Psychodynamic Social Work Practice
According to Freud, these three components make up the structure of personality.
What are the id, ego, and superego?
Providing individual therapy to a client experiencing depression is an example of this level of practice.
What is micro practice?
This evidence-based therapy was originally developed to treat children and adolescents experiencing trauma.
What is TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)?
This famous solution-focused question asks clients to imagine how their life would change if their problem disappeared overnight.
What is the miracle question?
This guiding document outlines the ethical principles and standards for professional social work practice.
What is the NASW Code of Ethics?
When clients unconsciously redirect feelings from past relationships onto the therapist, this process is occurring.
What is transference?
Facilitating a grief support group would be considered this level of practice.
What is mezzo practice?
Trauma can dysregulate this primary biological stress response system in the body.
What is the fight, flight, or freeze response?
In motivational interviewing, these questions encourage clients to elaborate rather than answer yes or no.
What are open-ended questions?
This ethical principle emphasizes a client’s right to make their own decisions about their life and treatment.
What is self-determination?
When the therapist has emotional reactions to a client that stem from their own unresolved experiences, this is occurring.
What is countertransference?
Advocating for new mental health legislation or policy reform represents this level of practice.
What is macro practice?
This trauma therapy uses bilateral stimulation such as eye movements to help process traumatic memories.
What is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)?
This MI principle involves working with client resistance rather than confronting it directly.
What is rolling with resistance?
When a social worker has both a professional relationship and another role with a client, such as friend or business partner, this is occurring.
What is a dual relationship?
This defense mechanism involves attributing one's own unacceptable feelings or impulses to someone else.
What is projection?
This social work skill involves connecting individuals or families with resources and services across systems.
What is case management?
This concept refers to a state in which a client is emotionally regulated enough to process experiences without becoming overwhelmed or shut down.
What is the window of tolerance?
Asking clients to rate their confidence or readiness for change on a scale of 1–10 is known as this technique.
What are scaling questions?
This ethical concept requires social workers to protect client information unless there is risk of harm or legal obligation to disclose.
What is confidentiality?
This psychodynamic concept refers to mental representations of self and others that shape interpersonal relationships.
What are object relations?
This theoretical framework helps social workers understand the interaction between individuals and their environments across all three practice levels.
What is person-in-environment perspective?
Trauma-informed care emphasizes these three key principles: safety, trustworthiness, and this third concept.
What is empowerment?
(Also acceptable: collaboration or choice depending on framework.)
In motivational interviewing, this type of statement reflects the client’s own arguments for change.
What is change talk?
This ethical obligation requires social workers to report when there is reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect.
What is mandated reporting?