of personal biases

a social worker discovers that a nurse is giving more pain medication to a patient than the doctor has prescribed. What should the social worker do?

a. discuss the issue with the nurse
b. report the nurse immediately to the medical board
c. immediately tell the nurse's supervisor
d. tell the doctor

A man in the army is referred to a social worker for alcohol abuse. He and his wife have been having many arguments about his drinking, which have escalated into physical abuse. What you consider for an intervention?
a. assess for alcohol abuse and continue therapy
b. refer to a marriage/family therapist
c. refer to an alcohol treatment center
d. refer to domestic violence classes

Of the following, which would be least important in the acculturation of an Asian girl in treatment with a social worker?

a. the wishes of her parents
b. the social worker's experience with similar situations
c. the social worker's skills
d. the girl's network of friends

When considering Native American customs and developing service plans, social workers should understand that:

a. all Native Americans have the same culture and tribal differences are minor
b. there are important reasons why Native Americans never integrated into American culture
c. with more than 500 tribal groups, there are substantial cultural and social differences
d. it is important for Native Americans to separate from traditional culture if they want to succeed economically

The positive cultural value that is expressed in the ideals of "machismo" is:

a. masculinity
b. family provider and protector
c. power and control
d. cooperation

John, a Japanese immigrant, comes into the office with his 12 year old child, Amanda. Amanda asks if she can be used as an interpreter due to the family's imminent need for housing services. The social worker's best course of action would be to...

a. allow Amanda to interpret just for this session and then hire a professional interpreter for future sessions.
b. refer John and Amanda to a Japanese Social Worker.
c. Hire a trained interpreter and proceed as soon as possible.
d. Try and communicate through an online interpretation device.

Empirical research on diagnostic patterns has historically demonstrated that African Americans with the same symptom presentation as Caucasians will often be diagnosed:

a. less severely
b. more severely
c. the same
d. the research is irrelevant

A psychological, cultural and political orientation to life that both determines and influences how people think, behave, make decisions and understand phenomena is usually called a:

a. world view
b. culture
c. personal opinion
d. perception

A hospital social worker receives definitive information that a social work colleague is engaged in a sexual relationship with a client. In deciding what to do, the social worker must first consider:

a. the impact on the client
b. the impact on the profession
c. the Code of Ethics
d. the views of the supervisor and administration

Data collection in the engagement phase of social work practice means that social workers:
a. identify clients' financial and insurance resources
b. seek out information on any legal or criminal problems
c. interview clients and fill out forms during the initial interview
d. read documents, records and other written materials

A family has just relocated from a homeless shelter to permanent housing. The mother is in recovery from alcohol abuse. The father has been violent with the mother and is unemployed. The 8 year old changed schools 6 times in the past year. The family's records describe the family's problems and note the "contract" to which the parents have agreed and the services that will be provided. The social worker in the permanent housing program's first task is to:
a. assure that the mother continues in an AA program
b. review and prioritize the family's problems and reinforce the family's commitment to addressing them
c. help the father find a job
d. accompany the parents to school with the child

A recent social work graduate displays excellent relationship skills and a strong commitment to clients. The worker knows she has difficulty in translating her insights and goals into specific treatment plans. The worker might ask the supervisor to:

a. point out problems and correct her when she loses sight of the goals
b. provide concrete support and detailed help in areas that require improvement
c. pair her with a more experienced worker
d. provide written guidelines on good practice

5. Per Minuchin, psychosomatic families are most likely to be characterized by which of the following:

A. frequent intense open conflicts between family members
B. weak boundaries between family members
C. family roles that are inflexible and stereotyped
D. marked emotional distance between the husband and wife

Data collection in the engagement phase of social work practice means that social workers:

a. identify clients' financial and insurance resources
b. seek out information on any legal or criminal problems
c. interview clients and fill out forms during the initial interview
d. read documents, records and other written materials

A client expresses her disappointment at not being called back after a job interview and vents her anger at the job interviewer. She informs her social worker of this exchange. The social worker's best response is:

a. You have to be patient in a job search
b. I can see that you're upset about this
c. I wonder how you feel about this
d. I guess you're hurt and angry about not getting the job

A social worker works with a clientele with varied substance and chemical dependencies and decides to establish a new group focused on drug and alcohol rehabilitation. In the first stages of the group, the worker might expect:

a. denial, rationalization, projection
b. low self worth, acceptance, projection
c. surrender, delusions, rationalization
d. denial, rationalization, compliance

While many variables affect suicidality among teenagers, which item below has been a particularly powerful predictor:

a. a recent parental divorce
b. a transfer to a new school
c. a history of occasional drug use
d. a change in family economic status

Mrs. W has a long history of alcohol abuse. Though she has made several failed attempts to quit, she is now convinced that alcohol is affecting her heart and liver and she decides to stop drinking. She refuses medical supervision. Several days after deciding to quit, she arrives at the clinic without making an appointment and demands to see her social worker. She is loud and demanding and seems disheveled and uncoordinated. She then abruptly leaves the clinic. The social worker might conclude that Mrs. W :

a. is going through alcohol withdrawal and needs medical attention
b. wants the social worker's help in managing her discomfort
c. is intoxicated
d. may be experiencing delusions

A woman brings her husband to a busy emergency room because he is not feeling well. He dies while there. What should the social worker do?

a. counsel the wife on grief and loss
b. tell the wife that dying is part of life
c. explain to the wife the stages of grief and loss
d. find a room so that the wife can have privacy to deal with her feelings

14. Two social workers are in a crowded restaurant when one of the social worker's clients approaches them. What should the social worker do?

a. pretend he doesn't know the client
b. introduce the client as his friend to the other social worker
c. tell the client to leave them alone
d. tell the client he'll call him later

Who would be most at risk for abusing his/her children?

a. A young, single mother who drinks
b. a man with a history of impulsive behavior
c. a woman who often gets angry with her teenage son
d. a woman who was raised in homeless shelters.

You have been seeing an elderly couple for one month. The 70 year old husband recently had a stroke. The wife tells you that sometimes he hits her. She rolls up her sleeve and shows you large bruises. You should:

a. consider that the stroke caused his violence
b. report elder abuse
c. refer the couple to a doctor before reporting abuse
d. call adult protective services and ask if you should file a report

A healthy couple has been referred to you because the woman is unable to have orgasms. The doctor that referred them states there are no obvious medical problems. You would first:

a. explain female anatomy
b. begin exploring the couple's relationship
c. find out what the couple has tried thus far to address the problem
d. do a genogram to explore family of origin issues

Which of the following is an issue that lawmakers may need to decide?

a. Anonymity
b. Privilege
c. Confidentiality
d. Self-determination

A man dies and, after hearing of this, a relative living in another state experiences chest pains. Which of the following describes this reaction:

a. Projection
b. Reaction formation
c. Sublimation
d. Introjection

A social worker is making little progress with a client after 4 weeks of treatment. What might the social worker do?

a. refer the client to another social worker
b. schedule a case consultation
c. continue with treatment, it's too early for progress to occur
d. confront the client about their lack of motivation

A 40-year-old male client explains that he is seeking care because he suffers from panic attacks. He notes that he gets chills, nausea, dizziness, and experiences fear about once a day. A social worker's FIRST step with this client would be to

1. Teach relaxation therapy
2. Set goals for reduction of anxiety
3. Arrange for a doctor's appointment
4. Assess the client's current situation

You are called to evaluate a with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He lives in an assisted living facility, and was brought to the emergency room by his daughter. She had taken him to lunch, and became distressed when he refused to return to the facility. He states he wants to live in his motor home, as he resents the loss of privacy at the facility. His daughter confirms he owns a working, fully self-contained motor home (i.e., stove, shower, refrigerator, etc). He has adequate funds. He plans to park the motor home in a nearby Kampgrounds of America (KOA) campground, where all utilities can be hooked up. He can have food and other supplies delivered. However, it is November and it is unseasonably cold. The doctor confirms that the patient is prone to pneumonia, and the daughter states "he will die if he doesn't return to the facility." The patient refuses to consider any other living situation. In this situation, the social worker should:

1. a. Call the police and have them take the patient back to the facility.
2. b. Call adult protective services for further intervention.
3. c. Allow the patient to move into his motor home.
4. d. Place the patient on an involuntary hold for suicidal behavior

You have just had your first session with a 24-year-old college student. She is seeing you following the break-up of a two-year relationship, which occurred without warning about six weeks prior to this visit. As she explained it, "He met someone else and just moved on." She has been having trouble sleeping and concentrating on her studies since that time. Today she presents as dysphoric and tearful, but is affectively expressive and responsive to humor and other interactive stimuli. The university she attends is a considerable distance from her family and friends, leaving her with limited support during this difficult time. The most appropriate diagnosis would be:

1. a. Primary insomnia.
2. b. Major depression.
3. c. Adjustment disorder with depressed mood.
4. d. Acute stress disorder.

You are hired by a private practice therapist who operates a court-supervised violent offender treatment program. One of your responsibilities is to screen new client referrals, to ensure that only low-risk, first-time offenders are accepted into the program. In this process, you are to have each client sign a treatment consent form, which also includes a detailed consent for release of information. You note that instead of the usual time and target limits, the form allows information to be released at any time to "any law enforcement agency," "any spouse, ex-spouse, or significant other," "any welfare or abuse protection agency," etc. You ask about the ethics of having clients sign this form, and you are told, "It's a hassle to try and get specific information releases, and the safety of the public is at stake. Use the form." Your BEST response is to:

a. Use the form as directed.
b. Refuse to use the form.
c. Call your licensing board and discuss the form.
d. Call law enforcement and discuss the form.

