LMSW CERTIFICATION EVALUATION
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS STUDY GUIDE
●● Key words
Answer: 1. Person/Client "hot seat"
2. SAFETY Red Flags - suicide, abuse, life-threatening, unexplained
marks, alcohol, recent loss
3. Strong words/adjectives
4. Age
5. Diagnosis
6. Symptoms/Duration
7. Who are you?
8. Where are you in session?
9. Quotations
10. Direct requests/concerns
11. Qualifiers (First/Next/Best)
●● Distractors
Answer: FARM GRITS ROAD - Answers that look appealing at first
glance but are often wrong - ELIMINATE! Exam is here and now
●● DO NOT CHOOSE FARM GRITS ROAD
,Answer: 1. FOCUS on unresolved issues/past
2. ADVICE - giving/judging
3. RECOMMEND "to a support group"
4. MAKE an appt.
5. GIVE pamphlets/literature
6. RECOMMEND a session
7. INFORM parents/speak to parents (when child/ado)
8. TERMINATE (Exceptions: Moving, client reaches goals/no new
crisis, client does not pay)
9. SPEAK to supervisor (except transference/counter)
10. RESPECT self-determination (If mentally UNSTABLE)
11. OFFER contract as a reminder
12. ALLOW the clients to lead the session
13. DO nothing/say nothing
●● How do you answer first/next questions?
Answer: 90% of exam is SAFETY FIRST.
●● How does the exam want you to have a CLEAR understanding of
client's issues?
Answer: ASSESS BEFORE ACTION.
●● RUSAFE
,Answer: 1. RULE out medical
2. UNDER the influence/delusional/hallucinating Do Not Treat
3. SAVE Lives - Safety first (Answers: Duty to warn, report child/elder
abuse, 911, mobile crisis, ER)
4. ASSESS before action - (Answers: ASSESS, ASK or DICE -
Determine, Identify,Clarify, Explore)
5. FEELINGS - (Answers: ACKNOWLEDGE person's feelings)
CONCERNS (AID ASSIST, INFORM client, DISCUSS concerns)
6. EMPOWER - If client is mentally stable/alert (Answers: Respect
client's decisions)
●● COE: Ethical responsibilities towards clients
Answer: 1. Client's best interests are primary
2. Respect/promote right to self-determination if client is mentally
alert/stable, NOT unstable/intoxicated/psychotic
3. Informed consent, written agreement by client to undergo treatment,
risks/benefits/costs disclosed
4. Avoid conflicts of interest (Things that interfere with SW's impartial
judgment/discretion)
5. DO NOT promote individual therapy sessions to ppl who have a
relationship w/ each other (except couples, family, group treatment) -
Provide family members with appropriate referrals
6. Avoid dual/multiple relationships
7. Avoid bartering (unless common practice in community)
, 8. Obtain a professional translator FIRST if client does not speak the
language of SW
9. Do not disclose client information w/out consent unless req'd by law
10. Provide client with reasonable access to records (First
explore/discuss reason for request) Follow laws of state.
11. Ensure CONTINUITY of services
12. NO relations with clients past or present
●● Mandated reporting
Answer: SW's are req'd and responsible for reporting any instances of
abuse that is suspected. Abuse includes physical, emotional, sexual,
neglect, CHILD AND ELDER ABUSE
●● Duty to Warn
Answer: SW's MUST WARN a threatened victim of any harm that
his/her client may cause when there is a REAL INTENT (PLAN)
●● HIV Decisions
Answer: NOT DUTY TO WARN! 3 options:
1. FIRST urge client to disclose to partner
2. FIRST encourage client to engage in safe sex
3. Research/follow state laws as needed
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS STUDY GUIDE
●● Key words
Answer: 1. Person/Client "hot seat"
2. SAFETY Red Flags - suicide, abuse, life-threatening, unexplained
marks, alcohol, recent loss
3. Strong words/adjectives
4. Age
5. Diagnosis
6. Symptoms/Duration
7. Who are you?
8. Where are you in session?
9. Quotations
10. Direct requests/concerns
11. Qualifiers (First/Next/Best)
●● Distractors
Answer: FARM GRITS ROAD - Answers that look appealing at first
glance but are often wrong - ELIMINATE! Exam is here and now
●● DO NOT CHOOSE FARM GRITS ROAD
,Answer: 1. FOCUS on unresolved issues/past
2. ADVICE - giving/judging
3. RECOMMEND "to a support group"
4. MAKE an appt.
5. GIVE pamphlets/literature
6. RECOMMEND a session
7. INFORM parents/speak to parents (when child/ado)
8. TERMINATE (Exceptions: Moving, client reaches goals/no new
crisis, client does not pay)
9. SPEAK to supervisor (except transference/counter)
10. RESPECT self-determination (If mentally UNSTABLE)
11. OFFER contract as a reminder
12. ALLOW the clients to lead the session
13. DO nothing/say nothing
●● How do you answer first/next questions?
Answer: 90% of exam is SAFETY FIRST.
●● How does the exam want you to have a CLEAR understanding of
client's issues?
Answer: ASSESS BEFORE ACTION.
●● RUSAFE
,Answer: 1. RULE out medical
2. UNDER the influence/delusional/hallucinating Do Not Treat
3. SAVE Lives - Safety first (Answers: Duty to warn, report child/elder
abuse, 911, mobile crisis, ER)
4. ASSESS before action - (Answers: ASSESS, ASK or DICE -
Determine, Identify,Clarify, Explore)
5. FEELINGS - (Answers: ACKNOWLEDGE person's feelings)
CONCERNS (AID ASSIST, INFORM client, DISCUSS concerns)
6. EMPOWER - If client is mentally stable/alert (Answers: Respect
client's decisions)
●● COE: Ethical responsibilities towards clients
Answer: 1. Client's best interests are primary
2. Respect/promote right to self-determination if client is mentally
alert/stable, NOT unstable/intoxicated/psychotic
3. Informed consent, written agreement by client to undergo treatment,
risks/benefits/costs disclosed
4. Avoid conflicts of interest (Things that interfere with SW's impartial
judgment/discretion)
5. DO NOT promote individual therapy sessions to ppl who have a
relationship w/ each other (except couples, family, group treatment) -
Provide family members with appropriate referrals
6. Avoid dual/multiple relationships
7. Avoid bartering (unless common practice in community)
, 8. Obtain a professional translator FIRST if client does not speak the
language of SW
9. Do not disclose client information w/out consent unless req'd by law
10. Provide client with reasonable access to records (First
explore/discuss reason for request) Follow laws of state.
11. Ensure CONTINUITY of services
12. NO relations with clients past or present
●● Mandated reporting
Answer: SW's are req'd and responsible for reporting any instances of
abuse that is suspected. Abuse includes physical, emotional, sexual,
neglect, CHILD AND ELDER ABUSE
●● Duty to Warn
Answer: SW's MUST WARN a threatened victim of any harm that
his/her client may cause when there is a REAL INTENT (PLAN)
●● HIV Decisions
Answer: NOT DUTY TO WARN! 3 options:
1. FIRST urge client to disclose to partner
2. FIRST encourage client to engage in safe sex
3. Research/follow state laws as needed
