Practice Questions

Question 1

A social worker is treating a married couple in joint therapy. During an individual session, one partner discloses that they have been having an affair and do not plan to tell their spouse. What is the MOST appropriate action?

A) Maintain confidentiality and encourage the client to disclose the affair in the joint session.
B) Inform the other spouse during the next joint session, as both clients have the right to know.
C) Inform the client that joint therapy cannot continue unless they disclose the affair.
D) Break confidentiality and inform the other spouse of the infidelity.

Answer 1

A. Maintain confidentiality and encourage the client to disclose the affair in the joint session.

Question 2

A client who is a public figure is receiving therapy at your agency. A reporter contacts you and asks for confirmation that the client is receiving treatment. What is the BEST response?

A) Confirm that the client is receiving services but provide no further details. B) Refuse to provide any information, including whether the person is a client.
C) Ask the client if they want to provide a statement to the media.
D) Confirm the client’s presence only if the client has spoken publicly about it.

Answer 2

B. Refuse to provide any information, including whether the person is a client.

Question 3

A social worker in a hospital setting is treating a client who discloses they are HIV-positive but refuses to inform their sexual partner. The client continues to engage in unprotected sex. What is the social worker’s ethical and legal obligation?

A) Maintain confidentiality and continue to work with the client on disclosure.
B) Notify the partner directly to protect their health.
C) Consult legal and agency policies regarding duty to warn obligations.
D) Report the client to public health authorities immediately.

Answer 3

C. Consult legal and agency policies regarding duty to warn obligations.

Question 4

A client involved in a custody dispute requests their treatment records to present in court. The social worker believes the records contain sensitive information that could be misinterpreted. What is the BEST course of action?

A) Provide the records as requested.
B) Refuse to provide the records to avoid harming the client’s case.
C) Inform the client of the potential risks and discuss possible alternatives. D) Require a court order before releasing any documentation.

Answer 4

C. Inform the client of the potential risks and discuss possible alternatives.

Question 5

A social worker receives a voicemail from a police officer investigating a crime allegedly committed by a client. The officer requests details about the client’s treatment history. What is the BEST course of action?

A) Inform the officer that confidentiality laws prohibit disclosure without a subpoena or client consent.
B) Ignore the request, as law enforcement has no right to treatment information.
C) Call the officer back and provide only basic treatment dates.
D) Check the agency’s policies to determine whether such disclosures are permitted.

Answer 5

A. Inform the officer that confidentiality laws prohibit disclosure without a subpoena or client consent.

Question 6

A social worker provides online therapy to clients in multiple states. What is the MOST important consideration regarding confidentiality?

A) Ensuring encryption and HIPAA compliance for all virtual sessions.
B) Informing clients that confidentiality does not apply in online settings.
C) Only working with clients in states where the social worker is licensed.
D) Disclosing to clients that law enforcement may access online therapy records.

Answer 6

A. Ensuring encryption and HIPAA compliance for all virtual sessions.

Question 7

A social worker is facilitating a support group for survivors of domestic violence. One group member reveals identifying information about another member outside the session. What is the BEST way to address this breach of confidentiality?

A) Expel the group member who disclosed information.
B) Address the breach in the next group session and reinforce confidentiality policies.
C) Report the breach to the licensing board.
D) Ignore the situation, as confidentiality in groups cannot be enforced.

Answer 7

B. Address the breach in the next group session and reinforce confidentiality policies.

Question 8

A minor client reveals to a school social worker that they are pregnant and do not want their parents to know. What should the social worker do FIRST?

A) Inform the parents immediately, as they have a right to know.
B) Maintain confidentiality unless there is a legal requirement to disclose.
C) Refer the minor to a medical provider without discussing confidentiality limits.
D) Contact child protective services, as pregnancy in a minor is a child welfare issue.

Answer 8

B. Maintain confidentiality unless there is a legal requirement to disclose.

Question 9

A social worker treating a client with severe depression is contacted by the client’s employer, who claims the client has signed a general medical release. What is the MOST appropriate response?

A) Provide only basic details related to treatment progress.
B) Inform the employer that all treatment information remains confidential.
C) Assume the employer has a right to the information and comply with the request.
D) Verify whether the release specifically includes mental health information.

Answer 9

D. Verify whether the release specifically includes mental health information.

Question 10

A social worker is contacted by a former client’s new therapist, who requests treatment records to ensure continuity of care. What is the BEST action to take?

A) Provide the records immediately to facilitate the client’s treatment.
B) Share only a verbal summary of the treatment history.
C) Request written consent from the client before sharing information.
D) Deny the request, as former clients cannot authorize record transfers.

Answer 10

C. Request written consent from the client before sharing information.

Question 11

A social worker is working in a community agency and learns that a colleague has been discussing client cases in a public setting. What is the BEST response?

A) Report the colleague to the state licensing board immediately.
B) Address the issue directly with the colleague and remind them of confidentiality policies.
C) Ignore the situation, as it does not involve the social worker’s own clients.
D) Request a team meeting to discuss confidentiality guidelines.