In statistical research, a "Type I Error" (also called an "alpha error," or a "false positive") refers to:
a. Failing to reject the null hypothesis when the null hypothesis is false.
b. A failure to randomize research participants, thereby potentially introducing bias.
c. Rejecting the null hypothesis when the null hypothesis is true.
d. Assuming a normal statistical distribution when it is skewed.

Identify the missing step in Albert R. Roberts seven-stage crisis intervention model: 1) assess lethality; 2) establish rapport; 3) __________; 4) deal with feelings; 5) explore alternatives; 6) develop an action plan; 7) follow-up. The third step is:
a. Evaluate resources.
b. Identify problems.
c. Environmental control.
d. Collateral contacts.

Self-Psychology, as postulated by Heinz Kohut, acknowledges that personality is partly formed by social structure. A cohesive self is achieved by incorporating the perceptions and functions of healthy significant others and objects into an internalized self structure through a process called:
a. Empathic mirroring.
b. Rapprochement.
c. Differentiation.
d. Transmuting internalization.

An early cognitive theorist, who worked directly with Freud, established a theoretical orientation that differed from Freud's in three key features: 1) an individual's personality is best perceived as a whole, rather than as having hierarchical segments or parts; 2) social relationships drive behavior more than sexual motivations; and 3) current beliefs and thoughts play a far greater role in human behavior than is suggested via psychoanalytic theory, which is based largely in the unconscious and in past experiences and beliefs. The name of this theorist is:
a. Lawrence Kohlberg.
b. Anna Freud.
c. Albert Ellis.
d. Alfred Adler.

In working with a client, you become aware that she persistently behaves in ways to please or gain the approval of others. While this is not always problematic, you discover that she is obsessed with wearing the "right" clothes, living in the "right" neighborhood, and marrying the "right" person. At present, her finances are in a shambles as she tries desperately to "keep up with the Joneses," and her romantic life is suffering, as she only pursues relations that she believes others think are optimum, rather than judging relationships on more personally relevant values, such as her feelings for them, baseline compatibility, etc. Utilizing Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development, specify the Level and Stage of moral development that applies to this individual:
a. Conventional Level, Stage 3.
b. Pre-conventional Level, Stage 1.
c. Post-conventional Level, Stage 6.
d. Conventional Level, Stage 4.

You have been contacted by a couple to assist them with issues of marital discord. They have been married about six months. The wife presents as vulnerable, tearful, and anxious, and the husband presents as angry and overwhelmed. The wife openly claims that "he has never loved me," and expresses anger that he married her without "the proper feelings." The husband responds that he has "done everything possible" to "prove" his love (to the point of near bankruptcy and jeopardizing his employment with frequent absences), but nothing is sufficient. During the interview, you discover that she has had many short-term relationships in the past, that she has a history of suicide gestures and "fits of rage." Further, she frequently demands a divorce and then begs him to stay, is routinely physically assaultive, etc. The most likely diagnosis is:

a. Intermittent explosive disorder.
b. Histrionic personality disorder.
c. Paranoid personality disorder.
d. Borderline personality disorder.

All but one of the following are National Association of Social Workers (NASW) standards for cultural competence:

a. Social workers should endeavor to seek out, employ, and retain employees who provide diversity in the profession.

b. Social workers shall endeavor to resources and services in the native language of those they serve, including the use of translated materials and interpreters.

c. Social workers should develop the skills to work with clients in culturally competent ways, and with respect for diversity.

d. Social workers should work with diverse clients only if they have had specific training in that client's unique cultural background.

You are seeing a 16-year-old youth who has, for the past year, been losing his temper frequently, is regularly argumentative with adults, often refuses to follow direct requests, is easily annoyed, and routinely uses blaming to escape responsibility. Approximately four months ago he was caught in a single episode of shoplifting. The most appropriate diagnosis for this youth is:

a. Oppositional defiant disorder.
b. Conduct disorder.
c. Impulse-control disorder.
d. Disruptive behavior disorder, not otherwise

Encopresis is defined as:
a. The voluntary or involuntary passage of stool in an inappropriate place by a child over the age of four.
b. The voluntary or involuntary passage of stool in an inappropriate place by a competent adult.
c. Deliberate fecal incontinence only in a child over age four.
d. Involuntary fecal incontinence only in a developmentally delayed adult.

The following criteria are all used to distinguish substance abuse from substance dependence except:

a. Symptoms of substance abuse are usually less severe than those of dependence.
b. The problematic effects of abuse are usually limited to family, finances, employment, and legal issues (e.g., driving under the influence), while dependence also involves significant physiological problems.
c. Substance abuse typically involves narcotics, while dependence typically involves non-narcotic drugs.
d. Abuse is typically limited to recreational use, while dependence involves the need for increasing doses for the desired effect and withdrawal symptoms of not used regularly.

Name the four classic diagnostic "A's" of schizophrenia:
a. Awareness, ambivalence, autism, and associations.
b. Agitation, awareness, associations, and autism.
c. Affect, anxiety, ambivalence, and awareness.
d. Affect, associations, ambivalence, and autism.

You are called to see a young black man in his mid-twenties. Two adult sisters brought him for an urgent appointment. The young man is clean, neatly dressed in slacks, dress shoes, and a tweed sport coat. He is also calm, relaxed, and without any signs of agitation. The two sisters, however, appear disheveled, frazzled, and almost histrionic. They blurt out the he "has problems" and urge you to talk with him. Privately, he tells you that he is fine. Later, however, the ladies tell you he left home abruptly and traveled cross-country with no destination. He didn't sleep for three days (with them pursuing him), was spending money excessively and writing checks he couldn't cover. He ended up in a nationally famous amusement park at 3:00 a.m. (having scaled a fence), sitting on an empty roller coaster "waiting for the ride to start." When confronted, he admits all of this, but says he's now rested, and doing better. The most likely diagnosis would be:
a. Brief psychotic disorder.
b. Bipolar I, single manic episode, in full remission.
c. Bipolar I, single hypomanic episode, in full remission.
d. Cyclothymic disorder.

A therapeutic approach that views the client from a social context, that sees behavior as derived from unconscious drives and motivations, that views disorders and dysfunction as emerging from internal conflicts and anxiety, and that seeks to facilitate the conscious awareness of previously repressed information is called a:
a. Cognitive approach.
b. Psychoanalytic approach.
c. Gestalt approach.
d. Behavior approach.

The concepts of "pre-affiliation" (becoming acquainted), "power and control" (setting the roles), "intimacy" (developing cohesion), "differentiation" (independent opinion expression), and "separation" (moving to closure and termination) are all stages in:
a. The lifecycle of a therapeutic relationship.
b. General relationship cycles.
c. Group development.
d. Team cohesion.

When a client seems overwhelmed or uncertain how to share further, it can help to break down the concerns at hand into smaller, more manageable parts. This communication technique is known as:
a. Fragmentation.
b. Sequestration.
c. Downsizing.
d. Partialization.

"Single system" research designs involve observing one client or system only (n=1) before, during, and after an intervention. Because of their flexibility and capacity to measure change over time, single system designs are frequently used by practitioners to evaluate:

a. Their practice.
b. Difficult clients.
c. Conformation to policy.
d. Regulation adherence.

A fifteen year old girl has been sent home from school on three occasions for drinking alcohol at school. Each time, the mother becomes angry and threatens to punish the girl but is convinced by the father to give her another chance. Which of the following BEST characterizes the father's behavior in this situation?

a. triangulation
b. enabling
c. advocating
d. manipulating

Parents continually refuse to communicate with their child who is in a residential treatment facility. The social worker should FIRST:
a. respect the parent's need for separation by not contacting them
b. request that the child be discharged
c. contact the parents about the child's placement
d. assess the child's response to the parents' actions

Common indicators of sexual, physical and emotional abuse include all of the following EXCEPT:
a. violence against younger children
b. sexualized behavior
c. isolation
d. stuttering

The concept of gender roles is BEST defined as:
a. attitudes and behaviors attached to individuals because of their sex
b. an individual's sex orientation and/or preference
c. biological characteristics that influence an individual's behavior
d. interplay of biological and sociocultural influences

Which type of interviewing question is MOST likely to generate client defensiveness?
a. open ended
b. closed
c. leading
d. why

When interviewing a client whose speech patterns are different from the social worker's, the social worker's PRIMARY consideration should be that:
a. communication patterns vary due to economic conditions
b. speech is influenced by culture and experience
c. psychosocial conditions will cause variations in speech
d. speech is influenced by group taboos and norms and may indicate false beliefs

The initial symptoms of schizophrenia MOST often occur between which of the following years of age?
a. 6 to 12
b. 13 to 16
c. 17 to 45
d. 16 to 60

Which of the following approaches would be MOST appropriate to use in evaluating client satisfaction with the social worker's provision of services?
a. using a single system design, evaluate the quality of services
b. in the final interview, ask the client about their level of satisfaction
c. after submitting process recordings, ask supervisor for feedback
d. at termination, ask clients to complete a service evaluation and satisfaction form

When conducting an assessment of the risk factors of child abuse for a child of a different ethnic background, a social worker must FIRST:
a. be aware of how personal cultural biases affect the social worker's ability to deal with issues of diversity
b. realize that assessment models are not a substitute for clinical judgment or experience
c. use a strengths' perspective rather than a deficit model to form a partnership with the child's family
d. understand the need for appropriate eye contact, tone of voice and question techniques during the assessment

A social worker is receiving a client with long-standing depression. It becomes known that the client has racist beliefs. The social worker should:
a. respectfully confront the client's prejudiced beliefs
b. educate the client about the negative effects of racism
c. refer the client to another therapist who might have similar belief
d. respect the client's beliefs and focus on the presenting problem

You are discussing personality disorders with a younger colleague. They say they seem really confusing. You know personality disorders to be rather simple when you break down the initial diagnostic criteria for them and them separate them into their 3 primary groupings. Because of this, you know the BEST answer about personality disorders is...

