×

Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

ASWB LCSW Exam Questions

Page 8 of 50

141.

Kennedi admits that when she witnesses two people talking, she feels as if the people are talking about her. Which of the following is an example of Kennedi's thoughts?

  • Ideas of reference

  • Grandiosity

  • Magical thinking

Correct answer: Ideas of reference

Ideas of reference are thoughts that the behavior of others has something to do with the individual. It is a term commonly used in diagnosis and assessment.

The other options are not correct. Grandiosity is when a client has an exaggerated sense of self-importance, and magical thinking is the thought process used when an individual attributes experiences and perceptions to unnatural phenomena.

142.

You are treating Mr. and Mrs. Wentworth, a couple that continuously yell at each other during each session. During your last session with the couple, you told them that they need to continue yelling at each other until they get it out of their system. 

The technique you used with Mr. and Mrs. Wentworth is: 

  • Paradoxical directive

  • Coaching

  • Conciliation

Correct answer: Paradoxical directive

Paradoxical directive is when a social worker changes clients’ behavior by instructing clients to do the opposite of what they expect to be told to do. In this situation, you tell clients to continue yelling at each other to surprise Mr. and Mrs. Wentworth, so they might do the opposite—stop yelling.

The other options are not correct. Coaching is when a social worker assists clients in the process of helping themselves. Conciliation is when a social worker advises, referees, and arbitrates between two or more parties.

143.

Which of the following would NOT be considered a "positive symptom" of a psychotic disorder?

  • Anhedonia

  • Ideas of reference

  • Command hallucinations

Correct answer: Anhedonia

Anhedonia is one of many terms commonly used in the assessment and diagnosis of mental illness, particularly in regard to thought disorders.

By extension, symptoms that represent "additive" manifestations of psychosis are defined as "positive." Because of this, psychotic individuals who previously had no thought disorder, gain ideas of reference, command hallucinations, delusions or disordered speech/associations during a psychotic episode and will display positive symptoms.

144.

Which of the following is the LEAST prominent concept in theories of individual psychology originated by Alfred Adler?

  • That individuals' functioning is primarily determined by the means by which id impulses are mediated, or controlled by ego and superego interaction

  • The concept that feelings of inferiority and the ways in which the person attempts to compensate for them is a central influence on personality and behavior

  • The idea that humans strive for a sense of significance in their environment, which is a primary motivator of behavior

Correct answer: That individuals' functioning is primarily determined by the means by which id impulses are mediated, or controlled by ego and superego interaction

Individual psychology was originated by Adler as a relatively radical Neo-Freudian theory that placed a much stronger emphasis (relative to Freud) on the purpose of behavior and basic desires of humans for a sense of achievement, community belonging/membership/recognition, and purpose. Adlerian theory is substantially more positive, optimistic, and health focused, as opposed to the conflict/pathology focus of Freud.

In the literature of individual psychology, references to traditional Freudian concepts of ego structure are minimal.

145.

Which of the following assessments would be used to assess personality?

  • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator 

  • Rorschach Inkblot Test

  • Thematic Apperception Test 

Correct answer: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator 

My Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a forced choice, self-report assessment that classifies individuals according to four different dimensions of personality. It is the only personality assessment listed here.

The Rorschach Inkblot Test is a projective assessment that evaluates perceptions.

The Thematic Apperception Test is projective and asks clients to make up stories about ambiguous pictures. This test can be used to reveal emotions, conflicts, and client needs.

146.

Hannah, a high school student, is referred to you because of her negative feelings toward her sibling. She self-reports to you that she is not allowed to get her driver’s license because Hannah's brother is sick, which has caused her parents a severe financial burden. Hannah clearly blames her brother for her current situation. 

The FIRST thing you should do is:

  • Stabilize Hannah's feelings toward her brother

  • Set up weekly sessions to discuss Hannah's feelings

  • Determine how serious her brother's illness is

Correct answer: Stabilize Hannah's feelings toward her brother

The first thing you should do is to stabilize Hannah's feelings, as she is very clearly hurt and angry.

After stabilizing Hannah's feelings, you may want to set up additional sessions and, eventually, you can contact the family and gain more information about the severity of her brother's illness, but these are not the first things that you should do.

147.

You are seeing Deena for her regular session, who suffers from depression and is always putting the worst interpretation on events. At this session, Deena states that she is stressed about her job, is concerned about the economy, and that these things make her depressed. You suggest that many people have the same concerns as Deena, and yet, they do not find these things to contribute to depression.