Answer 11

B. Address the issue directly with the colleague and remind them of confidentiality policies.

Question 12

A social worker using a cloud-based system for case notes must ensure which of the following to protect confidentiality?

A) That the system meets HIPAA and industry security standards.
B) That case notes are backed up on personal devices.
C) That the software vendor has access to records for oversight.
D) That all notes are automatically accessible to agency administrators.

Answer 12

A. That the system meets HIPAA and industry security standards.

Question 13

A social worker is subpoenaed to testify in court about a client’s treatment. What should the social worker do FIRST?

A) Immediately comply and provide all requested information.
B) Discuss the matter with the client to determine how to proceed.
C) Consult with legal counsel regarding privilege and confidentiality.
D) Refuse to testify under any circumstances.

Answer 13

C. Consult with legal counsel regarding privilege and confidentiality.

Question 14

A client who is a minor requests that certain information shared in therapy not be disclosed to their parents. When is a social worker REQUIRED to disclose information to the parents?

A) When the minor discusses drug use.
B) When the minor reports feeling sad or anxious.
C) When the parent calls and requests information.
D) When the minor is at risk of self-harm or harming others.

Answer 14

D. When the minor is at risk of self-harm or harming others.

Question 15

A social worker is developing a research article based on case studies from their practice. What is the MOST ethical way to include client information?

A) Use real client details but change the names.
B) Obtain informed consent and remove identifying details.
C) Avoid obtaining consent but ensure cases are anonymized.
D) Only use cases involving clients who are deceased.

Answer 15

B. Obtain informed consent and remove identifying details.

Question 16

A social worker notices that they have strong personal reactions to a client due to the client’s political beliefs, which conflict with their own. What is the BEST course of action?

A) Discuss personal beliefs with the client to foster an open dialogue.
B) Refer the client to another therapist with similar views.
C) Seek supervision or consultation to manage countertransference.
D) Ignore personal feelings and continue sessions as usual.

Answer 16

C. Seek supervision or consultation to manage countertransference.

Question 17

A new social worker is struggling with imposter syndrome in their first job post-graduation. What is the BEST way to address this?

A) Avoid taking on complex cases until they gain confidence.
B) Seek mentorship and participate in professional development activities.
C) Rely on personal intuition rather than evidence-based practice.
D) Focus on personal strengths and avoid supervision to prevent criticism.

Answer 17

B. Seek mentorship and participate in professional development activities.

Question 18

A social worker is feeling emotionally exhausted and experiencing symptoms of burnout. What is the FIRST step they should take?

A) Resign immediately to prevent further stress.
B) Reduce workload by canceling sessions with clients.
C) Ignore the symptoms and continue working at full capacity.
D) Develop a self-care plan and seek supervision.

Answer 18

D. Develop a self-care plan and seek supervision.

Question 19

A social worker attends a training on trauma-informed care. After completing the training, what is the MOST appropriate next step to ensure ethical and effective integration of this knowledge into practice?

A) Immediately implement new techniques with all clients, assuming they are universally applicable.
B) Review the training materials, seek peer consultation, and evaluate how the approaches align with current clients’ needs.
C) Disregard the training until there is enough direct experience to validate the new approaches.
D) Rely on personal judgment rather than consulting additional literature or supervision.

Answer 19

B. Review the training materials, seek peer consultation, and evaluate how the approaches align with current clients’ needs.

New training does not automatically mean a social worker is prepared to use new techniques. Seeking supervision and conducting further research ensures ethical and informed practice.

Question 20

A social worker provides services in a close-knit rural community where they often encounter clients at social gatherings. A client approaches them at a local event and begins discussing their case. How should the social worker respond?

A) Politely change the subject and remind the client of confidentiality at the next session.
B) Engage in the conversation but use general terms to avoid breaching confidentiality.
C) Firmly ask the client to stop talking and leave the event immediately.
D) Address the client’s concerns privately in a separate location during the event.

Answer 20

A. Politely change the subject and remind the client of confidentiality at the next session.

This maintains the client’s dignity while reinforcing professional boundaries and ethical guidelines.

Question 21

A social worker receives a friend request from a former client on social media. The client has not been in treatment for over a year and has expressed gratitude for the services they received. What is the BEST way for the social worker to handle this request?

A) Accept the request but set strict privacy settings to prevent interactions.
B) Politely decline the request and discuss professional boundaries if the client inquires.
C) Accept the request and limit engagement to liking non-controversial posts.
D) Ignore the request and avoid discussing it unless the client brings it up.

Answer 21

B. Politely decline the request and discuss professional boundaries if the client inquires.

Social workers must maintain boundaries, even after treatment ends. A brief explanation helps the client understand why.