A) By definition, personality disorders must be present continuously since childhood.
B) The majority of people diagnosed with one personality disorder meet the diagnostic criteria for at least one other personality disorder.
C) Since personality disorders are treated differently than acute disorders, medical conditions, or life stressors by the DSM-IV, they are placed on Axis III.
D) Because they are more debilitating, people with personality disorders seek treatment more often than people with acute disorders.

From the work of Freud, a group of psychoanalyst arose who would become known as the Neo-Freudians. When you are reviewing the differences between the Neo-Freudians thoughts and the Classical Psychoanalysis of Freud, the PRIMARY difference is that neo-freudians...

A) were unconcerned with life experiences
B) placed greater emphasis on the impact of social influences on ego functions
C) focused on an individual's "innate wisdom"
D) placed greater emphasis on instinctual and unconscious forces.

Your supervisor at a small mental health agency makes a referral to you for individual counseling. During the assessment, the client lets you know they have been a friend and acquaintance of your supervisor for more than 15 years. After you have completed your fourth session with this client, your supervisor asks you to see the client's file since she was the person who made the referral to you. Your BEST response is to...

A) give your supervisor the client file.
B) give your supervisor the file 'facesheet' only
C) refuse to provide the file until the client signs a release of information
D) terminate services with the client and refer to another agency

According to Analytical and Psychoanalytical theories, the individual protects themselves from damage while interfacing with reality (the REAL World) by using defense mechanisms. These defense mechanisms help control anxiety by deflecting and protecting the individual from the demands of the id and superego. Which one of the following BEST describes a defense mechanism?

A) Reaction formation.
B) Dependence.
C) Transitional awareness.
D) Diffusion.

You are working with a counselor who is beginning a short-term group and they state they are not interested in their clients developing any insight into their actions. Which of the following types of therapy would BEST describe the overall concept of the group?

A) psychoanalytical.
B) behavioral
C) Gestalt approaches.
D) Adlerian

You are working with a younger social worker and have been asked a question regarding personality disorders. Of the following personality disorders, which is four to five times more likely to be diagnosed in male patients than in female patients.
A) borderline
B) narcissistic
C) obsessive-compulsive
D) antisocial

You are seeing a female client in her thirties. Therapy is just beginning and you feel she is experiencing episodic depression. Using Aaron Beck's approach to the treatment of depression, the BEST response would be to

A) arrange depression-inducing situations into a hierarchy.
B) record his or her "automatic thoughts."
C) imagine depression-inducing situations in exaggerated forms.
D) instruct her to practice mood repair strategies.

You have been asked by another social worker for help understanding some of the differences between schizophrenia and schizotypal personality disorder. Which of the four statements is NOT true?

A) Both schizophrenics and schizotypals have difficulty on cognitive tasks.
B) Both schizophrenics and schizotypals have enlarged ventricles.
C) Both schizophrenics and schizotypals experience hallucinations and delusions.
D) Both schizophrenics and schizotypals have odd or inappropriate emotional responses.

You are working with a Strategic Family Therapist who uses a number of techniques derived from the communication model in family therapy. One of the techniques in this model is called "prescribing the symptom". The BEST way to understand and describe this technique is ...
A) relabeling a symptoms in order to change its meaning
B) redefining a symptom in order to create systemic confusion.
C) a type of paradoxical intervention to overcome resistance

To a psychoanalyst who follows the work of Sigmund Freud, understanding the initial event which leads to obsessive-compulsive behavior is the result of fixation at a specific stage of psychosexual development. The specific stage is BEST labeled is...
A) oral
B) genital
C) phallic
D) anal

You are working as a discharge planning social worker for the local hospital. You have been assigned the case involving a 53 year-old man and his 78 year old mother. After a medical exam, the physician states that the mother's memory is impaired and she is incontinent of both bowel and bladder, he also states that according to her history she has fallen three times in the last 9 months, the latest fall resulting in her current hospitalization. The physician has suggested that she be placed in a nursing home. You are discussing this with the son and ask questions about support structures which he pleasantly avoids answering. He listens politely and nods occasionally. He then thanks you and tells you his mother will be fine living at his home. What is your BEST analysis for the son's response?

A) the son is unwilling to discuss his family business with you.
B) the son does not agree with the physician and wants to continue to care for mom
C) the son is in denial about the status of his mother's health and condition.
D) the son believes the doctor is trying to take away his responsibility to care for his mother.

You are discussing behavioral therapy and family systems theory with another social worker. They indicate they see a number of systems at play in the family which causes information to be used by the family to change or stay the same. They are interested in an appropriate nomenclature for this system. They ask you what they would call the process which acts to correct a family system in trouble and help restore it to a previous state of equilibrium. You know the BEST answer is...

A) a feedback loop.
B) positive feedback.
C) negative feedback.
D) neutral feedback loop

John is hired by a social service agency to assist with the closing of cases which have been open for a long time. After discussing the situation with the executive director he understands that some cases have been open to services for 18 month or more with no real services being provided. The executive director suggests developing a bonus program which would pay a worker \$50 for each month they kept their caseload under 35 open cases. This would reduce the number of cases which were open but did not need immediate services. John decides instead to offer a \$50 bonus to each worker for every 8 cases they close which has been open for longer than 6 months.
Relying on our behavioral background, which schedule of reinforcement is BEST described by John's plan?
A) Fixed interval
B) Fixed ratio
C) Variable interval
D) Variable ratio

When systematic desensitization is used to treat a phobia, the feared object or event is considered to be
A) the unconditioned stimulus.
B) the unconditioned response
C) the conditioned stimulus.
D) the conditioned response

You have begun working with a 67 year-old male who has recently retired from a job at a manufacturing plant where he had worked for the last 26 years. His initial complaints are depression, isolation and a general feeling of uselessness. You ask about his interactions with friends and he says he has no-one but his wife of 35 years. He jokes that she is getting tired of him hanging around the house. Your BEST intervention would be to...
A) Work with him to schedule a second honeymoon with his wife
B) explore different possible activities which could help bring usefulness back into his life.
C) locate some vocational training so he can go back to work and feel productive again.
D) help him locate a support group in order to further his adjustment in retirement.

You are a non-hispanic social worker treating a Hispanic family. This family recently immigrated to the United States and has been here for about 4 years. At every session, they arrive 10-15 minutes late. You are beginning to question their commitment to therapy and find this late arrival behavior irritating. The BEST way to response to this behavior is to...
A) realize that being late is a form of resistance and discuss their resistance with them.
B) realize that perception of time and 'lateness' may not be understood the same by their culture
C) consider a referral to a social worker with a similar cultural background.
D) Discuss this behavior with them and explain your feelings about it and its possible impact on therapy.

You have just begun working at an agency with a lengthy history. It has been in the community for many years. You attend your second weekly meeting and are very surprised at the interactions. It appears to you that the entire agency is caught up in a very solid "groupthink" atmosphere. You realize you need to begin to minimize the harmful effects of this groupthink. The BEST way to accomplish this task and increase the group's ability to make better decisions is to ...

A) assist the group with exercises to increase group cohesion and interdependence.
B) ask the group leader to present a his favorite solution at the start of meetings.
C) encourage constructive dissidence and structured criticism.
D) ask the group to make more risky decisions

You have a student ask you about Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development. They state that they know Kohlberg viewed his moral development as being driven by...
A) family as the first driver of moral development.
B) innate biological drives and are universal
C) related specifically to peer interactions.
D) school and education rules and religious teachings.

From the viewpoint of the Freudian Psychoanalyst, the purpose of interpretation as an analysis technique is to ...
A) is appropriate only during the final "working through" phase of therapy.
B) Useful in therapy with person's suffering from schizophrenia
C) help the client develop transference
D) helps the client understand the causes of his or her behaviors and beliefs.

You have a social work intern in your office and she has been reading about different therapies. She is slightly confused about Client-Centered Therapy and the work of Carl Rogers. She is unsure how a client centered therapist would approach the concept of client diagnosis. You know the BEST answer is...

A) a task shared equally by the therapist and client.
B) probably unnecessary and possibly detrimental.
C) the initial step in therapy.
D) a process ongoing throughout therapy.

You have gotten into a discussion about ego defense mechanisms with another social worker. They present you with a sheet and ask you which of the following defense mechanisms is NOT described appropriately.
A) A woman who hates her mother goes out of her way to always buy her pretty things: Reaction formation
B) A man with a high level of aggression becomes a local butcher: Sublimation
C) A husband who is cheating but accuses his wife of having an affair to hide his behavior: Displacement:
D) A young wife who goes home to visit her parents for 3 weeks and begins to act very child-like: Regression.

You have been asked by a social work student about the origin of anxiety according to Sigmund Freud and his psychoanalytic theory. Your understanding of Freudian theory allows you to explain the BEST answer is ...
A) emotional reactions to strangers during infancy.
B) the need and ability to repress id impulses.
C) the process of resolving conflicts between the id, the superego, and reality.
D) the process of freeing yourself from symbiotic relationships.

You have been working with a therapist who is involved in biofeedback and cognitive behavior therapy. They are using a form of thermal (heat) biofeedback to teach a client how to control his blood flow in order to reduce body temperature and reduce his migraine headaches. You know that biofeedback works with the nervous system and particularly with the _____________ Nervous system.
A) Sympathetic.
B) Parasympathetic.
C) Somatic
D) Endocrine.