Which word BEST describes the technique you are using?

  • Universalization

  • Clarification

  • Relabeling

  • Confrontation

Correct answer: Universalization

Universalization is a technique of therapeutic communication in which the thought or behavior expressed is normalized to help the client feel less disoriented and to remove barriers to effective problem solving.

The other options, while they are techniques, do not apply here.

148.

You contact a client’s health maintenance organization (HMO) in order to obtain approval for more treatment sessions. During your call, the HMO social worker asks you specific details about your client’s sexual abuse experiences, and you feel that the questions are very excessive.

Your BEST course of action is:

  • Refuse specific details about your client’s experiences, but provide the general information as needed

  • Provide the HMO social worker with the needed information

  • Call the HMO social worker back after you obtain release from your client

Correct answer: Refuse specific details about your client’s experiences, but provide the general information as needed

HMOs generally do not need to know the specifics about a client’s experiences in order to approve more treatment sessions. However, if the HMO demands additional information that is specific to the client’s experiences, then you will need to contact the client with the specific questions and obtain their release.

Do not provide the HMO with requested information until obtaining the client's consent. You may then call the HMO social worker back, but first, you must refuse to share specific details and give the general information needed.

149.

You are treating Tasha, a client with Bipolar I disorder, which started the week after she gave birth to her child. What specifier is MOST appropriate to add to Tasha's diagnosis?

  • Bipolar I disorder, with peripartum onset

  • Bipolar I disorder, with atypical features

  • Bipolar I disorder, with melancholic features

Correct answer: Bipolar I disorder, with peripartum onset

Peripartum symptoms begin when a woman is pregnant, or within 4 weeks of giving birth. 

Because the information in the question indicates that her symptoms started after she gave birth, the other options are incorrect. Atypical features can include mood reactivity, increase in appetite, feelings of rejection, and/or a heavy feeling in the arms or legs. Melancholic features can include loss of pleasure in almost all activities or lack of reactivity to usually pleasant stimuli and, in some cases, decreased appetite and weight loss.

150.

During a session with you, Kolin, a middle-aged man, discloses that he recently discovered he has a sexually transmitted disease, but that he does not plan on informing his sexual partners. However, this disease can cause birth defects and other serious repercussions if/when not treated.

What should you do FIRST?

  • Discuss the matter fully with Kolin and explore the meaning of his behavior and the risks he is taking

  • Report Kolin to the Department of Public Health

  • Confront Kolin about his behavior and insist that you will contact his sexual partners to inform them of his STD

  • Suggest that Kolin will not make any progress in therapy until he is honest in his relationships

Correct answer: Discuss the matter fully with Kolin and explore the meaning of his behavior and the risks he is taking

In situations such as this one, you should be concerned not only for Kolin, as the client, but for the client's sexual partners. However, you should start by discussing Kolin's behavior fully with him and making sure that he understands that he is putting his sexual partners in danger. After discussing the matter fully with Kolin, you should discuss openly with him what the next course of action should be.

Reporting Kolin to the Department of Public Health would break confidentiality laws. Confronting the client may make him feel defensive, and the client may even choose to end his relationship with the social worker. It would also be inappropriate and unprofessional to suggest that you will reach out to his partners, as well as it would break confidentiality laws. It would also be inappropriate to suggest that Kolin will not progress at all in therapy until he is honest in his relationships.

151.

An ethics audit would be LEAST appropriate to apply to the following purpose:

  • As a tool to assess individual staff members under certain circumstances where clients have made formal/informal complaints about behaviors that indicate disciplinary action may be called for

  • As a method of objective assessment to serve as feedback to an organization and to improve risk management strategies

  • For independent practitioners in order to assess the appropriateness of standard forms, procedures related to confidentiality and client informed consent

  • To gather information from large public agencies related to standard policies/procedures with potential ethical implications, as well as get an understanding if there are potential needs for staff training on ethically related topics

Correct answer: As a tool to assess individual staff members under certain circumstances where clients have made formal/informal complaints about behaviors that indicate disciplinary action may be called for

Ethics audits are not intended as individual assessment tools to apply to isolated staff or situations, but they are best applied as a mechanism to comprehensively assess policies, procedures, protocols, and to assure currency of a variety of ethical and legal elements. Ethics audits are also recommended as a primary tool to use in risk management plans.

152.

Frannie, who is diagnosed as a pyromaniac, would MOST likely do which of the following?

