LCSW Exam Section 2- Assessment,
Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning,
Exam Recap. Rated A+
Interview techniques - ✔✔--Universalization: the generalization or normalization of behavior
-Clarification: reformulate problem in a client's words to make sure that you are on the same page
-Confrontation: calling attention to something
-Interpretation: pulling together patterns of behavior to get a new understanding
-Reframing and relabeling: stating problem in a different way so a client can see possible solutions
Component of a biopsychosocial history - ✔✔--Biological section: assesses a client's medical history,
developmental history, current medications, substance abuse history, and family history of medical
illnesses.
-Psychological section: assesses a client's present psychiatric illness or symptoms, history of the current
psychiatric illness or symptoms, past or current psychosocial stressors, and mental status; exploration of
past treatment(s)
-Social section: focuses on client systems, unique client context, and may identify strengths and/or
resources available for treatment planning; sexual identity issues/concerns, personal history, family of
origin history, support system availability, abuse history, education, legal history, marital/relationship
status and concerns, work history, and risks
*should also include assessing client's spiritual and cultural factors
Beck Depression Inventory - ✔✔-A 21-item test, presented in multiple choice format, that assesses the
presence and degree of depression in adolescents and adults
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) - ✔✔-An objective verbal inventory designed
as a personality test for the assessment of psychopathology; consists of 550 statements, 16 of which are
repeated
,Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) - ✔✔-A forced-choice, self-report inventory that attempts of classify
individuals along four theoretically independent dimensions. The first dimension is a general attitude
toward the world, either extraverted (E) or introverted (I). The second dimension, perception, is divided
between sensation (S) and intuition (N). The third dimension is that of processing. Once information is
received, it is processed in either a thinking (T) or feeling (F) style. The final dimension is judging (J)
versus perceiving (P).
Rorschach Inkblot Test - ✔✔-Client responses to inkblots are used to assess perceptual reactions and
other psychological functioning. It is one of the most widely used projective tests
(Side note from me: it is super invalid and unreliable because of its subjectivity)
Standford-Binet Intelligence Scale - ✔✔-Designed for the testing of cognitive abilities. It provides verbal,
performance, and full scale scores for children and adults
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) - ✔✔-Another widely used projective test. It consists of a series of
pictures of ambiguous scenes. Clients are asked to make up stories or fantasies concerning what is
happening, has happened, and is going to happen in the scenes, along with a description of their
thoughts and feelings. The TAT provides information on a client's perceptions and imagination for use in
the understanding of a client's current needs, motives, emotions, and conflicts, both conscious and
unconscious. Its use in clinical assessment is generally part of a large battery of tests and interview data.
Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WISC) - ✔✔-Designed as a measure of a child's intellectual and cognitive
ability. It has four index scales and a full scale score
(Side not from me: also one for babies-toddlers)
Characteristics of possible client strengths (use during assessment) - ✔✔-1. Cognitive and appraisal
skills: intellectual/cognitive ability; creativity, curiousity; initiative, perseverance, patience; common
sense; ability to anticipate problems; realistic appraisal of demands and capacities; ability to use
feedback
2. Defenses and coping mechanisms: ability to regulate impulses and affect; self-soothing; flexible, can
handle stressors
, 3. Temperamental and dispositional facotrs: belief in trustworthiness of others; belief in justice; self-
esteem, self-worth; sense of mastery, confidence, optimism; ability to tolerate ambiguity and
uncertainty; ability to make sense of negative events; sense of humor; lack of hostility, anger, anxiety;
optimistic, open; ability to grieve; lack of helplessness; responsibility for decisions; sense of direction,
mission, purpose
4. Interpersonal skills and supports: ability to develop/maintain good relationships; ability to confide in
others; problem-solving skills; capacity for empathy; presence of an intimate relationship; sense of
security
5. Other factors: supportive social institutions, such as church; good physical health; adequate income;
supportive family and friends
Precontemplation - ✔✔-A client is unaware, unable, and/or unwilling to change. In this stage, there is
the greatest resistance and lack of motivation. It can be characterized by arguing, interrupting, denial,
ignoring the problem, and/or avoiding talking or thinking about it. A client may not even show up for
appointments and does not agree that change is needed.
Contemplation - ✔✔-A client is ambivalent or uncertain regarding behavior change; thus, his or her
behaviors are unpredictable. In this stage, a client may be willing to look at pros and cons of behavior
change, but is not committed to working toward it.
