ASWB LMSW PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
During the 5th meeting with a social worker, a client tells the social worker about the
recent engagement of her daughter with whom she was previously estranged. The
client asks the social worker to attend the wedding which will occur in the next few
months. To best assist the client, the social worker should:
A. Tell the client that the professional Code of Ethics prohibits the social worker from
attending
B. Discuss with the client the reason(s) for the request
C. Ask to speak to the daughter to gather her thoughts about the social worker
attending - Answer -B
A social worker is working with an elderly woman whose husband just died suddenly.
The woman is lethargic, reports feeling depressed, and is hesitant to speak about future
plans. In this situation, the social worker should FIRST:
A. Assess the client for suicide risk
B. Recommend a medical evaluation to identify any medical etiology
C. Help the client to identify activities of interest with others which will enhance
socialization - Answer -A
A school social worker is seeing a family who recently immigrated from another country.
During the initial interview, the 12-year-old son cries about the physical discipline that
he receives when he gets bad grades. The parents state that punishment is needed,
citing that his grades have improved since its onset in recent weeks. In order to help the
family, the social worker should FIRST:
A. Ask the parents about their academic expectations for their son
B. Report the situation to the child welfare agency for screening and assistance
C. Determine the nature and severity of the punishment techniques used - Answer -C
A social worker is seeing a single mother of three small children. The client is
temporarily staying with a friend after leaving her home due to intimate partner violence.
The client tells the social worker that she plans to return home in a week where the
perpetrator is still living. In this situation, the social worker should:
A. Discuss with the client the impact of violence on the development and well-being of
children
B. Make a report of the situation to the child abuse hotline
C. Recognize that the client is not ready to leave her abuser - Answer -A
A client comes to see a social worker due to reports of depression, sadness, and
feelings of isolation. During the initial meeting, the client tells the social worker that they
never really felt connected to others, citing a lack of friendships and intimate
relationships as a reason for current unhappiness. Recently, the client has questioned
their sexual orientation and interest in sexual relationships generally. In order to assist
the client, the social worker should FIRST:
A. Refer the client for a medication evaluation for depression
, B. Complete a sexual history on the client to identify past experience and encounters
C. Explore with the client past and current emotional connections - Answer -C
A 30-year-old man comes to a social worker due to problems with his current girlfriend.
The girlfriend is overly controlling and demanding, requiring him to call her repeatedly
throughout the day. She recently discovered that he had gone out to lunch with a female
coworker which resulted in her screaming at him in a rage. The client is nervous about
speaking to her about his concerns for fear of her reaction. In order to best assist the
client, the social worker should:
A. Help the client alleviate his apprehension by role playing the meeting with the
girlfriend
B. Suggest that the social worker see the client and his girlfriend together to establish
clear and appropriate boundaries
C. Educate the client about the characteristics of healthy intimate relationships so that
he can better understand his girlfriend's behavior - Answer -A
A social worker who has been working with clients in crisis notices that she is feeling
lethargic, depressed, and apathetic toward her work. She has had few days off since
starting the job due to client demands. After discussing the situation with her supervisor,
she realizes that these thoughts have been getting progressively more pronounced and
interfering with her ability to provide effective care. To BEST address this problem, the
social worker should:
A. Ask for assistance in covering job duties while taking a needed vacation
B. Implement workload adjustments while receiving supervision and consultation
C. Evaluate the need for self-care strategies and coping skills to deal with vicarious
trauma - Answer -B
A school social worker is informed that a student plans to transition to the opposite
gender during the next year. The student previously identified as male and met with the
social worker many times in the past about issues that were not related to gender
identity. The student arrives for the next meeting with the social worker dressed in male
clothing with no change in appearance. The social worker should:
A. Identify the student by the name and gender pronouns used in the past
B. Ask the student to identify the name and gender pronouns that should be used
C. Explore with the student why gender identity was not discussed during their meetings
in the past - Answer -B
A social worker is contacted by a former client who is engaged in a child custody fight
with her abusive ex-husband. The court has asked the client to provide a copy of the
treatment records which were previously agreed upon by the social worker and client.
The client asks
the social worker to delete her diagnoses as they will likely be used against her in the
court proceedings. The social worker agrees to do so as she has concerns about the
ex-husband's ability to parent. Which BEST describes the social worker's actions?