Question 22

A social worker notices they experience frustration when working with clients from a particular cultural background due to personal biases they were previously unaware of. What is the MOST appropriate action to take?
A) Continue working with these clients but suppress personal feelings to maintain professionalism.
B) Seek supervision, engage in cultural competency training, and reflect on implicit biases.
C) Refer all clients from this cultural background to another professional
D) Ask clients from this background to explain their culture to gain a better understanding.

Answer 22

B. Seek supervision, engage in cultural competency training, and reflect on implicit biases.

Question 23

During a therapy session, a client persistently asks the social worker about their marital status and parenting experience, stating they would feel more comfortable knowing the therapist can relate to their situation. What is the BEST response?

A) Provide brief personal details to strengthen the therapeutic alliance.
B) Firmly tell the client that personal questions are inappropriate in therapy.
C) Redirect the conversation by exploring why the client feels personal disclosure is necessary.
D) Share selective information but shift the focus back to the client after answering.

Answer 23

C. Redirect the conversation by exploring why the client feels personal disclosure is necessary.

Question 24

A social worker wants to advance their career but is unsure whether to specialize in clinical work or macro-level advocacy. What is the BEST strategy for making an informed decision?
A) Explore both areas through continuing education, networking, and hands-on experience before deciding.
B) Focus on the area with the highest salary potential to ensure long-term financial stability.
C) Choose the area where they feel most comfortable and avoid professional development in the other.
D) Select a specialization based on current job availability rather than long-term interest.

Answer 24

A. Explore both areas through continuing education, networking, and hands-on experience before deciding.

Question 25

A social worker is promoted to a supervisory role but has limited experience managing other professionals. They feel unprepared for the responsibility. What is the MOST effective step to take? A) Observe other supervisors and develop a personal style without formal training. B) Begin the role and rely on intuition while gradually learning through experience. C) Seek supervision training, mentorship, and consultation while assuming the role. D) Decline the role until they feel completely confident in their leadership skills.

Answer 25

C. Seek supervision training, mentorship, and consultation while assuming the role

Question 26

A social worker in private practice becomes deeply invested in a particular client’s progress and finds themselves thinking about the client’s situation outside of sessions. What is the BEST way to manage this professional boundary issue? A) Discuss their personal investment with the client to maintain transparency. B) Seek supervision or peer consultation to process emotional attachment and maintain objectivity. C) Limit emotional engagement and create more distance by reducing session frequency. D) Continue providing care as usual but monitor for signs of burnout.

Answer 26

B. Seek supervision or peer consultation to process emotional attachment and maintain objectivity.

Question 27

A former client invites their social worker to their wedding, stating that the therapist played a significant role in their personal growth. What is the MOST ethical response? A) Accept the invitation to show support but avoid discussing therapy. B) Attend but sit in the back and avoid interacting with the client. C) Accept the invitation as long as the client has been out of treatment for at least a year. D) Decline the invitation, explaining that attending could blur professional boundaries.

Answer 27

D. Decline the invitation, explaining that attending could blur professional boundaries.

Question 28

A social worker learns that a colleague is regularly altering client records to make their caseload appear more manageable. What is the MOST appropriate course of action? A) Document concerns and report the behavior to the appropriate oversight body if necessary. B) Speak privately with the colleague and allow them to self-correct the behavior. C) Ignore the situation unless it directly impacts the social worker’s own work. D) Confront the colleague publicly to ensure transparency.

Answer 28

A. Document concerns and report the behavior to the appropriate oversight body if necessary.

Question 29

A social worker is experiencing compassion fatigue and struggles to manage their emotional energy at work. What is the BEST way to address this issue? A) Take an extended leave of absence to fully recover before returning to work. B) Request only administrative tasks to avoid direct client interaction. C) Push through the fatigue and continue working to maintain professional commitment. D) Incorporate self-care strategies, seek peer support, and consider reducing workload if necessary.

Answer 29

D. Incorporate self-care strategies, seek peer support, and consider reducing workload if necessary.

Question 30

A social worker is invited to present at a professional conference on a topic they are passionate about but have limited formal expertise in. What is the BEST way to prepare? A) Use personal experiences with clients to create an engaging presentation. B) Decline the opportunity due to limited expertise in the subject matter. C) Focus on general social work principles rather than the specific topic of the presentation. D) Research evidence-based practices, consult with experts, and ensure content is professionally sound.

Answer 30

D. Research evidence-based practices, consult with experts, and ensure content is professionally sound.

Question 31

A social worker in private practice has been experiencing burnout and decides to take a temporary break from seeing clients. However, several long-term clients express distress at the decision and state they do not feel comfortable transitioning to another provider. What is the MOST ethical course of action? A) Continue seeing these clients despite burnout, as ending services may cause harm. B) Provide clients with a list of referrals and allow them to choose whether to transition or wait for the social worker’s return. C) Develop a transition plan that includes referrals and short-term check-ins to ensure continuity of care. D) Resume sessions but significantly limit caseload and reduce session frequency.

