General
In an initial session with a social worker, a client mentions having been hospitalized several times for depression. When the social worker attempts to explore the hospitalizations, the client becomes tense and guarded, saying "it's old history". The client refuses to give permission for the records to be released. The social worker should FIRST:
(A) explore why this topic appears to be upsetting the client
(B) acknowledge the client's right to decide about release of records
(C) reassure the client that the focus will be on present issues
(D) assess the client's current level of depression
(B) Acknowledge the client's right to decide about release of records
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) explore the parent's reaction to the child's illness
The developmental tasks of self evaluation and skill learning are associated with what life stage?
(a) toddlerhood 2-4 yrs
(b) early childhood 4-6 yrs
(c) middle school 6-12 yrs
(d) early adolescence 12-18 yrs
(c) middle school 6-12 yrs
A therapist has been conducting a closed 10-week group for men living with AIDS. After the 3rd session, a group member reports to the leader that they are feeling frustrated and disconnected with other members of the group. They question whether or not they want to continue. The social worker should FIRST:
A. Initiate an individual session with this group member to address their feelings of frustration and disconnect
B. Tell the group member that it isn’t possible to leave the group at this time due to the closed nature of the group
C. Encourage the group member to bring this up in the next group session
D. Use the next group session to explore how other group members are feeling and whether anyone relates to how this group member is feeling in order to encourage cohesiveness
C. Encourage the group member to bring this up in the next group session
A client whose mother dies following a long term illness states to the social worker that he believes that his angry thoughts about his mother may have caused the death. This is an example of
(a) delusions
(b) grandiosity
(c) ideas of reference
(d) magical thinking
(d) magical thinking
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 nonthreatening topics
(C) set limits and structure on the interview session
(D) acknowledge the client's feelings and encourage discussion of them
(D) acknowledge the client's feelings and encourage discussion of them
In the first session with a school social worker a high school student reveals he has been cutting school and forging his mother's name on absence excuses. The social worker should:
(A) inform the student that the social worker has a responsibility to inform his mother
(B) avoid negatively reinforcing the attention-seeking behavior
(C) suggest that it would be best for him to inform school authorities and accept responsibility for his behavior
(D) explore the reasons for the absences and factors contributing to the behavior
(D) explore the reasons for the absences and factors contributing to the behavior
Parents of a 4 yr old are referred to a social worker after a physical exam reveals no physical problem preventing the child from being toilet trained. The parents reveal that the child has not been able to separate from them to attend nursery school and he sleeps with them most nights. The most important area to focus on in the assessment phase is the:
(a) parents use of rewards and punishments with the child
(b) early developmental and family history of each parent
(c) parents understanding of the child’s developmental processes
(d) ways in which the child interferes with the parents own relationship
(c) parents understanding of the child’s developmental processes
A 15-year-old client was recently referred to a therapist at a community counseling center for an initial assessment after throwing a chair at another student at school. The mother reports this is the first incident of this type, but that the client’s parents recently divorced a month ago. In order to develop the therapeutic relationship, the therapist must FIRST:
A. Go over the limitations of confidentiality with the client
B. Complete a biopsychosocial assessment
C. Play a game to lessen the stress of the first session
D. Get a release of confidentiality from the mother to talk to the client’s teacher
A. Go over the limitations of confidentiality with the client
A man is seen in the ER with complaints of visual hallucinations, confusion and restlessness. He also has chills, dilated pupils and nausea. He says “nothing is wrong, I just need sleep”. Which of the following substances is most likely the cause of the condition?
(a) alcohol
(b) marijuana
(c) cocaine
(d) barbiturates
(c) cocaine
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 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) life situation and recent changes
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
(C) a discussion of the social worker's perception of the marital relationship
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) projective identification
A therapist receives a court order to release the records of a client who is going through a custody disagreement with his partner. The therapist is worried about releasing certain aspects of the record believing that it will be harmful to the client, so the therapist advocates to release only limited aspects of the record. The judge denies the request. The therapist SHOULD:
A. Release the records to the court immediately
B. Release only aspects of the records that the therapist believes aren’t harmful
C. Speak with a lawyer
D. Speak with the client about the subpoena
A. Release the records to the court immediately
Borderline personality disorder is characterized by all of the following characteristics except
(a) intense long term relationships
(b) primitive delusional fantasies
(c) lack of control of aggressive drives
(d) self-destructive behavior
(a) intense long term relationships
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 instead about her physical 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
(D) listen to Mrs. S's description of her health as a beginning of a relationship and means of assessing her self-perception
A 28 Yr 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 family's 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
(C) refer the client to a substance abuse program
The major goal of behavioral treatment of depression reflects the view that depression is the result of
(a) role confusion
(b) Negative cognition
(c) poor interpersonal skills
(d) absence of positive reinforcement
(d) absence of positive reinforcement
Which of the following medications is primarily used in the treatment of psychosis?
(a) haldol
(b) xanax
(c) wellbutrin
(d) prozac
(a) haldol
A patient complains of sleeplessness, loss of appetite, feeling hopeless, general apathy. To help diagnose a social worker would most need to know
(a) medications the client is taking
(b) family history of depression
(c) how long the symptoms have persisted
(d) if the patient lives alone
(c) how long the symptoms have persisted
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
(B) facilitate discussion of the recollections
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 toward the other
(D) use the interview to probe for positive feelings each has for the other.
(C) acknowledge the anger each partner has toward the other
The view that learning takes place through observation and that new responses are acquired through the process of imitating models is associated with
(a) cognitive behaviorism
(b) operant conditioning
(c) social learning
(d) classic conditioning
(c) social learning
The 2 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
(c) projection and displacement
A 45 yr old recently divorced mail carrier complains his memory and logic skills have diminished. He is on a new delivery route and is embarrassed that he can’t visualize the exact boundaries of the route or calculate his workload and schedules. These are important factors in his job and he is worried. He has developed a slight limp and tires easily. What would the social worker first consider?
(a) a referral for a medical and neurological evaluation
(b) a diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s
(c) the possibility of a substance abuse problem
(d) an adjustment reaction to his divorce
(a) a referral for a medical and neurological evaluation