  • Start a fire

  • Steal something

  • Pick at her skin

Correct answer: Start a fire

Pyromania is an impulse control disorder in which individuals are not able to control impulses to start fires.

The other options are not correct. Someone with kleptomania is most likely to steal something, and someone with dermatillomania is most likely to pick skin.

153.

Geraldine is meeting with her client, Bob, who has been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Bob comes into the room extremely angry because his boyfriend of two weeks dumped him. However, two weeks earlier, Geraldine remembers that Bob had been in a similar situation with a different boyfriend. Bob strongly believes that he is too attractive to be resisted by any man, and during his discussion with Geraldine, he becomes despondent and begins to threaten to kill himself. He runs from the room, runs from the treatment center, and immediately attempts an overdose of alcohol.

Which of the described thoughts and behaviors is LEAST like Borderline Personality Disorder?

  • Delusions of attractiveness

  • Unstable relationships

  • Emotional lability

  • Self-harm attempts

Correct answer: Delusions of attractiveness

Borderline Personality Disorder is mostly characterized by a consistent pattern of behavior involving highly unstable thoughts, emotions, relationships, and life circumstances. Self-harm is also common among those diagnosed with this disorder.

Delusions of any kind are not usually considered part of the diagnostic picture for someone with Borderline Personality Disorder and, based on the information provided in this question, are the correct answer for being the least like Borderline Personality Disorder.

154.

Rihanna is a 57-year-old woman who suffers from severe, chronic back and neck pain. Her husband, Rome, has made an appointment with you to discuss his concerns about her use of prescription pain medication. Rome reports that Rihanna has started visiting multiple doctors in attempts to obtain duplicate prescriptions for controlled substances to supplement her regular supply. Rihanna often complains to Rome that her doctors are not giving her enough medication to control her pain.

You MOST likely suspect that:

  • Rihanna has become drug dependent and needs help to control her need for painkillers

  • Rome is coming to you for advice on how to control Rihanna's behavior

  • Rihanna's problem will likely resolve after her back pain is cured

  • The doctor needs to know that Rihanna's pain is still not controlled

Correct answer: Rihanna has become drug dependent and needs help to control her need for painkillers

Occasionally, patients like Rihanna who are prescribed strong painkillers become dependent on that medication. In this question, Rihanna's insistence on finding more drugs than her doctor is comfortable prescribing suggests a medical dependence that requires treatment.

Rome is coming to you for help, but he is not responsible for controlling Rihanna's behavior in this situation, as the problem is far beyond his control. Even if Rihanna's back pain is cured, it is unlikely that her dependence will resolve without treatment. While her doctor should know that she is suffering from an addiction, at this point, Rihanna may not admit that her pain is controlled due to the desire to secure additional medication. 

155.

The following BEST characterizes issues related to "separation anxiety" in infants and young children:

  • It is considered a normal developmental phase between ages six months and two years, and is correlated with cognitive development.

  • Separation anxiety is primarily driven by parenting style, regardless of the child's age or developmental status.

  • It should always be considered a sign that trauma might have occurred when a child was left with an unfamiliar caregiver.

  • Severe separation anxiety at any age reflects a predisposition to clinically significant social anxiety that will emerge in later years.

Correct answer: It is considered a normal developmental phase between ages six months and two years, and is correlated with cognitive development.

Separation anxiety is a temporary and age-appropriate behavior that usually begins at about six months of age, and occurs as babies recognize themselves as separate from their primary caregiver(s). It usually fades by about age two, when the child learns the concept of object permanence.

Separation anxiety is a developmentally appropriate behavior rather than a response to parenting style, exposure to a traumatic event, or an indication that social anxiety will develop later in life.

156.

Brandie, a social worker in an acute treatment center, is meeting her client, Harry, for the first time. Harry is dressed in a navy blue suit and old tennis shoes, with a dandallion over one ear. He speaks with an Australian accent for the length of the assessment and seems sincere when he states that he can make it snow if he wishes hard enough.

Which of the following personality disorders is MOST like Harry's presentation?

  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder

  • Schizoid Personality Disorder

  • Histrionic Personality Disorder

  • Borderline Personality Disorder

Correct answer: Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Schizotypal Personality Disorder is defined by a pattern of behavior involving peculiarities of speech and dress, and signs of near-delusional "magical thinking." Based on the information offered in the question, Schizotypal Personality Disorder is the best option.

None of the other Personality Disorders listed are characterized by the indicated pattern of thoughts and behavior.