Answer 31

C. Develop a transition plan that includes referrals and short-term check-ins to ensure continuity of care. While the social worker's well-being is important, clients’ care must also be considered. Abruptly ending services can cause harm. A structured transition with referrals and possible short-term check-ins balances client needs with the social worker’s ethical obligation to prevent harm.

Question 32

A social worker is conducting a presentation on implicit bias at a professional conference. During the Q&A session, an attendee challenges the research being cited and claims that implicit bias is not a valid concept. The social worker’s BEST response is to: A) Acknowledge the attendee’s perspective and move on to the next question to avoid debate. B) Encourage discussion by asking the attendee to provide sources supporting their position. C) Reiterate the importance of evidence-based practice while inviting respectful dialogue. D) Explain that disagreement is expected and suggest that the attendee do their own research.

Answer 32

C. Reiterate the importance of evidence-based practice while inviting respectful dialogue. The social worker must uphold professional integrity and evidence-based practice while maintaining professionalism. Inviting dialogue without dismissing the attendee’s concerns encourages an open exchange while reinforcing the importance of research.

Question 33

A hospital social worker is working with a terminally ill client who expresses a strong desire to explore alternative, unproven treatments. The client asks for the social worker’s personal opinion on these options. What is the MOST ethical response? A) Provide factual information on the risks and benefits while acknowledging the client’s right to make their own choices. B) Share personal opinions while clarifying that the final decision is up to the client. C) Avoid discussing medical decisions and refer the client to a healthcare provider. D) Encourage the client to follow only scientifically validated treatment options.

Answer 33

A. Provide factual information on the risks and benefits while acknowledging the client’s right to make their own choices. Social workers should provide evidence-based information without imposing personal opinions. Clients have autonomy over their healthcare decisions, and the role of the social worker is to ensure informed decision-making without bias.

Question 34

A social worker has developed a close working relationship with a client who has made significant progress in therapy. The client expresses a desire to maintain contact after termination to share life updates. How should the social worker proceed? A) Offer to maintain a limited email exchange for updates without engaging in therapeutic discussions. B) Decline contact and reinforce the importance of professional boundaries. C) Allow contact only if the client demonstrates emotional stability and independence. D) Accept social media connections but avoid interactions.

Answer 34

B. Decline contact and reinforce the importance of professional boundaries. Continuing contact after termination can blur professional boundaries and create ethical dilemmas. Maintaining firm boundaries protects both the client and the social worker.

Question 35

A social worker is struggling to remain engaged with a client whose values and lifestyle conflict significantly with their own. The client has noticed the social worker’s discomfort and asks if they are being judged. What is the BEST way for the social worker to respond? A) Reassure the client that judgment is not occurring and redirect the conversation. B) Validate the client’s concern, acknowledge personal biases, and seek supervision. C) Maintain a neutral stance and focus strictly on therapeutic goals. D) End services and provide a referral to a more compatible provider.

Answer 35

B. Validate the client’s concern, acknowledge personal biases, and seek supervision. Ethical practice requires self-awareness. The social worker must recognize their biases, validate the client’s experience, and seek supervision to ensure that personal values do not interfere with professional responsibilities.

Question 36

A supervisor discovers that a social worker under their guidance has been using outdated assessment tools that have since been replaced by more accurate measures. What is the MOST ethical response? A) Mandate that the social worker use updated tools immediately and provide oversight. B) Recommend the social worker independently research the new tools and make adjustments as needed. C) Report the social worker to the licensing board for failing to use best practices. D) Discuss the issue, provide education on updated tools, and allow time for transition.

Answer 36

D. Discuss the issue, provide education on updated tools, and allow time for transition. While the social worker must use current best practices, abrupt enforcement without guidance can be ineffective. Education and structured transition ensure compliance with ethical standards while supporting professional growth.

Question 37

A social worker who is highly active in social justice advocacy often shares personal views on systemic inequalities on their public social media account. A client mentions seeing these posts and expresses discomfort, stating that they feel judged based on differing views. What should the social worker do FIRST? A) Explain that personal views are separate from professional practice. B) Encourage the client to discuss their concerns further in session. C) Reflect on whether public advocacy efforts may impact professional relationships. D) Refrain from engaging in controversial topics online moving forward.

Answer 37

C. Reflect on whether public advocacy efforts may impact professional relationships. Ethical practice requires self-reflection. The social worker must assess whether public statements create unintended barriers in the therapeutic relationship. While advocacy is important, professional roles should not create discomfort for clients.

Question 38

A social worker is considering transitioning into a new area of practice that requires advanced clinical skills. However, their current license does not include these qualifications. What is the MOST appropriate step? A) Begin practicing within the new specialty while gaining experience on the job. B) Complete relevant training and supervision before providing services in the new area. C) Consult with colleagues in the field and seek informal mentorship. D) Rely on general social work skills to apply to the new specialty without additional education.