You have recently attended an in-service which talked about the psychologist, Margaret Mahler, you came away from it with the understanding that her concept of "individuation" results in ...
A) achieving a unity among the psychological functions.
B) the ability to establish relationships with others.
C) incorporating the unconscious aspects of the personality into the conscious aspects.
D) recognizing the individual existence of self and others.

Albert Bandura proposed Social Learning Theory. One of its main tenets is BEST described as...
A) the acquisition of a new behavior requires cognitive insight.
B) behavior is learned through a process called modeling.
C) reinforcement is not required to learn new behaviors
D) new behaviors are acquired through stimulus-response connections

You have been asked to consult with another clinical social worker on a client. The social worker feels a diagnosis of Social Phobia is appropriate over a diagnosis of Agoraphobia. You know that the difference between these two diagnoses is BEST described as ...
A) agoraphobia involves distress over the possibility of experiencing severe anxiety or a panic attack.
B) agoraphobia involves a fear of acting in a way that will bring about humiliation or embarrassment.
C) agoraphobia involves a fear of numerous social situations, while social phobia entails a fear of a single circumscribed social situation.
D) agoraphobia involves a fear of places or situations, while social phobia entails a fear of people.

You are working as a social worker for a school district. You have been given a case where the principal of a high school has refused a parent's request to place her son in a special education class. The reason stated by the principal is a report by the student's teacher which states that he is "lazy" and "refuses to do his work" and that he is not "a special needs kid". Your best chance of resolving this situation is to...

A) discuss the student with the teacher in order to convince her the student needs to be placed in a special education class.
B) talk with the mother and try to convince her that her son does not need a special education class and simply needs to adjust his attitude.
C) review the file and come to your own conclusion, then submit a report to the principal.
D) Arrange for an educational evaluation to determine the educational functioning level of the student and make your report based on the results.

You are working in a clinic and during a staff meeting a social worker discusses his client's behavior in terms of the "games" they are playing and the "scripts" they are enacting. You know this social worker has been trained in...
A) Reality therapy.
B) Transactional Analysis.
C) Rational-Emotive therapy.
D) Gestalt therapy.

You are working with a clinical social worker who has been trained in structural family therapy. The new case you are working on is an enmeshed family of four, in which the mother is over-controlling, yells, nags and confronts her 14 and 16-year-old daughters. The FIRST thing a structural family therapist would do is...
A) provide a paradoxical intervention by telling the mother to set aside an hour a day to nag her daughters.
B) create a structural diagram of the family to determine interventions.
C) help the mother develop insight into how her yelling elicits oppositional behaviors from her children.
D) create a role play where the daughters treat the mother in the same fashion they are treated.

Social work has a long history of using the ecological perspective in our clinical work. This is the basis for our "person-in-the-environment" approach. You can see the effects of this running throughout our ethical code. You know that according to the ecological perspective, this intervention ...
A) should focus on the environment.
B) should focus on the social agency is the key to effective treatment.
C) should help clients use their own capacities.
D) should resolve intrapsychic conflict.

You are reviewing a chart of a patient who is being referred to you from a colleague. You notice in the chart a previous clinician has written, "Client has periods of time where they report depersonalization." You understand the BEST way to understand the client is to understand that 'Depersonalization' is characterized by
A) severe free-floating anxiety.
B) disorientation combined with a loss of ego functions.
C) extreme avoidance and irrational fear.
D) internalized voices which tell the person they are 'bad'.

We are moving into a more evidence-based world, and there is a movement to accept and provide therapy under practice theories which have evidence to validate their treatment approach. You have been asked the following question by your supervisor. Of the following practice theories, which one has the most empirical evidence to show it is successful?
A) psychoanalytic
B) social learning
C) cognitive therapy
D) gestalt

You have been asked to consult on a case with another social worker. They are seeing a male client and they are concerned about the possibility of suicide. Given your knowledge of the risk factors which are associated with suicide, which of the following would cause you the MOST concern for suicide potential...
A) the client is between the ages of 17 and 30
B) the client has expressed a desire to kill himself but has no plan
C) the client has expressed a desire to kill himself, has a plan as well as goals for his future.
D) the client has expressed a desire to kill himself, has a plan and has no goals for the future.

You have been working with parents who have an authoritative style of parenting. They encourage their children to be independent but still places controls and limits on their actions. You know that specific parenting styles will lead to specific outcomes. The BEST way to describe the children produced by the authoritative style is...
A) dependent, passive, and submissive.
B) disobedient, aggressive, and rebellious.
C) independent, self-confident, and self-controlled.
D) moody, creative, and independent.

You have been asked to complete a behavioral assessment on a 12-year-old client. You know a behavioral assessment is different from a standard assessment because different areas are evaluated. Which of the following would NOT be an assumption during a behavioral assessment?
A) the assessment would focus on behaviors repeatedly throughout the course of the intervention.
B) the assessment would focus on specific aspects of the individual's behaviors.
C) the assessment would focus on directly observable behaviors.
D) would view outward behaviors as signs of an individual's underlying characteristics

You are working with a younger social worker who asks you about the behavioral model. They are specifically interested in the difference between reinforcement and punishment. You understand the BEST way to answer this question is...
A) the stimuli and response mechanism.
B) the increase in a behavior versus the decrease in a behavior.
C) removing a pleasant or an unpleasant stimuli.
D) presenting a pleasant or an unpleasant stimuli.

You are working with an agency whose mission statement is to help individuals recently released from a psychiatric inpatient program find work and adjust to life in the community. They provide an array of services. However, the level of prevention they operate on is BEST described as...
A) primary prevention.
B) secondary prevention.
C) tertiary prevention.
D) non-crisis intervention.

John has withdrawn from his social circles and has begun to display rather peculiar habits when his friends come over to visit. All of his friends notice small behavior changes, which include odd statements, reference to things that "cannot be" and a comment regarding his beliefs that his dog may be listening into his telephone conversations. He is not known to use any drugs and has had no medical history. Because John is mild mannered and pleasant, his friend have felt his behavior is odd but not a major concern. When Cecelia went to visit him yesterday, he had not bathed in several days. His bird feeder was removed from the backyard and was sitting on the table. When she asked about it, he smiled pleasantly and said in a calm tone of voice, "The birds have been gathering around the bird feeder in order to spy on me and watch what I do during the day. So, I took down the birdfeeder so they can't come around anymore." He mentioned that he was happy because his brother started to call him again and they had a great conversation on the telephone that lasted for about an hour this morning. Cecelia knows that John had only one brother and he died in a car crash several years ago. Cecelia reported this to her friends and is very concerned. She calls a social worker she knows from work and they recommend John be evaluated for a psychotic disorder. Her social worker friend tells her that it is possible John is suffering from Schizophrenia. Cecelia goes online and learns the following about the onset of schizophrenia:
A) It affects about 5% of the population and once treated with medications the person should have no further problems.
B) It affects about 5% of the populations and most people continue to have symptoms throughout their lives.
C) It affects about 1% of the population and treatment is often provided using neuroleptic medications, which can cause Tardive Dyskinesia and may have to be taken on a lifelong basis.
D) It affects about 1% of the population and can cause some incapacity of social and work functioning, but the functioning incapacity is seldom profound.

You are working with a client in a hospital setting. They indicate that want to run down to the cafeteria and get themselves a cup of coffee and asks you if they can get you a cup of coffee as well. The BEST thing to do is to...
A) Decline the coffee but thank the client for their thoughtfulness.
B) Accept the offer because it is "just a cup of coffee" and it is a token gesture of respect.
C) Decline the offer but offer to walk down to the cafeteria with the client and get your own cup of coffee.
D) Accept their invitation but offer to pay for your coffee

You are working with Jodi and during your second session, she states that she is a left- handed individual and therefore is more sensitive, more creative and more emotional than many other people who are right handed. You ask her how she knows this and she says, "I just heard it and it fits me." You are aware that she may be correct according to a theory created by Nobel-prize-winners Roger Sperry and Robert Ornstein. This theory is known as...
A) Brain Schism Theory
B) Brain Lateralization Theory
C) Inherent Lobe Theory
D) Corpus Collosum Effect

You have just completed your 4th session with Matthew, a 35-year-old male who has served two brief prison terms. The first incarceration was for two years and the second for three. He has been out of prison for 7 years. He identifies himself as a devout churchgoer who never misses a service and enjoys being part of his church community. During your sessions, he peppers his language with bible quotes and admonitions. He came to therapy for complaints about stress and anxiety in his life. At this beginning of this session, he admitted that his stress was caused by a letter he received from the State Police Agency declaring him a "person of interest" in a current investigation involving insurance fraud. He stated that while he is an insurance agent he is also very religious. He does not understand why he is being "targeted" in this investigation. Upon questioning, he admits his prior two incarcerations involve fraud and larceny. He also shows no remorse for his prior actions and seems more upset about being arrested and losing his job than disappointing his church friends. You realize you may be dealing with a client who has a past diagnosis of anti-social personality disorder and he is deeply involved in the thinking error known as ...
A) fragmented personality
B) justifying
C) fronting
D) grandiosity

During a monthly staff meeting, your supervisor asks every social work clinician to explain the difference between post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder as described in the DSM-IV TR. Your best response is
A) The duration of the intrusive thoughts and flashbacks occur for more than one month and can be debilitating.
B) the length of time between the trauma and the onset of the symptoms experienced by the client.
C) The level of somatization, which can be observed in the responses to stressors or situations.
D) the degree of trauma, including the nature of the trauma and any pathology that results from it.

