LMSW Practice Exam Questions with
Complete Solutions 2025/2026
A therapist is meeting with a client for an initial evaluation. The client reports feeling moody
and has been having many headaches. The client states that she lost a lot of weight recently and
has noticed a decrease in appetite. The clinician should FIRST"
a. assess the client for suicidality
b. refer the client to a psychiatrist
c. complete a mental status exam
d. refer the client to a MD - ANSWERSd. refer the client to a MD
Although humanistic therapy takes into account the influences of society and the unconscious
are taken into account, its main emphasis is on freedom of choice in creating one's experience.
Humanistic therapy also emphasizes fulfillment and growth. Characteristics of this type of the
therapy include open-ended responses and tentative interpretations. Which of the following is
also an important aspect of humanistic therapy?
a. changing behaviors
b. altering ego perceptions
c. reflective listening
d. decision-making - ANSWERSc- reflective listening
A young man comes to see a social worker because he feels "lost" and would like the social
worker to help with his problems. In order to best assist the client, the social worker should:
a. ask the client what he would like to see changed in his life.
,b. give the client some suggestions for addressing his problems
c. refer the client for an evaluation for depression
d. praise the client for coming to seek help - ANSWERSa- ask the client what he would like to see
changed in his life
A social work supervisor meets with a supervisee who shares that they are sexually attracted to
a client they have been treating for several months. What should the social work supervisor do
FIRST?
a. discuss the need to co-treat the client while the supervisee works through this dilemma.
b. process with the supervisee their feelings of attraction toward the client
c. help the social worker to end the therapeutic relationship with the client
d. discuss the need to report the supervisee to their state board for a boundary violation -
ANSWERSb- process with the supervisee their feelings of attraction toward the client
A social worker may limit a client's self-determination when the client's actions:
a. pose a serious and imminent risk to self or others according to the social worker's judgement
b. cause significant disruption or risk to the therapeutic processes
c. result in legal action such as arrests, fines, and/or civil penalties
d. violate agency procedures and policies are established by the head of agency - ANSWERSa -
pose a serious and imminent risk to self or others according to the social workers judgment
A 35 year old client makes frequent statements of contemplating harm to himself. Which of the
following would be the MOST important safety indicator to consider when conducting a safety
assessment?
a. client's network of support
,b. client's access to emergency psychiatric services
c. expression of a preferred method or plan
d. family history of suicidal ideation - ANSWERSc- expression of preferred method or plan
Person-centered therapy places most of the responsibility for treatment on the client.
Professionals take a back seat and perform in a nondirective role. Therapy takes place in a
supportive environment with a comfortable client/social worker relationship. What are the two
goals of person-centered therapy?
a. increased self-esteem and openness to experience
b. increased self-determination and internal control
c. improvement in aggressive tendencies and control
d. improvement in attitude and external forces - ANSWERSa- increased self-esteem and
openness to experience
Crisis is a normal part of life, and individuals try to maintain equilibrium by using coping
mechanisms. Sometimes the usual techniques do not work when a problem is threatening.
People in crisis may experience guilt, feelings of anxiety, helplessness, and fear. Which of the
following criteria are used to determine whether a situation constitutes a crisis?
a. an individual's view and response to an event
b. how others view and respond to an event
c. instincts on what is threatening
d. conditioning as to what defines a crisis - ANSWERSa- an individual's response to an event
Boundaries between the outer world and inner self develop in infancy. While still young,
individuals will project feelings of denial stemming from what ego function?
a. internal conflict
, b. external conflict
c. defensive functioning
d. collaborative functioning - ANSWERSc-defensive functioning
Psychological counseling, guidance and assistance are the main focus in the field of social work.
Which kind of practice advances the community social conditions for disadvantaged individuals?
a. indirect practice
b. direct practice
c. oppression
d. group therapy - ANSWERSb- direct practice
Al is described by friends and family as being self-centered. He has problems with anger but
never wants to accept the blame. Al's relationships with two different women failed because he
was physically abusive. A social worker might assess this client with reaction formation disorder.
Which category of reaction formation disorder would he fall into?
a. internalizers
b. externalizers
c. inhibitors
d. all of the above - ANSWERSb- externalizers
There are more adult children dealing with issues concerning aging parents than ever before.