Answer 38

B. Complete relevant training and supervision before providing services in the new area. The NASW Code of Ethics states that social workers must practice within their scope of competence. Additional training and supervision ensure ethical and competent practice in a new specialty.

Question 39

A social worker is approached by a colleague who is experiencing emotional distress due to a personal crisis. The colleague asks for therapeutic support but does not want to seek outside help. What is the MOST ethical response? A) Provide brief supportive counseling to assist the colleague through the crisis. B) Offer emotional support as a friend but avoid a therapeutic role. C) Suggest that the colleague seek professional help and refrain from becoming involved. D) Assist the colleague with resources but establish clear professional boundaries.

Answer 39

D.Assist the colleague with resources but establish clear professional boundaries. While providing support as a peer is acceptable, acting as a therapist for a colleague creates ethical conflicts. Referring to appropriate resources while maintaining boundaries is the best approach.

Question 40

A client gifts a social worker a handmade item as a token of appreciation for their help. The social worker is unsure whether accepting it is ethical. What is the BEST approach? A) Accept the gift if its value is low and does not influence the therapeutic relationship. B) Decline the gift, explaining that professional boundaries prohibit acceptance. C) Accept the gift but document it in case of future ethical concerns. D) Accept the gift only if the client insists, to avoid damaging rapport.

Answer 40

A. Accept the gift if its value is low and does not influence the therapeutic relationship. Ethical guidelines discourage accepting expensive or manipulative gifts. However, small, sentimental gifts may be acceptable if they do not alter the professional relationship. The key is assessing intent and value.

Question 41

A social worker meets with a client to review their treatment plan. The client reports making progress with their primary goal of managing their social anxiety. However, the client says some days are more challenging than others and noticed an increase in alcohol consumption within the past two weeks. The social worker is concerned the client’s drinking could impact current services. What is the social worker’s MOST appropriate action? A. Discontinue services and refer the client to a substance abuse program. B. Seek insight from a more knowledgeable colleague about alcohol abuse. C. Focus on the progress the client has made thus far in managing their anxiety.

Answer 41

B. Seek insight from a more knowledgeable colleague about alcohol abuse. - Consulting with a colleague ensures the social worker gains proper guidance on how to approach the client’s increased alcohol use while maintaining competence and ethical practice.

Question 42

A social work supervisor meets with a supervisee for supervision to discuss their caseload and assess their comfortability with using new interventions for the first time. As the supervisee discussed their caseload, the supervisor identified one of the clients as a previous friend from grade school they lost contact with after high school. How should the supervisor respond to this identification? A. Pause the session and let the supervisee know about the previous relationship. B. Ask the supervisee for updates about the client’s response to services. C. Let the supervisee continue providing updates as they transition to the next client on their caseload. D. Focus on the supervisee’s comfortability with using the new intervention techniques to support their growth.

Answer 42

A. Pause the session and let the supervisee know about the previous relationship. - Disclosing the past friendship maintains ethical transparency, prevents conflicts of interest, and protects the integrity of the supervisory relationship and client care.

Question 43

A social worker meets with a client who has difficulty identifying and expressing emotions. The client often minimizes their feelings and struggles to articulate their experiences. What is the BEST approach for the social worker to take? A. Encourage the client to avoid focusing on emotions and instead work on problem-solving strategies. B. Provide the client with several feeling words to help them better describe their emotions. C. Ask the client why they struggle to express emotions in order to uncover the root cause. D. Inform the client that they need to be more emotionally expressive to progress in treatment.

Answer 43

B. Provide the client with several feeling words to help them better describe their emotions. - Offering feeling words gives the client a starting point to identify and express emotions, which supports emotional awareness and builds trust in the therapeutic relationship.

Question 44

A social worker meets with a client who has been struggling with financial stress, parenting challenges, and employment instability. The client expresses feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to begin making changes. What is the BEST way for the social worker to help the client make progress? A. Encourage the client to identify and name their emotions before discussing solutions. B. Focus on one issue at a time and help the client prioritize their concerns. C. Provide immediate referrals to community resources to address all concerns at once. D. Emphasize the importance of self-reliance and encourage the client to develop solutions independently.

Answer 44

B. Focus on one issue at a time and help the client prioritize their concerns. - When a client feels overwhelmed, breaking down their concerns into manageable steps helps them regain a sense of control. Prioritizing allows the client to focus on what is most urgent and achievable first.

Question 45

A school social worker meets with a high school student who has been frequently skipping class. The student reports feeling overwhelmed by coursework and struggling to concentrate in class. The social worker wants to determine the best intervention to support the student’s academic and emotional well-being. What should the social worker do FIRST? A. Refer the student to a mental health professional for further assessment. B. Work with the student to identify specific stressors and coping strategies. C. Notify the student’s parents about attendance concerns and suggest academic tutoring. D. Develop a behavior contract with the student to reinforce attendance and classroom engagement.