You have taken a job as a prison social worker and one of your first clients of the day is a man serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. He has served 8 years up to the point where you meet him. When you ask him why he requested an appointment with mental health he begins a long tirade about how everyone is against him. He tells you the dorm sergeant hates him and his fellow dorm members are always causing him problems. You have read his "prison jacket" and realize he has been sentenced for 1st Degree Murder. When you ask about the crime he was sentenced on he tells you it was not his fault. Upon further questioning, he decides to tell you his story. He went out one night to rob a local drug dealer because he needed cash. He took his brother's pistol. As he was robbing the dealer, the dealer pulled out a gun and shot him, wounded, but not incapacitated he fired back and killed the drug dealer. He was convinced that since the drug dealer shot him first, he was only acting in self-defense. He then stated that his lawyer "screwed him" because his lawyer refused to use self-defense as a legal defense for his actions. You realize the primary issue facing this inmate/client is his internalization of a specific criminal thinking pattern. You recognize this criminal thinking pattern to be...
A) The "good person" stance
B) the "victim" stance
C) the "lack of time" stance
D) the "unique person" stance

You are seeing a 23-year-old female client who appears rather manipulative. She lives at home with her mother and father and does not work or attend school. She makes the following statement during your second session, "If you really cared about me like my mother cares, you would not charge me for treatment." The client has just performed a ....
A) Displacement reaction
B) counter-transference reaction
C) transference reaction.
D) sublimation experience.

Incest and family dynamics have several commonalities. You are evaluating a family who has been referred for possible incest issues. After the evaluation, you have identified several interaction styles and familial roles, which cause you, concern. Which of the following family characteristics would be the BEST indicator incest occurring:
A) serious enmeshment in family relationships with highly stylized roles.
B) attitudes of permissiveness regarding sexuality.
C) permeable boundaries and extreme chaos.
D) Relationships that are high in conflict.

You are working with a mother and father who have an 8-year-old male child. During the first family session you notice the child does not seem very expressive. Each time the child begins to express emotions the parents jump in and squash it. Twice while describing an incident at school the child becomes emotional and then parents tell him "get control of yourself" and "boys don't whine." With this type of parenting you would expect to see which of the following symptoms currently?
A) high anxiety levels.
B) eating disorders.
C) psychomotor problems.
D) acting-out behavior and somatization

You are completing the first session with a women recently separated from her significant other after 7 years of co-habitation which she was hoping would culminate in marriage. She has been separated for 6 weeks and she has met "the man of her dreams." She can't stop thinking about him or talking about him to her friends. You realize she is using a common ego defense mechanism. The ego defense mechanism BEST describing her situation is ...
a.Distortion
b.Projection
c.Displacement
d.Intellectualization

As a new social worker you find yourself being told by your supervisor you need to be more confrontational. This seems at odds with the social work mission, until you supervisor explains the primary purpose of confrontation is to:
A) demonstrate accurate understanding
B) help a client change her view of a problem
C) make a client aware of inconsistencies
D) help the client identify alternatives to her present behavior

You have been working with a client for six sessions and they are covered by BCBS Insurance. They have elected to pay in cash rather than use their insurance benefits. Their insurance company sent you a letter requesting information about the client's progress and the current focus of therapy. Your best response is to...
A) throw the letter in the trash and forget about it.
B) send the insurance company a complete copy of the file.
C) verify the validity of the letter and then copy and send the file.
D) Send the requested information only with the client's written authorization.

You are working for an agency that takes walking referrals. In the middle of your shift you have a walk in referral, concerning a female who is a battered woman. She presents as scared and paranoid. Of the following actions, which intervention should you complete first ...
A) Immediately begin assessment to begin case planning
B) Assist the woman and identifying life patterns which should lead to abuse
C) Obtain referrals for immediate safety
D) Report the abuse to law-enforcement

You are working with the son of an elderly parent. They are concerned about the father's driving and would like to pursue the necessary legal guardianship in order to keep him off the road. Of the following four circumstances he could describe regarding his father, which on would be the WORST reason for pursuing guardianship in regards to the driving issues.
A) His father displays the inability to take care of his basic needs.
B) His father has gotten lost while driving in familiar neighborhoods.
C) His father is a danger to self or others
D) His father displays advanced signs of dementia and is no longer able to manage his financial affairs

Which of the below questions is not evidence of discrimination in a job interview or job application process:
a. Please send a photograph with the application
b. What is your birthdate?
c. What is your husband's occupation?
d. List your previous employment

People from Latino cultures tend to accept help from experts who:
a. sound very knowledgeable and work for prestigious institutions
b. have a reputation for being knowledgeable about a certain subject and are a relative or friend of the person in need
c. are not Latino, but are highly credentialed
d. speak Spanish, are knowledgeable about the area of concern, and have a good reputation in the community

A generalist social worker is most concerned about:
a. focusing on the hierarchy of client needs and the way they interact with the client's problems
b. her/his relationship with the client
c. the client's emotional well-being
d. the way a person's spirit is connected to the client's physical well-being

In a clinical setting the most likely statistically significant program evaluation design would be:
a. experimental
b. quasi experimental
c. single subject
d. type 2

Dysfunctional families that try to maintain the appearance of open, reciprocal relationships with each other are best described by the term:
a. enmeshment
b. mystification
c. pseudo-mutuality
d. disoriented

The most significant clinical purpose for maintaining social work records in a family agency is:
a. to facilitate worker accountability for treatment quality
b. to assess client progress continually and to revise and update treatment planning
c. to provide documentation that protects the agency and the worker from malpractice suits
d. to provide continuity of care and to simplify transfer if the social worker leaves

When testifying in court, a social worker is asked specific questions concerning his client, who is a defendant in a criminal case. What concept should guide the social worker:
a. The social worker has social work privilege and cannot be asked to provide confidential case information.
b. The social work privilege is not absolute and the worker may be required to testify if ordered to do so by the judge.
c. The Code of Ethics requires that the worker refuse to testify.
d. Agency policy requires the worker to maintain absolute confidentiality

A schizophrenic client takes prescribed medications intermittently. After an argument, his partner kicks him out of their apartment and asks the social worker to hospitalize him because his condition is deteriorating. The client sometimes experiences hallucinations, but says he wants to try to live on his own. He refuses hospitalization and says he plans to stop taking his meds. What is the best course of action:

a. acknowledge the right to refuse medication and treatment and seek to maintain a relationship with the client
b. seek an involuntary commitment
c. continue to insist that the client take the medication and note that previous episodes of not taking meds have led to hospitalization
d. suggest that his partner care for him for a short period until he is more stable

A fearful client in a mental health agency is repeatedly asked for money by his drug dependent son. Recently, the son has threatened violence and calls the father at all hours. How should the social worker advise the father?
a. suggest he disconnect his phone
b. ask the client to tell the son to come to the agency and discuss his problems with the social worker
c. do nothing as it is likely that the behavior will stop on its own
d. suggest that he has the right to be fearful and should probably call the police

A client is diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder. It is likely that :
a. his personal life will not be affected
b. he will be excessively studious
c. he will experience performance problems at school and work due to his inability to finish tasks on time
d. he will not have low self esteem

Which of the following most accurately describes a potential problematic triangulation within the therapeutic context?
a. a couples therapist aligning with one spouse
b. a family therapist offering individual therapy to one client
c. an individual therapist referring one of his client to an outside group
d. a child therapist organizing a sep. session with parents.

a patient experiencing dysthymic disorder will:
a. Vividly describe hallucinations that began at least three months ago
b. Have associated eating disorders that began at least six months ago
c. Experience chronic depression on most days for two years or longer
d. Probably be drug dependent

Clients in a mental health agency group are encouraged by the group leader to socialize even when not participating in the group sessions. The group is probably:
a. an analytically oriented group
b. a behavioral group
c. a supportive group
d. a transactional group

Empathy has been described as an attitude that engages a client in treatment. Which of the following best describes empathy?
a. acknowledging what the client is saying
b. accepting what the client is saying
c. understanding what the client is saying
d. judging what the client is saying

a man who lives in your neighborhood phones you expressing concerns about his son's conduct at school. The boy has skipped classes and his grades have declined this year. You and the man have several friends in common and you see him frequently at parties. The man asks if you would see his son for therapy. Your best course of action is to:
a. see the son for therapy after you clarify issues of confidentiality with his parents
b. see the son once to assess his needs and then refer him to another social worker
c. refer the son to another social worker
d. agree to see the son for therapy

You are a social worker practicing in a rural town. One of the local agencies asks you to test a child for ADHD. You would:
a. Tell them you will need to speak with the child's parents
b. Test the child
c. Tell them you would need to speak with the school
d. Refuse

You receive a phone call from clients who have a child who is refusing to shower. They report the child cries when they attempt to get him to shower, and when they back away and leave him alone, he stops crying. This is an example of:
a. positive reinforcement
b. negative reinforcement
c. punishment
d. modeling

Case management is used for the purpose of:
a. improving overall client functioning
b. providing client support
c. coordinating resources
d. gaining access to resources

There has been a traumatic event in your town. You have been instrumental in providing services. You would like to publicize the work you did. You would:
a. write your congressman and ask him to issue a public statement about your work
b. call the newspaper and ask them to do a story
c. write your local social work board
d. nothing - this would be unethical

A social worker is interested in seeing the extent to which current clients are satisfied with a new relapse prevention program. The social worker distributes a client satisfaction survey to those in the program. The social worker then collects the surveys and analyzes the results that are presented to a management team in the agency. The social worker is conducting which type of evaluation?
a. formative
b. summative
c. periodic
d. exploratory

