MSW Exam Prep Study Guide Questions
and Answers 2024
Economic justice for clients in need involves: - ANSWER-Fair and equitable resource
distribution to those in need
Case management to locate a place to live - ANSWER-Mr. Thomas is a 75-year-old
preparing for discharge from the hospital following hospitalization for burns suffered
when falling asleep with a lit cigarette. His assisted-living facility will not allow him to
return because his forgetfulness and smoking are a danger to self and others. What is
the first service to provide in this scenario?
Impairment in short-term memory - ANSWER-Ms. Massey recalls three words (i.e.
elephant, pencil, bus) immediately after hearing and repeating the words, but she was
not able to do so again after 20 minutes. With prompting, she could recall one of three
items. This is an indication of:
Suppression - ANSWER-Linda's family moved from one side of town to the other and
she is now going to attend a new school. Linda refuses to believe that her friends will no
longer be going to school with her and makes plans for what they will do when school
starts again. Which defense mechanism does this scenario best represent?
Placement in the least restrictive environment - ANSWER-Jana, age 14, has been in
and out of foster care since age six. She has multiple behaviors that are disruptive in
both school and home environments. Her former placement, a therapeutic foster home
says Jana requires intensive, structured treatment to ensure her safety and the safety of
others, much more than they could provide. What must be sought for Jana?
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy - ANSWER-Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
provides clients with a way to question their own beliefs and helps them to identify
values that may no longer be functional. It focuses more on thinking and rationality vs.
expressing feelings.
Autism Spectrum Disorder - ANSWER-A 4-year-old girl communicates verbally, but not
nonverbally. Her eye contact is poor, and interaction with others is nonexistent.
Although she exhibits strange and odd behaviors, her cognitive skills are adequate.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Denial - ANSWER-John drinks to the point of blacking out every weekend, and he has
taken reckless chances with the family's safety. He says he does not get out of hand
with his drinking, citing his ability to always make it to work on Mondays. This is an
example of:
, Family therapy to deal with adjustment reactions to the move and the grandmother's
illness, addressing Jim's current issue in terms of the family structure and patterns -
ANSWER-Jim was recently suspended from school twice for smoking on campus. The
school therapist referred the family to you. The family has just moved into the district
following dad's job relocation. Jim's grandmother was diagnosed with terminal cancer,
his younger brother was caught stealing a video game, and the parents are focused on
dealing with the brother's recent theft and truancy issues. What is the best treatment
modality?
Continue to assess any potential harm to the client and to talk this over with your client
and supervisor - ANSWER-If a social worker cannot avoid a dual relationship with a
client, it is advisable to:
Bowenian theory - ANSWER-Bowenian therapists are less interested in the issues that
brought the client to therapy and more interested in helping them to understand the
roles they play in the family system.
Individual therapy with the goal of smoking cessation - ANSWER-Mr. Xavier presents to
you at his company's Employee Assistance Program following a medical crisis
secondary to smoking. His physician requires that Mr. Xavier stop smoking immediately,
though he is not currently in crisis. What is the first treatment to consider?
an empathetic response - ANSWER-Empathy is about putting yourself in the other's
shoes, reflecting what is occurring from their perspective. The best response is, "You
sound overwhelmed with everything required just to get by." Problem-solving about
what can change cannot occur until addressing how overwhelmed James is, and
downplaying what is occurring by saying it could be better or worse is dismissive of
James and the situation.
When the need is mostly satisfied - ANSWER-According to Maslow, when does a need
stop motivating an individual?
Reframing - ANSWER-To take something from the past and applying it today in a new
way so he may see a new possible solution.
Guardian ad litem - ANSWER-A guardian ad litem is a lawyer or non-lawyer appointed
in court proceedings by the court to represent the best interests of the child or children
involved in that case.
Work with the client to reinforce his relapse prevention plan, attending to specific trigger
concerns and engaging problem-solving - ANSWER-Someone with four years of
sobriety fears current intense life-stressors will trigger a relapse. What is your next
step?