Indicators that a client may be resistant or not ready/able to fully participate in services - ✔✔--Limiting
the amount of information communicated to a social worker
-Silence/minimal talking during sessions
-Engaging in intellectual talk by using technical terms or abstract concepts or asking questions of a social
worker that are not related to client issues or problems
-Being preoccupied with past events instead of current issues
-Discounting, censoring, or editing thoughts when asked about them by a social worker
-False promising
-Flattering a social worker in an attempt to "soften" him or her so not to be pushed
-Not keeping appointments
Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning,
Exam Recap. Rated A+
Interview techniques - ✔✔--Universalization: the generalization or normalization of behavior
-Clarification: reformulate problem in a client's words to make sure that you are on the same page
-Confrontation: calling attention to something
-Interpretation: pulling together patterns of behavior to get a new understanding
-Reframing and relabeling: stating problem in a different way so a client can see possible solutions
Component of a biopsychosocial history - ✔✔--Biological section: assesses a client's medical history,
developmental history, current medications, substance abuse history, and family history of medical
illnesses.
-Psychological section: assesses a client's present psychiatric illness or symptoms, history of the current
psychiatric illness or symptoms, past or current psychosocial stressors, and mental status; exploration of
past treatment(s)
-Social section: focuses on client systems, unique client context, and may identify strengths and/or
resources available for treatment planning; sexual identity issues/concerns, personal history, family of
origin history, support system availability, abuse history, education, legal history, marital/relationship
status and concerns, work history, and risks
*should also include assessing client's spiritual and cultural factors
Beck Depression Inventory - ✔✔-A 21-item test, presented in multiple choice format, that assesses the
presence and degree of depression in adolescents and adults
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) - ✔✔-An objective verbal inventory designed
as a personality test for the assessment of psychopathology; consists of 550 statements, 16 of which are
repeated
,Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) - ✔✔-A forced-choice, self-report inventory that attempts of classify
individuals along four theoretically independent dimensions. The first dimension is a general attitude
toward the world, either extraverted (E) or introverted (I). The second dimension, perception, is divided
between sensation (S) and intuition (N). The third dimension is that of processing. Once information is
received, it is processed in either a thinking (T) or feeling (F) style. The final dimension is judging (J)
versus perceiving (P).
Rorschach Inkblot Test - ✔✔-Client responses to inkblots are used to assess perceptual reactions and
other psychological functioning. It is one of the most widely used projective tests
(Side note from me: it is super invalid and unreliable because of its subjectivity)
Standford-Binet Intelligence Scale - ✔✔-Designed for the testing of cognitive abilities. It provides verbal,
performance, and full scale scores for children and adults
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) - ✔✔-Another widely used projective test. It consists of a series of
pictures of ambiguous scenes. Clients are asked to make up stories or fantasies concerning what is
happening, has happened, and is going to happen in the scenes, along with a description of their
thoughts and feelings. The TAT provides information on a client's perceptions and imagination for use in
the understanding of a client's current needs, motives, emotions, and conflicts, both conscious and
unconscious. Its use in clinical assessment is generally part of a large battery of tests and interview data.
Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WISC) - ✔✔-Designed as a measure of a child's intellectual and cognitive
ability. It has four index scales and a full scale score
(Side not from me: also one for babies-toddlers)
Characteristics of possible client strengths (use during assessment) - ✔✔-1. Cognitive and appraisal
skills: intellectual/cognitive ability; creativity, curiousity; initiative, perseverance, patience; common
sense; ability to anticipate problems; realistic appraisal of demands and capacities; ability to use
feedback
2. Defenses and coping mechanisms: ability to regulate impulses and affect; self-soothing; flexible, can
handle stressors
, 3. Temperamental and dispositional facotrs: belief in trustworthiness of others; belief in justice; self-
esteem, self-worth; sense of mastery, confidence, optimism; ability to tolerate ambiguity and
uncertainty; ability to make sense of negative events; sense of humor; lack of hostility, anger, anxiety;
optimistic, open; ability to grieve; lack of helplessness; responsibility for decisions; sense of direction,
mission, purpose
4. Interpersonal skills and supports: ability to develop/maintain good relationships; ability to confide in
others; problem-solving skills; capacity for empathy; presence of an intimate relationship; sense of
security
5. Other factors: supportive social institutions, such as church; good physical health; adequate income;
supportive family and friends
Precontemplation - ✔✔-A client is unaware, unable, and/or unwilling to change. In this stage, there is
the greatest resistance and lack of motivation. It can be characterized by arguing, interrupting, denial,
ignoring the problem, and/or avoiding talking or thinking about it. A client may not even show up for
appointments and does not agree that change is needed.
Contemplation - ✔✔-A client is ambivalent or uncertain regarding behavior change; thus, his or her
behaviors are unpredictable. In this stage, a client may be willing to look at pros and cons of behavior
change, but is not committed to working toward it.
Indicators that a client may be resistant or not ready/able to fully participate in services - ✔✔--Limiting
the amount of information communicated to a social worker
-Silence/minimal talking during sessions
-Engaging in intellectual talk by using technical terms or abstract concepts or asking questions of a social
worker that are not related to client issues or problems
-Being preoccupied with past events instead of current issues
-Discounting, censoring, or editing thoughts when asked about them by a social worker
-False promising
-Flattering a social worker in an attempt to "soften" him or her so not to be pushed
-Not keeping appointments