157.

Dominic, an extremely successful businessman, consults you to address his concerns over deteriorating family relationships. He frequently misses sessions without notice, afterward explaining that he had a meeting or emergency at the office that detained him. Dominic adds, at times, that such events are "simply part of the territory" of the industry in which he works. 

The BEST inference that can be drawn from the above is:

  • Dominic's behavior may reflect a more general pattern in which he misses or disregards nonwork-related events or obligations, and may be potentially representative of a significant influence on the quality of his family relationships.

  • Dominic may have undiagnosed problems with executive functions, and might best benefit from an evaluation to determine if such problems impair his ability to focus/organize his activities.

  • Dominic's missing of sessions is most likely an expression of resistance or ambivalence toward the therapeutic process.

  • Dominic's work/office environment must be so demanding or disorganized that it interferes with his ability to function and he could benefit from assistance to improve that system.

Correct answer: Dominic's behavior may reflect a more general pattern in which he misses or disregards nonwork-related events or obligations, and may be potentially representative of a significant influence on the quality of his family relationships.

Dominic's behavior toward you, and attitude toward therapy in general, most likely reflects the general value he places on relationships with others.

The other options are incorrect, as there is no information offered in the question to support them.

158.

You run a group for individuals who struggle to have supportive, long-lasting relationships with others. After two group sessions, one of the members begins to challenge your role in the group, stating that he does not think the group is helping and does not see how the activities you have planned have anything to do with the topic.

According to Tuckman's model of group development, the group is MOST likely in what stage?

  • Storming

  • Forming

  • Norming

  • Performing

Correct answer: Storming

Back in 1965, Bruce Tuckman described his model of group development and asserted that all stages are necessary for group members to successfully navigate personal struggles in a group setting. The order of the stages are: Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing.

The storming stage, which again, is the second stage of Tuckman's model, is where/when group members begin to have conflict with each other and/or the group leader. The focus and the task of the storming stage is for the members to successfully navigate disagreements and be able to learn how to work together effectively as a team moving forward.

In this question, and based on the information offered in the question, storming is the correct answer option.

159.

You're a psychodynamic therapist, but you have a client who requires a short-term intervention due to insurance limitations. Which of the following is the MOST accurate statement about your ability to treat this client?

  • You can use a short-term psychodynamic approach to treat this client.

  • You cannot treat this client and should refer them to a therapist who offers solution-focused brief therapy.

  • You can treat this client with permission from your supervisor.

  • You should try to convince the client to try long-term psychoanalysis, even if insurance will not cover treatment.

Correct answer: You can use a short-term psychodynamic approach to treat this client.

People often think of psychodynamic approaches as being longer-term, but this is not always the case. In fact, Freud's original psychoanalytic approaches were not long-term. Several short-term psychodynamic approaches are available, and they focus on unresolved childhood issues as being the root of adult problems. You can use a short-term approach to treat this client using your psychodynamic training.

It would be inaccurate to state you cannot treat this client, since short-term approaches are available.

You do not need permission from your supervisor to treat the client. As a skilled psychodynamic therapist, you should know that you can offer a short-term approach.

Finally, it would not be appropriate to convince the client to try a long-term therapy that insurance will not cover. A social worker should keep clients' interests primary, rather than trying to convince clients to try modalities that may be costly and unaffordable for them.

160.

What can caregivers do to foster healthy development in a child during the autonomy versus shame and doubt stage, as defined by Erikson's psychosocial development theory?

  • Be patient and encouraging while monitoring the child's safety

  • Do not allow the child to complete tasks on their own

  • Push the child to complete tasks that the child thinks they are not ready to do

  • Dismiss the pursuit of independent activities

Correct answer: Be patient and encouraging while monitoring the child's safety

Erikson's theory of psychosocial development emphasizes the importance of individuals mastering tasks in each stage of development before moving on to the next stage, and during the autonomy versus shame and doubt stage, which occurs between 2 and 4 years of age, a child explores their surroundings extensively and develops their first interests. It is during this stage that a child's caregiver(s) should be patient and encourage self-sufficient behavior by encouraging the child to perform age-appropriate tasks on their own. 

Caregivers who do not allow children to complete tasks on their own, or force them to complete tasks that they are not ready for, run the risk of creating a sense of shame and doubt in the child. By completely dismissing the child's pursuit of independent activities, a caregiver may be communicating a confusing message and this is not beneficial to healthy development.

×