Lack of extended family - ANSWER-Jeremiah, age 7, is the only child of his single-
parent mother. They are isolated from other family members, and his mother has a
and Answers 2024
Economic justice for clients in need involves: - ANSWER-Fair and equitable resource
distribution to those in need
Case management to locate a place to live - ANSWER-Mr. Thomas is a 75-year-old
preparing for discharge from the hospital following hospitalization for burns suffered
when falling asleep with a lit cigarette. His assisted-living facility will not allow him to
return because his forgetfulness and smoking are a danger to self and others. What is
the first service to provide in this scenario?
Impairment in short-term memory - ANSWER-Ms. Massey recalls three words (i.e.
elephant, pencil, bus) immediately after hearing and repeating the words, but she was
not able to do so again after 20 minutes. With prompting, she could recall one of three
items. This is an indication of:
Suppression - ANSWER-Linda's family moved from one side of town to the other and
she is now going to attend a new school. Linda refuses to believe that her friends will no
longer be going to school with her and makes plans for what they will do when school
starts again. Which defense mechanism does this scenario best represent?
Placement in the least restrictive environment - ANSWER-Jana, age 14, has been in
and out of foster care since age six. She has multiple behaviors that are disruptive in
both school and home environments. Her former placement, a therapeutic foster home
says Jana requires intensive, structured treatment to ensure her safety and the safety of
others, much more than they could provide. What must be sought for Jana?
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy - ANSWER-Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
provides clients with a way to question their own beliefs and helps them to identify
values that may no longer be functional. It focuses more on thinking and rationality vs.
expressing feelings.
Autism Spectrum Disorder - ANSWER-A 4-year-old girl communicates verbally, but not
nonverbally. Her eye contact is poor, and interaction with others is nonexistent.
Although she exhibits strange and odd behaviors, her cognitive skills are adequate.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Denial - ANSWER-John drinks to the point of blacking out every weekend, and he has
taken reckless chances with the family's safety. He says he does not get out of hand
with his drinking, citing his ability to always make it to work on Mondays. This is an
example of:
, Family therapy to deal with adjustment reactions to the move and the grandmother's
illness, addressing Jim's current issue in terms of the family structure and patterns -
ANSWER-Jim was recently suspended from school twice for smoking on campus. The
school therapist referred the family to you. The family has just moved into the district
following dad's job relocation. Jim's grandmother was diagnosed with terminal cancer,
his younger brother was caught stealing a video game, and the parents are focused on
dealing with the brother's recent theft and truancy issues. What is the best treatment
modality?
Continue to assess any potential harm to the client and to talk this over with your client
and supervisor - ANSWER-If a social worker cannot avoid a dual relationship with a
client, it is advisable to:
Bowenian theory - ANSWER-Bowenian therapists are less interested in the issues that
brought the client to therapy and more interested in helping them to understand the
roles they play in the family system.
Individual therapy with the goal of smoking cessation - ANSWER-Mr. Xavier presents to
you at his company's Employee Assistance Program following a medical crisis
secondary to smoking. His physician requires that Mr. Xavier stop smoking immediately,
though he is not currently in crisis. What is the first treatment to consider?
an empathetic response - ANSWER-Empathy is about putting yourself in the other's
shoes, reflecting what is occurring from their perspective. The best response is, "You
sound overwhelmed with everything required just to get by." Problem-solving about
what can change cannot occur until addressing how overwhelmed James is, and
downplaying what is occurring by saying it could be better or worse is dismissive of
James and the situation.
When the need is mostly satisfied - ANSWER-According to Maslow, when does a need
stop motivating an individual?
Reframing - ANSWER-To take something from the past and applying it today in a new
way so he may see a new possible solution.
Guardian ad litem - ANSWER-A guardian ad litem is a lawyer or non-lawyer appointed
in court proceedings by the court to represent the best interests of the child or children
involved in that case.
Work with the client to reinforce his relapse prevention plan, attending to specific trigger
concerns and engaging problem-solving - ANSWER-Someone with four years of
sobriety fears current intense life-stressors will trigger a relapse. What is your next
step?
Lack of extended family - ANSWER-Jeremiah, age 7, is the only child of his single-
parent mother. They are isolated from other family members, and his mother has a