During an intake interview, a client reports that she is extremely depressed and has self-destructive thoughts. She has had prior suicide attempts, but tells the social worker not to worry as she won't "do it again." The social worker should FIRST:
a. create goals with the client
b. conduct a safety assessment
c. call 911
d. begin therapeutic interventions

A client is in the hospital and an attorney calls requesting his records. What are your ethical obligations?
a. To turn over the records
b. To claim privilege
c. To ask the client to sign a release form
d. To maintain confidentiality

A single mother with 3 children is unemployed, has no support or family who live in the area, no services for the children, and no resources for herself. The mother states she would like a support network. What type of services would you provide for her?
a. respite services
b. referral to unemployment
c. referral to a support group
d. referral to parenting classes

A client is told by her doctor that she has breast cancer. She is distraught and says she doesn't know what to do. She has 6 children. Which of the following would you do?
a. Refer her to a support group
b. Refer her for further medical tests
c. Encourage her to make provisions for her children
d. Provide supportive therapy

A 5 year old boy is watching his 18 month old sister have her diapers changed and becomes aggressive. The mother is concerned. What would your intervention be?
a. normalize his behavior
b. get the family in treatment
c. get the 5 year old in treatment
d. start treatment with the mother

You decide that one of your clients could be best helped by a treatment intervention that is outside your scope of practice. What would you do?
a. end treatment with the client
b. seek consultation
c. tell the client you are not familiar with the needed intervention
d. get training in this intervention

A female client is having difficulty eating and sleeping. She cannot complete her work because she is plagued by constant worrying. What is the most likely diagnosis?
a. bipolar disorder
b. generalized anxiety disorder
c. major depressive disorder
d. adjustment disorder

A client is referred to you due to ongoing depression. Your best intervention is:
a. refer to a doctor for medication
b. refer to a psychiatrist for medication
c. refer to support groups
d. begin individual counseling

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

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 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

In a routine review of case records at a mental health center, a social work
supervisor discovers that case managers routinely refer all Native American
clients to either Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon. In discussing this
practice with the case managers, the supervisors learns that the referrals are
made without obtaining information about the clients' use or abuse of
substances. How can the supervisor effectively address this practice?
a. Reprimand case managers providing client services based on
stereotyping
b. Educate the staff about services provided by Alcoholics Anonymous
and Al-Anon
c. Provide staff training about culturally competent social work practice
d. Allow no referrals to be made without approval from the supervisor

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

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 expression and ventilation of feelings. The
supervisor is providing:
a. Education
b. Consultation
c. Therapy
d. Support

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. This behavior is
BEST described as:
a. Identification with the abuser
b. Hostility toward peers
c. Conduct disorder, group type
d. Passive-aggressive personality disorder

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

A social work 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
c. Seek permission from clients for destruction of their records
d. Store records for the number of years required by law

A school social worker meets with a teenager who is increasingly frustrated
and disengaged in school. The student appears to be bright, but unmotivated,
and does not submit completed homework assignments. Meetings with the
student have not resulted in changes in the teen's behaviors. What should the
social worker do NEXT?
a. Consider an alternative educational program for the student
b. Arrange for individual tutoring sessions for the teen
c. Refer the teen for evaluation by an educational psychologist
d. Create a behavioral self-monitoring plan with the student

A doctor notifies a hospital social worker that a child with a chronic illness
has not kept any appointments in the past year and must be evaluated four
times a year. The doctor states that if the child does not come for the
appointments, it will be considered medical neglect by the parents. The
social worker learns the mother has a physical disability and lives over an
hour away from the medical center. The mother asks if the child can be
treated at a local medical center instead. What is the MOST appropriate
action for the social worker to take?
a. Insist that the child go to at least four medical visits per year
b. Explore an alternative treatment schedule with the doctor
c. Empathize with the mother about the limitations of her physical
disability
d. Determine if the child can receive health care services near the home

A client is referred to a social worker regarding depression that began eight
months earlier. The client reports irritability, sleep problems, and loss of
appetite. In exploring the onset of the depression, the social worker learns
that the client had an abortion nine months ago. What should the social
worker do FIRST?
a. Complete a comprehensive eating disorder assessment
b. Offer relaxation strategies to address sleep problems
c. Refer the client to a grief and bereavement group
d. Ask about the meaning of the abortion to the client

.An adoption social worker is involved in permanency planning for siblings
and wants to place them in the same home. One of the siblings is receiving
therapy and has severe behavioral problems that may make adoption
difficult. In considering whether the siblings can be placed together, what
should the social worker do FIRST?
a. Plan for long-term placement based on the children's preference
b. Request a recommendation from the child's psychologist about
placement risks
c. Allow the children to remain in foster care until they can be adopted
together
d. Make the decision to separate the siblings permanently to facilitate
adoption

A family services agency has a high number of clients who do not keep
appointments. The agency's social work administrator conducts a client
satisfaction survey, which reveals that clients believe the agency is not
welcoming to their children. To address the clients' concerns, the
administrator should FIRST:
a. Create specialized activities for children
b. Evaluate the need to change agency programs
c. Obtain consultation to develop an action plan
d. Form a committee of clients and staff to identify solutions

During an initial therapy session with a social worker, a client indicates that
she wants to disclose certain information but is reluctant to do so because it
involves others in her family. In response, the social worker should:
a. Explain that the social worker is ethically mandated to maintain
confidentiality
b. Discuss the issue of confidentiality and the factors that would cause
disclosure
c. Assure the client that she does not have to share any information until
she is ready to do so
d. Quickly establish rapport with the client to increase her level of trust

A rural social worker has recently been assigned to work with a person
convicted of child molestation. The social worker is not knowledgeable or
skillful enough in the treatment of sex offenders to provide effective
services. What should the social worker do in this situation?
a. Conduct a review of the research literature to identify an evidencebased
approach
b. Consult professional colleagues about the situation and follow their
recommendations
c. Suspend the client's treatment until the social worker receives
adequate education and training
d. Find and use the supervision of an expert in treating sex offender

Privileged communication is BEST defined as:
a. Ethical standards that dictate the social worker cannot reveal client
information under any circumstances
b. Advance directives, such as living wills and enduring powers of
attorney, which protect client wishes and decisions
c. The privileges granted the client in communication with the social
worker
d. Legal rights that, under certain circumstances, protect clients from
having their communications revealed in court without their
permission

Over a period of several months a social worker thoroughly prepares a client
for joining a group, including establishment of a contract for three months of
participation. After one group session, the client informs the social worker
that she will not return to the group. What should the social worker do
FIRST?
a. Remind the client of her commitment to three months of group
participation
b. Terminate the client from all services
c. Discuss the client's failure to integrate with the group
d. Encourage the client to discuss her reasons for leaving

Research findings from a study of cancer patients in one hospice agency can
be generalized to:
a. All hospice patients
b. All cancer patients
c. The general population
d. The population studied

A social worker meets with a group of concerned citizens who want to stop
youth drinking and driving. At an initial meeting, it is suggested that if the
youth can find jobs then they will not drink. Another suggestion is that the
parents should become more involved in the youths' lives. They also want
the police department to be more accountable for what happens with the
youth. What should the social worker encourage the group to consider
FIRST?
a. A meeting with the police department to learn about policies and
procedures
b. Recommending that the licenses of youth who drink and drive be
revoked
c. A joint meeting with the youth to understand their concerns and issues
d. Collection of all the statistics about youth and crime for the town

What is the FIRST thing that social workers should do when attempting to
evaluate institutionalized racism in their agencies?
a. Analyze the agencies' policies and procedures
b. Discuss the issue of fairness with their supervisors
c. Review literature on eliminating discriminatory practices
d. Review policies that have been successful in other agencies

In a clinical setting, information gathered from an ecomap is MOST often
used to:
a. Identify a family's evolutionary patterns
b. Assess family strengths and weaknesses
c. Assess intrafamilial communication patterns
d. Identify systems that are part of a family's life

A school social worker working with an adolescent girl is concerned about
the girl's weight loss and withdrawal from her peer group. Upon
questioning, the girl expresses fear of gaining weight, and states that she
exercises three hours a day and has stopped menstruating. What initial
diagnosis should the social worker consider?
a. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
b. Anxiety disorder
c. Bulimia nervosa
d. Anorexia nervosa

A social worker at a senior health center is working in a government
program that provides services to all seniors. What is this approach to the
provision of services called?
a. Incremental
b. Institutionalized
c. Preventive
d. Residual

A social worker in a youth recreation program conducts an initial interview
with a teenager. The social worker concludes that the presenting problems
involve the teen's need to get a job to meet personal needs. What should the
social worker do NEXT?
a. Contact the teenager's parents
b. Consult with the supervisor
c. Discuss planning with the client
d. Provide needed assistance

A social worker can BEST enhance a family's ability to understand each
other's views by requesting that they:
a. Clarify each family member's statements
b. Identify weaknesses in the other family member's arguments
c. Focus on the identified client
d. Remain silent while the other family members are talking

During supervision, a social worker talks about personal feelings of
inadequacy that surfaced during sessions with a particular client. The social
worker's reaction describes:
a. Resistance
b. Countertransference
c. Transference
d. Projective identification

an agency social worker becomes aware that a co-worker frequently
consumes alcohol on their lunch break. When this occurs, the co-worker
does not appear intoxicated. This individual is responsible for driving foster
children to and from specialized services throughout the day. What is the
FIRST action the social worker should take?
a. Discuss the drinking directly with the co-worker
b. Inform the co-worker's supervisor of the behavior
c. Continue to observe and document the co-worker's actions
d. Consult the state social work regulatory board for direction