Many social work professionals specialize in services for senior citizens. They also initiate
support groups for their families and caretakers. There are three main focuses to this practice,
two of which include assessment and coordination. What is the third?
a. monitor services
Complete Solutions 2025/2026
A therapist is meeting with a client for an initial evaluation. The client reports feeling moody
and has been having many headaches. The client states that she lost a lot of weight recently and
has noticed a decrease in appetite. The clinician should FIRST"
a. assess the client for suicidality
b. refer the client to a psychiatrist
c. complete a mental status exam
d. refer the client to a MD - ANSWERSd. refer the client to a MD
Although humanistic therapy takes into account the influences of society and the unconscious
are taken into account, its main emphasis is on freedom of choice in creating one's experience.
Humanistic therapy also emphasizes fulfillment and growth. Characteristics of this type of the
therapy include open-ended responses and tentative interpretations. Which of the following is
also an important aspect of humanistic therapy?
a. changing behaviors
b. altering ego perceptions
c. reflective listening
d. decision-making - ANSWERSc- reflective listening
A young man comes to see a social worker because he feels "lost" and would like the social
worker to help with his problems. In order to best assist the client, the social worker should:
a. ask the client what he would like to see changed in his life.
,b. give the client some suggestions for addressing his problems
c. refer the client for an evaluation for depression
d. praise the client for coming to seek help - ANSWERSa- ask the client what he would like to see
changed in his life
A social work supervisor meets with a supervisee who shares that they are sexually attracted to
a client they have been treating for several months. What should the social work supervisor do
FIRST?
a. discuss the need to co-treat the client while the supervisee works through this dilemma.
b. process with the supervisee their feelings of attraction toward the client
c. help the social worker to end the therapeutic relationship with the client
d. discuss the need to report the supervisee to their state board for a boundary violation -
ANSWERSb- process with the supervisee their feelings of attraction toward the client
A social worker may limit a client's self-determination when the client's actions:
a. pose a serious and imminent risk to self or others according to the social worker's judgement
b. cause significant disruption or risk to the therapeutic processes
c. result in legal action such as arrests, fines, and/or civil penalties
d. violate agency procedures and policies are established by the head of agency - ANSWERSa -
pose a serious and imminent risk to self or others according to the social workers judgment
A 35 year old client makes frequent statements of contemplating harm to himself. Which of the
following would be the MOST important safety indicator to consider when conducting a safety
assessment?
a. client's network of support
,b. client's access to emergency psychiatric services
c. expression of a preferred method or plan
d. family history of suicidal ideation - ANSWERSc- expression of preferred method or plan
Person-centered therapy places most of the responsibility for treatment on the client.
Professionals take a back seat and perform in a nondirective role. Therapy takes place in a
supportive environment with a comfortable client/social worker relationship. What are the two
goals of person-centered therapy?
a. increased self-esteem and openness to experience
b. increased self-determination and internal control
c. improvement in aggressive tendencies and control
d. improvement in attitude and external forces - ANSWERSa- increased self-esteem and
openness to experience
Crisis is a normal part of life, and individuals try to maintain equilibrium by using coping
mechanisms. Sometimes the usual techniques do not work when a problem is threatening.
People in crisis may experience guilt, feelings of anxiety, helplessness, and fear. Which of the
following criteria are used to determine whether a situation constitutes a crisis?
a. an individual's view and response to an event
b. how others view and respond to an event
c. instincts on what is threatening
d. conditioning as to what defines a crisis - ANSWERSa- an individual's response to an event
Boundaries between the outer world and inner self develop in infancy. While still young,
individuals will project feelings of denial stemming from what ego function?
a. internal conflict
, b. external conflict
c. defensive functioning
d. collaborative functioning - ANSWERSc-defensive functioning
Psychological counseling, guidance and assistance are the main focus in the field of social work.
Which kind of practice advances the community social conditions for disadvantaged individuals?
a. indirect practice
b. direct practice
c. oppression
d. group therapy - ANSWERSb- direct practice
Al is described by friends and family as being self-centered. He has problems with anger but
never wants to accept the blame. Al's relationships with two different women failed because he
was physically abusive. A social worker might assess this client with reaction formation disorder.
Which category of reaction formation disorder would he fall into?
a. internalizers
b. externalizers
c. inhibitors
d. all of the above - ANSWERSb- externalizers
There are more adult children dealing with issues concerning aging parents than ever before.
Many social work professionals specialize in services for senior citizens. They also initiate
support groups for their families and caretakers. There are three main focuses to this practice,
two of which include assessment and coordination. What is the third?
a. monitor services