Answer 45

B. Work with the student to identify specific stressors and coping strategies. - Skipping class is a symptom, not the core issue. The student feels overwhelmed, and the social worker must first explore why they are disengaged before taking further action. - Direct engagement with the student is best practice. School social workers are trained to assess students first to build trust and uncover the root cause of attendance issues. - Parent involvement comes after identifying the root cause. If the student’s struggles stem from personal, emotional, or academic concerns, immediate parental involvement could harm trust and worsen resistance.

Question 46

During a therapy session, a teenager discussed deciding not to skip school with the other classmates to avoid the possibility of getting detention. According to Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development, which stage is the teenager’s decision a reflection of? A. Naive instrumental hedonism B. Obedience and Punishment Orientation C. Good Child Mentality

Answer 46

B. Obedience and Punishment Orientation - This stage emphasizes compliance with rules and the avoidance of punishment, which aligns with the teenager’s decision-making process in this situation.

Question 47

A social worker meets with a 19-year-old client who has started questioning the religious beliefs they were raised with and is exploring different spiritual perspectives. The client expresses a desire to form their own beliefs rather than simply following the traditions they grew up with. According to Fowler’s stages of faith development, what stage is the client MOST likely experiencing? A. Synthetic-Conventional Faith B. Individuative-Reflective Faith C. Mythic-Literal Faith D. Universalizing Faith

Answer 47

B. Individuative-Reflective Faith -People start to think critically about their beliefs and compare them with what they were taught.

Question 48

A social worker meets with a married couple and their child to assess their child’s current development state. The child was able to accurately identify that two balls of playdoh were equal in size after one was rolled into a long, thin shape. What stage of development is the child MOST likely in according to Piaget theory of cognitive development? A. Sensorimotor stage B. Preoperational stage C. Concrete operational stage D. Formal operational stage

Answer 48

C. Concrete operational stage -Conservation: Children understand that the quantity of something remains the same despite changes in shape (clay).

Question 49

A social worker meets with a client to review their treatment plan. The client has achieved the majority of their established goals. The social worker and client agree it may be time to end services. What should the social worker do NEXT? A. Summarize the client’s progress and readiness for termination. B. Encourage the client to continue attending sessions to complete all of their established goals before terminating. C. Collaboratively Identify new goals that can aid in further improvement prior to termination.

Answer 49

A. Summarize the client’s progress and readiness for termination - This is the appropriate next step because the client has met most goals, and reviewing progress helps assess readiness to end services. - The question also states, “The social worker and client agree it may be time to end services.”

Question 50

A social worker meets with a client who lacks family support and is need of shelter. During the session, the social worker connects the client with resources by helping them apply for housing and financial assistance while also providing emotional support. What is the social work’s PRIMARY role in this situation? A. Case Advocate B. Broker C. Counselor D. Program Evaluator

Answer 50

B. Broker - A broker helps clients connect with outside services and resources. Since the social worker is helping the client apply for housing and financial assistance, this is the best fit for the broker role.

Question 51

A social worker meets with a new client who recently lost their job and reports feeling like a failure. The social worker listens and validates without judgment. The social worker tells the client that they will work together to identify next steps. What BEST describes the social worker’s approach? A. The social worker is identifying the client’s long-term treatment goals. B. The social worker is gather collateral information to complete the assessment. C. The social worker is establishing rapport as a foundation for the helping relationship. D. The social worker is determining which services the client will qualify for.

Answer 51

C. The social worker is establishing rapport as a foundation for the helping relationship. - The social worker is building trust by listening, showing care, and helping the client feel safe. This kind of support is key to starting a strong working relationship during the engagement phase of the helping process.

Question 52

A social worker meets with a client who recently lost custody of their children due to neglect. The client is upset, tearful, and expresses doubt that they can make any meaningful changes. The social worker responds with empathy and encourages the client to talk about their strengths and past efforts to improve. What BEST reflects the social worker’s response to the client’s situation? A. The creation of a formal contract that outlines treatment goals. B. Attempting to reduce the need for outside resources by primarily focusing on self-reliance. C. Providing support to help the client identify personal strengths that can encourage change. D. The avoidance of discussing the loss of custody until the client feels more stable.

Answer 52

C. Providing support to help the client identify personal strengths that can encourage change. - By showing empathy and helping the client focus on their strengths, the social worker is supporting emotional recovery and helping build the client’s confidence to move forward.

Question 53

A social worker is facilitating a meeting between two community agencies that serve youth affected by gang violence. Both agencies want to collaborate, but tensions arise due to disagreements over funding and roles. What should the social worker do FIRST to promote effective collaboration? A. Encourage both agencies to focus on their shared mission. B. Ask each agency to discuss their funding concerns in detail. C. Remind each agency of the importance of maintaining a positive reputation. D. Offer to create a document that clarifies tasks for future collaboration.

Answer 53

A. Encourage both agencies to focus on their shared mission. - Starting with/Refocusing the overall purpose of collaborating in the first place (helping youth) can help realign everyone to improve teamwork. There’s some tension in the air so let’s engage in that in a productive manner.

