ASWB ASWB Certifications LCSW Questions & Answers

• Question 201:

  Pamela was robbed at gunpoint one evening as she was walking home from work. The assailant dragged her into an alley and punched her repeatedly in the face. A gun was put to her head and she was ordered to hand over all the jewelry she was wearing. The attacker also got away with her money, credit cards, and cell phone. Six months after this event occurred, Pamela began having flashbacks and frightening dreams. She started demonstrating emotional detachment from family and friends. What type of disorder is Pamela suffering from?

  A. Dissociative identity disorder

  B. Avoidance disorder

  C. Attachment disorder

  D. Post-traumatic stress disorder

  Correct Answer: D

  Post-traumatic stress disorder will occur after an indMdual has seen or experienced an event that involved death or injury. Symptoms may occur right after the trauma or could surface six months later. If the symptoms last for a short period of time, one to three months, it is called Acute Stress Disorder.

• Question 202:

  Strengths-based practice emphasizes the cIient's resources, abilities, and positive attributes - what the client can bring to the table to help him or herself. Which of the following list of characteristics best describes assessment of a client from a strengths-based approach?

  A. Optimistic; educated; employed

  B. Sense of social injustice, ambivalent, satisfied

  C. Strong family, little socialization, stagnant

  D. Confident, talkative, lacks insight

  Correct Answer: A

  All of these on this list are positive forces that a social worker can draw from when helping a client move fon/ vard toward positive change.

• Question 203:

  The strength-based assessment process has two stages. The first includes the ability to define the problem area and the second involves evaluating the situation. What are the two dimensions of strength-based assessment?

  A. Safety and self-determination

  B. Skill ability and sensitMty

  C. Internal and external strengths

  D. Vulnerability and oppression

  Correct Answer: C

  Internal strengths include motivation, emotion, and the ability to think clearly. External strengths include significant others, family networks, and community groups.

• Question 204:

  What is thefirst step in a psychological assessment?

  A. Family medical history

  B. Biographical account

  C. Biopsychosocial history

  D. Personal inventory

  Correct Answer: C

  The first step in a psychological assessment is a biopsychosocial history, which involves identifying the chief complaint, past psychological history, present illnesses, and current mental status. Sometimes this information is difficult to obtain if the patient is unwilling to aid in disclosure. Once the data is obtained, neurological and psychological testing can take place. When all information is collected, the patient is informed of the results and treatment begins.

• Question 205:

  Cassandra works as a clinical social worker for Child Protective Services. A new family she has been helping has a parent that is starting to raise red flags. The mother is the sole caretaker for the children but is demonstrating some peculiar behaviors. She has not kept consecutive doctor's appointments, has difficulty utilizing public transportation and fails to follow through with basic directions. This parent is always accompanied by another adult when she leaves the home on an errand. When Cassandra starts questioning the mother on her background, it is discovered that she attended special education classes and did not graduate from high school. These factors should arouse concern in what area?

  A. Child neglect

  B. Child abuse

  C. Intellectual limitations

  D. Financial distress

  Correct Answer: C

  Parents with intellectual limitations often demonstrate less positive child-rearing practices. They fail to recognize their chiIdren's needs and lack the skills to advocate for them. A clinical social worker should help the parents become aware of eligible community resources. The social worker should keep in mind that the mother's difficulties may result from a lack of resources and life skills. In social work, problems do not always have to be pathological. People of lower socioeconomic status, in particular, may suffer as a result of lack of resources, education, social status, training, etc.,

• Question 206:

  A clinical social worker is helping a client named Beth with phobia issues that surface when she is in dark places. The problem has occurred since the client was young, and she sleeps with every light on in her home. Nlost nights, Beth dozes on the couch, and the lack of sleep is interfering with her home and social life. Which of the following approaches would be most effective in combating Beth's anxiety issues?

  A. Self-actualization

  B. Systematic desensitization

  C. Cognitive behavioral therapy

  D. Family therapy

  Correct Answer: B

  Systematic desensitization educates a person to overcome an avoidance pattern. It helps effectively with phobias and anxiety by exposing the client to the fear gradually until it can be tolerated.

• Question 207:

  When utilizing cognitive therapy as a form of direct practice, a clinical social worker's main goal is to bring aboutwhich ofthe following changes in behavior?

  A. Diminishing anger

  B. Becoming more aggressive

  C. Controlling mood swings

  D. Controlling emotional responses

  Correct Answer: D

  Cognitive therapy helps one overcome difficulty by identifying and making changes to behaviors, emotional responses and dysfunctional thinking.

• Question 208:

  A family has asked for help with their son. Adrian is an active nine year old who is always on the go. His past behaviors have been blamed on high energy levels and the need to be expressive. Lately, these behaviors have become a problem for Adrian's teachers. There have been three conferences between parents and school staff in the last three months pertaining to the child questioning rules and talking back inappropriately. When he is confronted, Adrian displays resentment towards authorityfigures. What might the child be assessed for by the clinical social worker?

  A. Bipolar disorder

  B. Oppositional defiant disorder

  C. Anti-social disorder

  D. Mood disorder

  Correct Answer: B

  Oppositional defiant disorder affects approximately 16% of school students. It is often recognized as an ongoing pattern of hostile, uncooperative and defiant behaviors displayed towards authority figures. Symptoms must be observed at home and school to be correctly diagnosed.

• Question 209:

  Clinical social workers utilize an approach to working with clients that often has a good fit with the client because it can be tailored to their needs. What kind of approach is it?

  A. Eclectic

  B. Ambivalent

  C. Straightfonxvard

  D. Harm Reduction

  Correct Answer: A

  An eclectic approach to therapy draws from many theories and methods to address client issues in a variety of ways that can be tailored to fit the beliefs, needs, and abilities ofthe client.

• Question 210:

  Person-centered therapy demonstrates emotional understanding and sensitMtytowards the cIient's point of view. The clinical social worker's job is to listen and give complete attention to what the client is verbalizing. Which three attitudes on the part of the professional make this therapy productive?

  A. Empathy, compassion, and coerciveness

  B. Formality, positive reaction, and covert behavior

  C. Instruction, congruence and empathy

  D. Active listening, positive regard and congruence

  Correct Answer: D

  Active listening, positive regard and congruence are important facets of person-centered therapy. The therapy should be determined by the client and the motive is to increase the indMduaI's self-understanding and insight.