The personality disorder that is characterized by a restricted range of
emotional experience and expression is:
a. Antisocial
b. Schizoid
c. Histrionic
d. Dependent

A nursing home social worker has a client who is elderly and mentally alert.
The client declines a medical procedure that most likely will prolong life. An
adult child tries to persuade the social worker to change the client's mind
about the decision. The social worker should:
a. Respect the client's capacity to make the decision
b. Explain to the client the treatment choice that has been made
c. Allow the client's family member to make an appropriate choice
d. Challenge the adult child's decision only if it seems to violate ethical
principles

A client begins seeing a social worker at the encouragement of family
members. Family members are concerned about the client's well-being after
losing a long-term job seven months ago. The client reports being frequently
irritable and unable to focus on tasks. The client has also been experiencing
nausea, excessive perspiration, and insomnia. The client is MOST likely
experiencing which disorder?
a. Posttraumatic stress
b. Generalized anxiety
c. Acute stress
d. Dysthymia

A belief that one's thoughts alone can result in the accomplishment of
certain wishes is:
a. Depersonalization
b. Magical thinking
c. Thought broadcasting
d. Looseness of associations

.Which of the following activities is LEAST effective for the social worker in
engaging clients in the beginning phase of treatment?
a. Considering options for problem resolution with the client
b. Exploring the client's perceptions of the problem
c. Reducing the client's anxiety by providing support
d. Clarifying the services that can be offered to the client

Which of the following statements is an assumption of crisis theory?
A Anger is a useful dynamic if consciously used.
B Insight is a prerequisite for change.
C Ability to cope with stress can be learned over time.
D Internal conflict prevents change.

The juvenile facilities in a city are clearly substandard. As a first attempt to aid in correcting the problem, the social worker should:
A mobilize interest groups to explore and recommend alternatives
B file a lawsuit to force the city to upgrade the facilities
C organize the parents of the juveniles to demand change
D upgrade prevention programs to keep more youths out of jai

In the process of referral, clients will MOST likely follow through to the new agency if:
A they have a clear understanding of what the new agency has to offer
B the option to follow through is left up to the clients
C they are informed of the consequences if they do not follow through with the referral
D they know that the agency is expecting them

According to psychodynamic theory, when a client relates to the social worker as though the social worker is someone from the client's distant past, the client is experiencing:A transferenceB projectionC conversion reactionD introjection

In an initial interview a client appears suspicious of her surroundings and of the social worker. She says that she wants to reveal certain facts but feels that this would get friends in trouble. The appropriate response for the social worker is to:
A encourage the client to talk about these things since she can trust the social worker to maintain confidentiality
B tell the client that she understands how hard it is for her to feel safe in this new situation and that she should reveal information when she feels ready
C explain to the client how social workers maintain confidentiality and show her how the files are locked to ensure privacy
D involve the client in a discussion of a less threatening subject

When critiquing a research article in a professional journal, a social worker should minimally be able to:
A project the applicability of the findings to another group
B incorporate the results into policy planning at his or her own agency
C replicate the study in order to determine its reliability
D evaluate the appropriateness of the research design

A competent college student has been waking very early, has lost interest in eating and socializing, and is not certain about her continued ability to handle her studies. These symptoms MOST likely indicate:
A depressive disorder
B anxiety disorder
C anorexia nervosa
D insomnia

A 45-year-old client has made frequent references to death and violence. The MOST accurate indicator of impending harm to self or others is:
A the client's continuous catharsis of extreme hostility
B a history of violent behavior
C expression of a preferred method or plan
D excessive crying

When services are provided to a patient in the hospital, the social worker makes regular entries in the patient's medical record PRIMARILY to:
A demonstrate to the administration that the social service department is providing adequate services
B protect the hospital should a legal suit arise
C facilitate communication among staff members regarding the care that is being provided to the patient
D provide documentation for accountability purposes

The concept of secondary gain in the psychodynamic approach is MOST congruent with the social learning theory concept of:
A punishment
B extinction
C discrimination
D learning reinforcement

A pregnant 17yearold has been referred to a school social worker. The client is upset, confused, and uncertain about her options. After several appointments with the client, the social worker recognizes that her own values may be interfering with her relationship with the client. The social worker's MOST appropriate action is to:
A discuss the value dilemma with her supervisor
B refer the client to another social worker
C refer the client to a family planning agency for services
D arrange a family therapy session to discuss the pregnancy

Which of the following tasks is appropriate for a social worker utilizing a strategic approach to family therapy?
A Designing an intervention for each specific problem
B Limiting interventions to the immediate family
C Assuming a nondirective role with the family
D Completing an in-depth family history

Which statement BEST describes resistance in the beginning stages of treatment, according to psychosocial theory?
A The client anticipates criticism from the social worker following self-disclosure.
B The client minimizes problems and claims that the presenting problem has been resolved.
C The client misinterprets statements made by the social worker.
D The client is dependent on the social worker for advice in dealing with problems

A client has met weekly with a social worker for five weeks. The relationship with the social worker has been positive. During the sixth visit, the client becomes angry and challenging when the social worker makes a clarifying comment. The social worker's BEST response to the client's reaction is to explore:
A the client's understanding of the social worker's statement
B the client's resistance to change
C limits for the client's behavior
D the client's use of defense mechanisms

A husband has been committed to a psychiatric hospital as a result of violent rages and assaultive behaviors directed toward his wife. In speaking with the social worker, the husband blames his wife and threatens to harm her. Later he retracts his threat and asks the social worker not to mention it to anyone. The social worker should FIRST:
A notify the police
B document the threat and notify the treatment team
C request psychological testing to assess degree of danger
D explore the client's ambivalence and develop a treatment plan

A social history with a 52-year-old female admitted following a suicide attempt reveals that she had been sexually abused for six months by a relative when she was 12. In completing the social history, the social worker should NEXT:
A take a complete sexual history
B obtain confirmation of this abuse from other family members
C determine how the abuse contributes to the client's presenting problem
D acknowledge but give little weight to the information since it is not directly related to the immediate problem

If a member of a therapy group breaches the confidentiality of another group member, the social worker should:
A have a joint interview with the two clients involved
B have an individual session with the client who has been betrayed
C terminate the client who breached confidentiality
D discuss the breach of confidentiality in the group

An elderly client is blind and confined to bed. Assistance with daily living skills by a neighbor has allowed the client to remain at home. However, the social worker is suspicious that the neighbor is taking the client's money and providing less than adequate care. The client wishes to remain at home, continuing the arrangement with the neighbor. The home health staff is concerned that interference in the situation will damage rapport with the client. The social worker's FIRST responsibility is to:
A discuss the situation with the agency's lawyer
B report to adult protective services
C confront the neighbor about the suspicions
D work with the client to accept alternatives

An 18-year-old single mother has a 20-month-old child placed in foster care for six months because of neglect. The mother has followed her reunification plan, and the foster care plan is to return the child to the home. The foster care social worker learns two weeks before the hearing that the mother is several months pregnant. The worker's BEST option is to request that the:
A mother regain legal and physical custody and close the case
B child remain in foster care until after the birth of the baby
C physical custody be returned to the mother and the family situation be monitored by the agency for six months
D court date be postponed until the baby is born

A 67-year-old who has recently retired seeks therapy with a social worker because of confusion, irritability, and inability to concentrate. The social worker should FIRST:
A refer the client for a comprehensive physical exam
B assign the client to a support group for recent retirees
C assure the client these symptoms are common following a major life change
D explore adequacy of plans made for retirement

An adult client with no strong family ties is preparing for discharge from a psychiatric hospital. Which of the following social work activities will BEST contribute to the client's successful reentry into the community?
A Helping the client locate appropriate housing
B Ensuring that the client has achieved maximum hospital benefit
C Helping the client to apply for financial assistance
D Collaborating with community agencies

The parents of children placed in foster care have made no progress after extended casework services in improving the behavior that resulted in the children being removed from their home. The child services agency staff has determined that procedures to terminate parental rights will begin in the next few months. The foster care worker's NEXT step should be to:
A increase efforts with the parents to modify the parents' behaviors
B begin to prepare the children for the transition of having parental rights terminated
C ensure that the physical and mental health histories of the children's maternal and paternal families are available
D request that a legal guardian for the children be appointed

A social worker in a neonatal intensive care unit is approached by a hospital volunteer asking which infants may be available for adoption. The social worker's BEST response is to:
A take the volunteer to view infants being placed for adoption
B refer the volunteer to a lawyer representing the parents seeking to place an infant
C introduce the volunteer to parents seeking to place an infant in an adoptive home
D decline to share such information with the volunteer

A social worker is consulting with the parents of a young adult who has been recently diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. The social worker should FIRST:
A obtain a family history of the client
B identify programs available for the client
C provide information about the disorder
D develop ways to maintain the client's independence

A DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of major depression, single episode, is indicated by all of the following symptoms EXCEPT:
A flat affect
B feelings of hopelessness
C hallucination and hearing voices
D suicidal gestures

Which of the following techniques can assist a multi-problem client during the intake process?
A Free association
B Interpretation of dreams
C Partialization
D Reflective consideration of dynamic content

Which of the following treatment paradigms uses the technique of "time out"?
A Social learning
B Psychodynamic
C Humanistic
D Systems

An 80-year-old client has a double below-the-knee amputation which requires weekly medical attention. The client is living with her son but wants to relocate to an area with limited support services despite family wishes. She has requested assistance from the hospital social worker. The hospital social worker should FIRST:
A consult with the medical team to determine the client's medical needs
B meet with the family to explore their concerns
C develop a plan with the patient to facilitate the move
D provide the client with information obtained from agencies in the relocation area