A. Unethical as the social worker should not alter a record after it has been created
B. Unethical as social worker has not been appointed as an examiner of the court
During the 5th meeting with a social worker, a client tells the social worker about the
recent engagement of her daughter with whom she was previously estranged. The
client asks the social worker to attend the wedding which will occur in the next few
months. To best assist the client, the social worker should:
A. Tell the client that the professional Code of Ethics prohibits the social worker from
attending
B. Discuss with the client the reason(s) for the request
C. Ask to speak to the daughter to gather her thoughts about the social worker
attending - Answer -B
A social worker is working with an elderly woman whose husband just died suddenly.
The woman is lethargic, reports feeling depressed, and is hesitant to speak about future
plans. In this situation, the social worker should FIRST:
A. Assess the client for suicide risk
B. Recommend a medical evaluation to identify any medical etiology
C. Help the client to identify activities of interest with others which will enhance
socialization - Answer -A
A school social worker is seeing a family who recently immigrated from another country.
During the initial interview, the 12-year-old son cries about the physical discipline that
he receives when he gets bad grades. The parents state that punishment is needed,
citing that his grades have improved since its onset in recent weeks. In order to help the
family, the social worker should FIRST:
A. Ask the parents about their academic expectations for their son
B. Report the situation to the child welfare agency for screening and assistance
C. Determine the nature and severity of the punishment techniques used - Answer -C
A social worker is seeing a single mother of three small children. The client is
temporarily staying with a friend after leaving her home due to intimate partner violence.
The client tells the social worker that she plans to return home in a week where the
perpetrator is still living. In this situation, the social worker should:
A. Discuss with the client the impact of violence on the development and well-being of
children
B. Make a report of the situation to the child abuse hotline
C. Recognize that the client is not ready to leave her abuser - Answer -A
A client comes to see a social worker due to reports of depression, sadness, and
feelings of isolation. During the initial meeting, the client tells the social worker that they
never really felt connected to others, citing a lack of friendships and intimate
relationships as a reason for current unhappiness. Recently, the client has questioned
their sexual orientation and interest in sexual relationships generally. In order to assist
the client, the social worker should FIRST:
A. Refer the client for a medication evaluation for depression
, B. Complete a sexual history on the client to identify past experience and encounters
C. Explore with the client past and current emotional connections - Answer -C
A 30-year-old man comes to a social worker due to problems with his current girlfriend.
The girlfriend is overly controlling and demanding, requiring him to call her repeatedly
throughout the day. She recently discovered that he had gone out to lunch with a female
coworker which resulted in her screaming at him in a rage. The client is nervous about
speaking to her about his concerns for fear of her reaction. In order to best assist the
client, the social worker should:
A. Help the client alleviate his apprehension by role playing the meeting with the
girlfriend
B. Suggest that the social worker see the client and his girlfriend together to establish
clear and appropriate boundaries
C. Educate the client about the characteristics of healthy intimate relationships so that
he can better understand his girlfriend's behavior - Answer -A
A social worker who has been working with clients in crisis notices that she is feeling
lethargic, depressed, and apathetic toward her work. She has had few days off since
starting the job due to client demands. After discussing the situation with her supervisor,
she realizes that these thoughts have been getting progressively more pronounced and
interfering with her ability to provide effective care. To BEST address this problem, the
social worker should:
A. Ask for assistance in covering job duties while taking a needed vacation
B. Implement workload adjustments while receiving supervision and consultation
C. Evaluate the need for self-care strategies and coping skills to deal with vicarious
trauma - Answer -B
A school social worker is informed that a student plans to transition to the opposite
gender during the next year. The student previously identified as male and met with the
social worker many times in the past about issues that were not related to gender
identity. The student arrives for the next meeting with the social worker dressed in male
clothing with no change in appearance. The social worker should:
A. Identify the student by the name and gender pronouns used in the past
B. Ask the student to identify the name and gender pronouns that should be used
C. Explore with the student why gender identity was not discussed during their meetings
in the past - Answer -B
A social worker is contacted by a former client who is engaged in a child custody fight
with her abusive ex-husband. The court has asked the client to provide a copy of the
treatment records which were previously agreed upon by the social worker and client.
The client asks
the social worker to delete her diagnoses as they will likely be used against her in the
court proceedings. The social worker agrees to do so as she has concerns about the
ex-husband's ability to parent. Which BEST describes the social worker's actions?
A. Unethical as the social worker should not alter a record after it has been created
B. Unethical as social worker has not been appointed as an examiner of the court
