ASWB LCSW EXAM UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Question:
1. 1: A social worker meets with a 75-year-old client whose
spouse died six months ago. In the intake interview, the
client reports losing weight, having very little energy, and
having difficulty getting motivated to do things. What
should the social worker do FIRST?
A . Complete a suicide risk assessment of the client
B . Explore available family and community resources
C . Suggest that the client schedule an appointment with
a doctor
D . Refer the client to a local bereavement group
Answer:
A . Complete a suicide risk assessment of the client
Question:
2. 4: A social worker who leads a therapy group plans to
begin an extended leave. What should the social worker
discuss with the group FIRST?
A . Arrangements for continuity of the group
B . The group's progress to date
C . Options for transferring to other groups
D . Detailed reasons for the leave
Answer:
A . Arrangements for continuity of the group
Question:
3. 9: A social work director is revising the process of
orienting new staff to the agency. The revised process
includes a day of training. The training will include time to
tour the agency and review agency policies and
procedures. To be MOST effective in helping new staff to
succeed, what should the training program include?
A . Time to meet with a board member
B . Group discussion about treatment methods
C . A session on clinical documentation requirements
D . Presentation of the agency's philosophy and values
Answer:
D . Presentation of the agency's philosophy and values
,Question:
4. 10: A social worker is working with a client who has been
told that he must lose weight because his health is being
affected. He reports that diets have not worked because
he lacks the willpower to control his eating. He ends by
saying how lonely he feels even with family and friends.
He says that he feels like a "big fat failure." What should
the social worker do FIRST?
A . Encourage the client to set up a realistic exercise
program
B . Refer the client for a nutrition consultation
C . Suggest that the client join a self-help group
D . Help the client explore the dynamics of the eating
Answer:
D . Help the client explore the dynamics of the eating problem
Question:
5. 11: A social worker is working with a family whose
adolescent son who is acting out. During the assessment,
the mother confides that she was sexually abused as a
child. She has never addressed her past abuse and is
interested in treatment. What type of group would be
most helpful to the mother at this time?
A . A structured therapy group focusing on trauma issues
B . An extended family therapy group to help the mother
confront her abuser
C . A mutual aid group for parents with adolescents
D . A psychodynamic therapy group focusing on current
relationships
Answer:
A . A structured therapy group focusing on trauma issues
Question:
6. 17: A client is housed temporarily in a domestic violence
shelter with her children. The client is planning to return
home where the perpetrator still lives. What should the
social worker do FIRST?
A . Accept the client's decision to return home
B . Encourage the client to end the abusive relationship
C . Explain the effects of domestic violence on children
D . Report the client to child protective services
Answer:
C . Explain the effects of domestic violence on children
, Question:
7. 19: Upon beginning treatment with a new client, a social
worker encourages the client to spend an extended
period of time talking about past personal history and
problems. During this time, the social worker asks some
questions but is focused mainly on listening to the client.
What is the social worker's MOST likely purpose for doing
this?
A . Gathering diagnostic information
B . Assessing for communication style
C . Developing a treatment plan
D . Determining appropriateness for treatment
Answer:
A . Gathering diagnostic information
Question:
8. 23: A client who has hepatitis C is confined to a
wheelchair in a nursing care facility. As the illness
progresses, the client becomes increasingly depressed
and angry. One day the client abruptly cuts herself and
attempts to bleed on several staff members. The social
worker is consulted about how to handle the situation.
What should the social worker do NEXT?
A . Refer the client for a psychiatric evaluation
B . Encourage the staff to press charges against the client
C . Work with the administration to have the client
transferred
D . Provide an in-service training for the staff on blood-
borne pathogens
Answer:
A . Refer the client for a psychiatric evaluation
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Question:
1. 1: A social worker meets with a 75-year-old client whose
spouse died six months ago. In the intake interview, the
client reports losing weight, having very little energy, and
having difficulty getting motivated to do things. What
should the social worker do FIRST?
A . Complete a suicide risk assessment of the client
B . Explore available family and community resources
C . Suggest that the client schedule an appointment with
a doctor
D . Refer the client to a local bereavement group
Answer:
A . Complete a suicide risk assessment of the client
Question:
2. 4: A social worker who leads a therapy group plans to
begin an extended leave. What should the social worker
discuss with the group FIRST?
A . Arrangements for continuity of the group
B . The group's progress to date
C . Options for transferring to other groups
D . Detailed reasons for the leave
Answer:
A . Arrangements for continuity of the group
Question:
3. 9: A social work director is revising the process of
orienting new staff to the agency. The revised process
includes a day of training. The training will include time to
tour the agency and review agency policies and
procedures. To be MOST effective in helping new staff to
succeed, what should the training program include?
A . Time to meet with a board member
B . Group discussion about treatment methods
C . A session on clinical documentation requirements
D . Presentation of the agency's philosophy and values
Answer:
D . Presentation of the agency's philosophy and values
,Question:
4. 10: A social worker is working with a client who has been
told that he must lose weight because his health is being
affected. He reports that diets have not worked because
he lacks the willpower to control his eating. He ends by
saying how lonely he feels even with family and friends.
He says that he feels like a "big fat failure." What should
the social worker do FIRST?
A . Encourage the client to set up a realistic exercise
program
B . Refer the client for a nutrition consultation
C . Suggest that the client join a self-help group
D . Help the client explore the dynamics of the eating
Answer:
D . Help the client explore the dynamics of the eating problem
Question:
5. 11: A social worker is working with a family whose
adolescent son who is acting out. During the assessment,
the mother confides that she was sexually abused as a
child. She has never addressed her past abuse and is
interested in treatment. What type of group would be
most helpful to the mother at this time?
A . A structured therapy group focusing on trauma issues
B . An extended family therapy group to help the mother
confront her abuser
C . A mutual aid group for parents with adolescents
D . A psychodynamic therapy group focusing on current
relationships
Answer:
A . A structured therapy group focusing on trauma issues
Question:
6. 17: A client is housed temporarily in a domestic violence
shelter with her children. The client is planning to return
home where the perpetrator still lives. What should the
social worker do FIRST?
A . Accept the client's decision to return home
B . Encourage the client to end the abusive relationship
C . Explain the effects of domestic violence on children
D . Report the client to child protective services
Answer:
C . Explain the effects of domestic violence on children
, Question:
7. 19: Upon beginning treatment with a new client, a social
worker encourages the client to spend an extended
period of time talking about past personal history and
problems. During this time, the social worker asks some
questions but is focused mainly on listening to the client.
What is the social worker's MOST likely purpose for doing
this?
A . Gathering diagnostic information
B . Assessing for communication style
C . Developing a treatment plan
D . Determining appropriateness for treatment
Answer:
A . Gathering diagnostic information
Question:
8. 23: A client who has hepatitis C is confined to a
wheelchair in a nursing care facility. As the illness
progresses, the client becomes increasingly depressed
and angry. One day the client abruptly cuts herself and
attempts to bleed on several staff members. The social
worker is consulted about how to handle the situation.
What should the social worker do NEXT?
A . Refer the client for a psychiatric evaluation
B . Encourage the staff to press charges against the client
C . Work with the administration to have the client
transferred
D . Provide an in-service training for the staff on blood-
borne pathogens
Answer:
A . Refer the client for a psychiatric evaluation
