ASSESSMENT
A client presents with insomnia, irritability, muscle tension, and excessive worry for 8 months. What is the most important next assessment step?
Assess level of functional impairment and rule out substance- or medication-induced anxiety.
A client experiences panic attacks that are unexpected and worries about having more attacks. Diagnosis?
Panic Disorder.
Treatment goals should be written using which framework?
SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-limited).
According to Erikson, the primary task of adolescence is:
Identity vs. Role Confusion.
The PRIMARY goal of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is to:
Identify and modify maladaptive thoughts and behaviors.
During intake, a client reports passive death wishes but denies plan or intent. What is the social worker’s first action?
conduct a full suicide risk assessment including ideation, intent, plan, means, and protective factors.
A client reports emotional numbing, avoidance, hypervigilance, and nightmares for 3 weeks following a car accident. Diagnosis?
Acute Stress Disorder.
A client with schizophrenia has poor insight and medication non-adherence. What should be prioritized in treatment planning?
Psychoeducation and interventions to support medication adherence.
A toddler who can delay gratification and follow rules is demonstrating development of:
Ego control and self-regulation.
A client is stuck in ambivalence about change. Which intervention is MOST appropriate?
Motivational Interviewing.
A client reports auditory hallucinations. Which assessment question is most critical to ask first?
Whether the voices command harm to self or others.
A client shows unstable relationships, fear of abandonment, impulsivity, and chronic emptiness. MOST likely diagnosis?
Borderline Personality Disorder.
A client with co-occurring substance use and depression seeks therapy. Best treatment approach?
Integrated treatment addressing both disorders simultaneously
According to Piaget, a child who understands conservation of volume is in which stage?
Concrete Operational stage.
A trauma client becomes emotionally flooded during session. What is the BEST immediate intervention?
Grounding techniques to restore emotional regulation.
A client has inconsistent reporting, poor memory, and fluctuating orientation. Which assessment tool is MOST appropriate?
A mental status exam with cognitive screening (e.g., MMSE or MoCA).
A child has persistent deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors beginning in early development. Diagnosis?
Autism Spectrum Disorder.
A client wants therapy but is court-mandated. What must be addressed FIRST in treatment planning?
Informed consent and limits of confidentiality.
An older adult reflecting on life with satisfaction is resolving which Erikson stage?
Integrity vs. Despair.
Which intervention is MOST appropriate for chronic emotion dysregulation and self-harm?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
A client refuses to answer trauma questions during intake. What is the BEST clinical response?
Respect the client’s autonomy, normalize the response, and revisit trauma assessment after rapport is established.
A client presents with depressed mood, hypersomnia, leaden paralysis, and interpersonal rejection sensitivity. This specifier is:
Atypical features (Major Depressive Disorder with atypical features).
A client’s cultural beliefs conflict with the proposed treatment model. What is the MOST appropriate action?
Collaboratively adapt the treatment plan to align with the client’s cultural values.
A child exposed to chronic neglect shows impaired attachment and emotional regulation. This is best explained by:
Disrupted attachment during early childhood development.
A family presents with rigid boundaries and enmeshment. Which model is MOST appropriate?
Structural Family Therapy.