Assessment & Diagnosis
This common infection in older adults can cause sudden confusion and "dementia-like" symptoms.
What is... A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).
At what age would you expect a child to begin walking and say their first words?
12 months (The "Practicing" sub-phase in Mahler)
A client reports "racing thoughts," "weight loss," and "extreme anxiety." What must the social worker do FIRST?
Refer to a physician to rule out medical issues (e.g., Hyperthyroidism)
During a group session, members begin to challenge the leader's authority and argue about rules. What stage of group development is this?
Storming.
What is the "Gold Standard" treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
The diagnosis given when Schizophrenia symptoms last at least one month but less than six months.
What is... Schizophreniform Disorder
A 4-year-old child believes that because they were "angry" at their brother, their brother got sick. This illustrates which Piagetian concept?
Magical Thinking (Pre-operational stage).
A client has experienced delusions and disorganized speech for exactly two months. What is the MOST likely diagnosis?
Schizophreniform Disorder
A group member says, "I thought I was the only one who felt this way." Which of Yalom's factors does this illustrate?
Universality
A client is in the Contemplation stage of change. Which therapy model is MOST appropriate?
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
This is the gold-standard screening tool used to track the severity of a client's Depression over time.
What is..The PHQ-9.
According to Erikson, a 75-year-old reflecting on their life with a sense of "missed opportunities" is experiencing which crisis?
Integrity vs. Despair.
This standardized tool is the gold standard for tracking the severity of Major Depressive Disorder over time.
PHQ-9
A social worker provides a client with a list of housing resources and bus passes. Which "hat" is the social worker wearing?
Case Manager (Environmental/Concrete needs)
CBT therapist asks a client to keep a log of their "Automatic Thoughts." This is a component of:
Cognitive Restructuring
This functional assessment tool measures a client's level of impairment across six life domains.
What is... The WHODAS 2.0.
A child is highly distressed when their caregiver leaves but is unable to be comforted upon their return, showing a "push-pull" behavior. Which attachment style is this?
Ambivalent (Anxious) Attachment.
A social worker is assessing a family. The mother confides in the daughter about the father's drinking. What is the clinical term for this?
Triangulation (or Parentification)
This group member type constantly says "Yes, but..." to every suggestion offered by the group or leader.
Help-Rejecting Complainer.
A social worker treats a veteran with PTSD who is currently homeless and using heroin. What should be the FIRST priority?
Stabilization (Housing and Harm Reduction) before trauma processing.
This ecomap line indicates a stressful or conflictual relationship.
What is... jagged or zig-zag line.
According to Mahler, the stage where a child realizes physical independence is permanent—leading to a "crisis" of wanting to be close again—is called:
Rapprochement
In the SMART goal framework, a goal that says "The client will feel less anxious" is missing which two components?
Measurability and Time-bound deadlines
In an ecomap, a "jagged" line between a client and a school system indicates:
A stressful or conflictual relationship.
This trauma-informed technique involves asking a client to name "5 things you see, 4 things you touch, 3 things you hear..."
Sensory Grounding (used for dissociation or flashbacks)