A social worker makes home visits to a young mother with her first baby. On the first visit, the four-month-old baby smiles, laughs, and responds to the worker's approaches. During a visit when the child is eight months old the baby turns away when the worker approaches, looks distressed, and begins to cry. The social worker should interpret this change of behavior as MOST likely due to:
A conditioned fear response
B developmentally normal stranger anxiety
C child abuse
D normal temperamental irritability

In facilitating a hospital support group for bereaved parents, a social worker can discuss a personal experience with the death of a child to:
A create empathy with the participants
B receive help from the group
C create a sense of shared experience
D establish a role as expert on grief issues

Q
A client reacts to criticism with rage, is interpersonally explosive, has a grandiose sense of self, is preoccupied with thoughts of unlimited success, and has a sense of entitlement. This meets the criteria for which of the following DSM personality disorder diagnoses?
A Paranoid
B Antisocial
C Narcissistic
D Histrionic

A hospital social worker encounters a family that has just experienced the death of an infant due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The LEAST appropriate social work intervention with the family unit would be to:
A offer sympathy for the family's loss
B help family members share their grief
C provide information on SIDS
D make funeral arrangements

Which of the following social work activities would be considered a PRIMARY prevention effort to address the problem of child abuse?
A Helping design legislation which protects the rights of children
B Providing shelters for children who have been abused
C Conducting treatment groups for abusive parents
D Delivering crisis intervention in-home services for abusive families

A client has been evicted and is in need of immediate housing. The client's social worker owns an apartment building and has an available unit. The social worker should:
A allow the client to temporarily rent the unit the social worker owns at a reduced rate
B refer the client to several apartments, including the one owned by the social worker
C refer the client to apartments owned by anyone not personally known to the social worker
D refer the client to an apartment owned by a close friend of the social worker who will give the client a reduced rat

A 17-year-old mother of an infant wants to return to high school to complete her senior year with her class. The principal advises the student to remain at home until her child is older and informs her that evening classes are available. The student seeks the services of the school social worker. The social worker should:
A assist the student in understanding the principal's recommendation
B meet with the principal and student to advocate on the student's behalf
C report the matter to the school board
D explore with the student alternative educational opportunities

A 15-year-old girl has been sent home from school on three occasions for drinking alcohol. Each time, the mother becomes angry and threatens to punish the girl but is convinced by the father to give her another chance. Which of the following terms BEST characterizes the father's behavior in this situation?
A Triangulating
B Enabling
C Advocating
D Manipulating

A classroom teacher refers a sevenyearold child to a school social worker because the child consistently comes to school tired, unclean, and unable to concentrate on lessons. The social worker's FIRST action should be to:
A make a referral to child protective services
B refer the child for academic testing
C meet with the parents and the child
D refer the child to the school nurse

The phase of the helping process which leads to subsequent implementation of interventions is:
A exploration and summation
B exploration, assessment, and planning
C initiation of establishing rapport
D clarification and analysis

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 discuss the attraction with the client
C transfer the client to another agency worker
D discuss the case with colleagues for feedback

A child can walk well but still runs with an awkward gait. She enjoys playing and pushing large objects such as carts and wagons. She plays with other children, but is not able to play with them in a cooperative way. Her vocabulary is about twenty-five words and she is able to put two to three words together to express an idea. This child would be considered to be at the developmental age of:
A nine months
B twelve months
C two years
D four years

A 40yearold patient with a long history of substance abuse has been diagnosed with AIDS in the advanced stage and is being considered for discharge from a treatment facility. The patient's elderly parents have expressed willingness to have the patient return to live with them. In formulating discharge plans, the social worker should FIRST evaluate which of the following factors?
A Availability and access to outpatient health services
B The family's ability to provide care
C Patient's likelihood of involvement in substance abuse
D Availability of financial and vocational resources in the community

The PRIMARY source of information for a social history on a client diagnosed with middle stage Alzheimer's disease is the:
A individual client
B client's family
C referral source
D attending physician

A social work administrator is designing an after-school tutorial program for school-referred students with learning disabilities. On the administrator's staff are a psychologist and a classroom teacher. Which additional professional should be added to the staff to ensure a comprehensive assessment?
A Recreational therapist
B School nurse
C Reading specialist
D Special education teacher

Common indicators of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse include all of the following features EXCEPT:
A violence against younger children
B sexualized behavior
C isolation
D stuttering

The concept of gender roles is BEST defined as:
A attitudes and behaviors attached to individuals because of their sex
B an individual's sexual orientation and/or preference
C biological characteristics that influence an individual's behavior
D interplay of biological and sociocultural influences

A client frequently arrives late for appointments with her social worker and sometimes fails to call in advance to cancel. When confronted, she minimizes the problem and accuses the social worker of having unreasonable expectations. The social worker's MOST appropriate response is to:
A ask the client to sign an attendance agreement and pay for missed appointments
B encourage the client to talk about her feelings and perceptions
C transfer the client to another therapist
D offer the client a different appointment time

A Latino child has been referred to a mental health clinic because of disruptive behavior at school. The mother speaks limited English, is confused, and does not understand the referral or the school's concerns. In the referral to a Spanish-speaking social worker, the child's male teacher notes that the mother will not communicate with him and seems uninterested. To facilitate an assessment, the social worker's NEXT step is to:
A arrange to go with the mother for a school conference
B observe the child in a classroom setting
C refer the child for a psychological evaluation
D schedule an appointment for a family assessment

The purpose of feedback in a social work interview is to:
A allow the social worker to confront distortions in the client's thinking
B summarize the main points of the interview
C let the client know the social worker understands the issue
D give the social worker the opportunity to self-disclose for the benefit of the client

A client presents with numerous symptoms of depression. Her spouse of 22 years died recently. She is not sleeping or eating well and cries often. An additional symptom which would lead to a diagnosis of major depressive disorder rather than uncomplicated bereavement would be:
A withdrawal from close friends
B a sense of hopelessness
C obsessive thoughts about the deceased
D talking about the deceased at every opportunity

A nine-year-old student was referred to the school social worker because of aggressive behavior on the playground. In the first telephone contact with the child's mother, the social worker learns that the child has become more aggressive at home since the mother's remarriage three months ago. In this situation, the social worker's FIRST task should be to:
A help the teacher to design a behavior modification program
B intervene with the child on the playground
C meet with the parents for an assessment interview
D place the child in a peer support group

A newly arrived immigrant family has a 14-year-old daughter in junior high school. The school is encouraging her to become involved in after-school activities. The girl tells the school social worker that she is not permitted outdoors after school. The social worker should FIRST:
A encourage the parents to allow the student greater freedom
B tell the student that she can stay out during daylight
C facilitate interactions with peers during school hours
D refer the student to a support group

During an interview with a client who has failed to meet the goals of a contract, the client blames the social worker for the failure. This statement is an example of:
A rationalization
B reaction formation
C compensation
D projection

A PRIMARY strategy for social workers interested in community building, networking, and local level problem resolution is:
A interorganizational collaboration
B interagency consultation
C an ad hoc agency committee utilization
D force field analysis employment

Which type of interviewing question is MOST likely to generate client defensiveness?
A (A)Open
B Closed
C Leading
D Why

When interviewing a client whose speech patterns are different from the social worker's, the social worker's PRIMARY consideration should be that:
A communication patterns vary due to economic conditions
B speech is influenced by culture and experience
C psychosocial conditions will cause variations in speech
D speech is influenced by group taboos and norms and may indicate false beliefs

A social worker meets with a couple who refuse to provide appropriate medical care to their child with a life threatening illness because of their religious beliefs. The child is receiving some care within the guidelines of their church's ministry but the child's condition is deteriorating. How should the social worker respond to this dilemma?
A Take no action on the basis of client confidentiality
B Not report the situation because the family's right to self-determination restricts the worker's actions
C Report the situation to child protective services
D Continue to strongly encourage the family to take a different action in the best interests of the child

The biological parents' rights have been terminated and the child is placed in foster care. Some months later, the parents contact the foster care social worker, requesting that their child be returned to their custody. The social worker should:
A set up an agreement for changes needed before agreeing to reconsider reunification
B advise the parents to talk to a lawyer about their request
C inform the parents that there is nothing the social worker can do
D request that the parents agree to a home study as a preliminary to reunification

A mother and her 15yearold pregnant daughter seek consultation for the daughter's unplanned pregnancy. The mother wants the baby to be released for adoption because she is in ill health and cannot help her daughter raise the baby. The social worker's FIRST response should be to:
A encourage the young woman's mother to consider other options
B help formulate an adoption plan
C meet with the young woman alone to explore her feelings and wishes
D suggest that the mother participate in the treatment sessions

A couple consults a social worker because their child is disobedient. The social worker is aware that the couple has little understanding of child development and ageappropriate behavior. To most effectively serve this family, the social worker should FIRST:
A let the parents know that their expectations are inappropriate
B discuss behavioral techniques to assist the parents in achieving their goal
C acknowledge the parents' concern and explore with them possible methods of intervention
D recommend parenting classes for the parents to increase their understanding of child behavior and parent effectiveness

A tenyearold child is referred to a school social worker for irritability, poor concentration, and low selfesteem experienced during the past year. Which diagnosis would be appropriate?
A Oppositional defiant disorder
B Communication disorder
C Dysthymic disorder
D Separation anxiety disorder

A family with a 14-year-old pregnant daughter has come for family therapy. The parents are angry at the daughter and cannot agree with one another as to the course of action they should take. The social worker should FIRST:
A establish trust with the daughter
B assess the family motivation for services
C evaluate the anger level of family members
D identify each family member's view of the problem