Question 54

A social worker meets with a client to complete an assessment. During the assessment, the client reports having little interest in socializing with others and prefers to do things alone. What is the MOST likely diagnosis? A. Major Depressive disorder B. Schizoid Personality disorder C. Persistent Depressive disorder

Answer 54

B. Schizoid Personality disorder - The person is a loner. - The person is not exactly a social butterfly and doesn’t care to be one. They’re emotionally distant and prefers to do things by themselves. - They don’t understand or care about relationships which includes having friends, being a part of a family, or even engaging in sex.

Question 55

A social worker at an outpatient facility meets with a client to complete an evaluation. During the meeting, the client says they experience intrusive thoughts of disturbing images and wants the social workers help to make them go away. What diagnosis BEST describes the client’s symptoms? A. Schizotypal Personality disorder B. Illness Anxiety disorder C. Obsessive-Compulsive Personality disorder D. Obsessive-Compulsive disorder

Answer 55

D. Obsessive-Compulsive disorder - Someone with OCD has either an obsession where they obsess over something, has a compulsion to do something, or both. - OCD is like having a mental “itch” to do something to manage their ongoing, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts or mental images that cause distress and anxiety. - These obsessions and/or compulsions are time consuming, which impacts their life because of how long and often they do it.

Question 56

A social worker meets with a client who reports having issues at work due to their disruptive behavior during team meetings. The client says their supervisor has met with them on several occasions to discuss shifting the focus from them back to the purpose of the meeting. What is the MOST likely diagnosis? A. Histrionic Personality disorder B. Borderline Personality disorder C. Narcissistic Personality disorder

Answer 56

A. Histrionic Personality disorder -The person is primarily focused on getting attention from others and being the center of attention. “Pay attention to me.”

Question 57

A social worker meets with a family to help their child manage behavioral issues at home. The parents report that their child’s behavior has improved after implementing a new rule of taking away their time to play video games if they misbehave. What type of behavioral technique BEST describes the parent’s actions? A. Positive Punishment B. Negative Reinforcement C. Negative Punishment D. Positive Reinforcement

Answer 57

C. Negative Punishment - Negative Punishment: When something DESIRABLE is taken away (taking away time to play video games) as a form of PUNISHMENT to ultimately stop the behavior (misbehaving).

Question 58

A social worker meets with a family to help their child manage behavioral issues at home. The parents report that their child’s behavior has improved after implementing a new rule of assigning their child extra chores if they misbehave. What type of behavioral technique BEST describes the parent’s actions? A. Positive Punishment B. Negative Reinforcement C. Negative Punishment D. Positive Reinforcement

Answer 58

A. Positive Punishment - Positive Punishment: When something UNDESIRABLE is added (extra chores if they misbehave) as a form of PUNISHMENT to ultimately stop the behavior (misbehaving).

Question 59

A social worker meets with a family to help their child manage behavioral issues at home. The parents report that their child’s behavior has improved after implementing a new rule of giving their child extra time to play videos games if they behave well. What type of behavioral technique BEST describes the parent’s actions? A. Positive Punishment B. Negative Reinforcement C. Negative Punishment D. Positive Reinforcement

Answer 59

D. Positive Reinforcement - Positive Reinforcement: When something DESIRABLE is added (extra time to play videos games) to REINFORCE (increase/continue) the behavior.

Question 60

A social worker meets with a family to help their child manage behavioral issues at home. The parents report that their child’s behavior has improved after implementing a new rule of allowing their child to skip doing chores on the weekend if they behave well. What type of behavioral technique BEST describes the parent’s actions? A. Positive Punishment B. Negative Reinforcement C. Negative Punishment D. Positive Reinforcement

Answer 60

B. Negative Reinforcement - Negative Reinforcement: When something UNDESIRABLE is taken away (skip doing chores on the weekend) to REINFORCE (increase/continue) the behavior.

Question 61

A social worker meets with a client due to work related stress. The client will often overeat as their primary coping mechanism when feeling overwhelmed. According to Sigmund Freud’s stages of psychosexual development, what stage did the client MOST likely experience issues in during early development? A. Phallic Stage B. Anal Stage C. Oral Stage D. Latency Stage

Answer 61

C. Oral Stage - The focus is on the mouth which include activities such as sucking and feeding. - Freud theorized that if there are unresolved conflicts or fixations at this stage, it can result in oral fixation behaviors in adulthood, such as overeating or using other coping mechanisms related to the mouth.

Question 62

What BEST describes the client’s use of their conscious mind? A. During a therapy session, the client talks about their current stress at work and how it’s affecting their mood. B. During a therapy session, the client was able to recall their childhood experiences related to a family gathering when asked. C. During a therapy session, the social worker was able to help the client identify repressed memories related to their childhood.

Answer 62

A. During a therapy session, the client talks about their current stress at work and how it’s affecting their mood. - Conscious mind: Current awareness of thoughts and feelings.

Question 63

According to Freud’s structural theory of personality development, what part of the personality is referred to as the “reality principle?” A. Id B. Superego C. Ego

Answer 63

C. Ego - Reality principle: Balances the demands of the id and superego with reality, leading to effective functioning and decision-making.

Question 64

According to Sigmund Freud, what is the order of the psychosexual stages of development? A. Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital B. Oral, Genital, Phallic, Latency, Anal C. Oral, Phallic, Anal, Latency, Genital D. Oral, Latency, Anal, Phallic, Genital

Answer 64

A. Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital Memorization Tip Oh,-------------------(AP)---------------Let’s-----------------GO! Oral --------Anal --------Phallic ------Latency ------------Genital (0 – 1)-----(1 – 3) ------(3 – 6) -----(6 – Puberty)------ (Puberty – Adulthood)

Question 65

According to Margaret Mahler’s theory of separation-individuation, which subphase is characterized by the child’s desire for both independence and reassurance? A. Object Constancy B. Differentiation C. Rapprochement D. Practicing

Answer 65

C. Rapprochement - The child becomes increasingly aware of their separateness from mommy, leading to ambivalence or mixed feelings. While the child is excited about their independence, they also seek reassurance and closeness with mommy.

Question 66

A social worker meets with a mother to discuss her daughter’s cognitive development. The mother reports that her daughter attended a birthday party last week and began to look for the bunny after the magician made it disappear during their magic act. According to Piaget’s stages of Cognitive Development, what BEST describes the daughter’s actions? A. Assimilation B. Object permanence C. Abstract thinking D. Curiosity

Answer 66

B. Object permanence - Understanding that objects still exist, even when we can’t “sense them.”

Question 67

According to Margaret Mahler’s theory of separation-individuation, which phase is characterized as no boundary perceived between the infant and the mother? A. Normal Symbiotic Phase B. Normal Autistic Phase C. Separation-Individuation Phase

Answer 67

A. Normal Symbiotic Phase - The infant starts to form a bond with mommy and perceives themselves as one with mommy (no boundary) with little understanding of being a separate individual (Marriage / Venom from Spiderman).

Question 68

A social worker meets with a client who has a fear of commitment. According to Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development, what stage of development BEST reflects the client’s challenges? A. Intimacy vs Isolation B. Initiative vs Guilt C. Trust vs Mistrust D. Autonomy vs Shame and doubt

Answer 68

A. Intimacy vs Isolation - Sixth Stage - Age: 18 – 40 (Young Adulthood) - Need: Now in adulthood, people begin to focus on Intimacy and sharing themselves more intimately with others outside of our family members. - Need isn’t met: The person isolates to avoid intimacy because they fear commitment and relationships which causes loneliness.

Question 69

A social worker meets with a married couple to discuss their child’s recent behavior. The couple says they witnessed their child bossing other children around while playing and wants to know how they should discipline them. According to Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development, the social worker should MOST likely provide education on what stage? A. Intimacy vs Isolation B. Initiative vs Guilt C. Trust vs Mistrust D. Autonomy vs Shame and doubt

Answer 69

B. Initiative vs. Guilt -Initiative vs. Guilt: During this stage, children begin to assert themselves, take initiative in social interactions, and explore their ability to lead and make decisions.

Question 70

A social worker meets with a married couple for education about parenting. The mother says she is hesitant to allow their child to dress themselves in the morning. The social worker explains the importance of supporting their child during this time. According to Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development, what stage of development is the social worker MOST likely referring to? A. Intimacy vs. Isolation B. Initiative vs. Guilt C. Trust vs. Mistrust D. Autonomy vs. Shame & doubt

Answer 70

D. Autonomy vs. Shame & doubt -Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt: During this stage, children strive for independence by trying to do things on their own, such as dressing themselves.

Question 71

A social worker plans to advocate for minorities who will experience hardship as a result of a pending law that’s discriminatory to minority groups if passed. The social worker believes that the law should be changed because it does not serve the greater good or protect the rights of these individuals. According to Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development, which stage is the social worker’s advocacy a reflection of? A. Authority-Maintaining Morality B. Morality of Contract C. Universal Principles

Answer 71

B. Morality of Contract -This stage emphasizes the belief that laws should promote the general welfare and protect individual rights. It recognizes that laws are social contracts that can and should be changed if they are unjust.

Question 72

A social worker meets with a parent and their 7-year-old child to complete an assessment. When asked a question regarding religion, the parent says their child enjoys listening to religious stories but does not yet understand the use of metaphors and symbolism. However, the child understands concepts of right and wrong based on the consequences described in these stories. According to Fowler’s stages of faith development, what stage is the child MOST likely in? A. Primal or Undifferentiated Faith B. Intuitive-Projective Faith C. Mythic-Literal Faith D. Synthetic-Conventional Faith

Answer 72

C. Mythic-Literal Faith -Children in this stage take religious stories literally and use them to understand moral concepts.