ASWB LSW Evidence-Based Study Guide 2025/2026:
Intervention Models, Human Behavior, DSM-5 Criteria
& NASW Ethics Questions
A social worker facilitates a group of domestic violence perpetrators. A group
members is now able to recognize the triggers for anger and is committed to
changing resulting actions. According to the trans theoretical model of
change, what stage is the group member MOST likely experiencing?
A. Precontemplation
B. Contemplation
C. Maintenance
D. Termination - correct answer B. Contemplation
To take into account the information processing deficits of clients with
schizophrenia, what should the social worker do to BEST structure group
treatment?
A. Encourage the free flow of ideas
B. Use expressive therapy tools
C. Enforce a rigid agenda for the group
D. Schedule a variety of brief activities - correct answer D. Schedule a
variety of brief activities
A social worker who recently graduated begins working in a drug treatment
program. The social worker notices that clients have many needs, including
medical attention, mental health services, social services, housing assistance,
and employment training. The social worker feels overwhelmed. What should
the social worker do FIRST?
A. Establish priorities
B. Be aware of countertransference
C. Obtain supervision
,D. Plan to write a grant to hire an additional worker - correct answer C.
Obtain supervision
A social worker at a community mental health program includes a spiritual
assessment as part of the intake interview. The program serves members of a
local tribal community. What is important for the social worker to remember
when working with clients who are Native Americans/Indigenous people?
A. Closed-ended questions within a structural protocol should be used
B. The assessment must be kept brief and storytelling minimized
C. Clinical language should be used to create a safe environment
D. Trust should be established before asking for sensitive info - correct
answer D. Trust should be established before asking for sensitive info
A social work supervisor meets with a staff person who has difficulty setting
limits with clients. What is the MOST effective strategy that the supervisor
could suggest to correct this pattern?
A. Avoid contact with manipulative clients
B. Increase assertiveness through educational activities
C. Use work time for self-appraisal
D. Ask colleagues to provide feedback during client sessions - correct
answer B. Increase assertiveness through educational activities
What is the FIRST thing social workers should do when attempting to evaluate
institutionalized racism in an agency?
A. Analyze the agency's policies and procedures
B. Discuss the issue of fairness with the supervisor
C. Facilitate research on the impact of agency policies
D. Review policies that have been successful in other agencies - correct
answer A. Analyze the agency's policies and procedures
, A hospital social worker assists a patient who is scheduled for discharge. The
patient and family feel the patient needs more time to regain strength before
returning home alone. What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Educate the family on assisting with patient care
B. Arrange a meeting to discuss aftercare options
C. Inform the patient and family about hospital rules
D. Ask hospital administration to extend the discharge date - correct answer
B. Arrange a meeting to discuss aftercare options
A social worker is asked to email a client's records to a. Local physician. The
client has signed a document legally permitting the release of the records.
What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Email the records to the physician
B. Hand deliver the records to the physician
C. Confirm that the information can be securely transmitted
D. Explain that ethical standards prohibit electronic transmission of
information - correct answer C. Confirm that the information can be
securely transmitted
After the death of their child, a couple attends a bereavement group led by a
social worker. The group meeting deals almost exclusively with this couple's
loss. After the session, other group members report that this caused them to
feel frustrated and uncomfortable. What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Ask the couple to join a different support group
B. Plan to discuss the issue with the group at the next session
C. Meet individually with the couple before the next session
D. Remind the members of their own first group experiences - correct
answer B. Plan to discuss the issue with the group at the next session
Intervention Models, Human Behavior, DSM-5 Criteria
& NASW Ethics Questions
A social worker facilitates a group of domestic violence perpetrators. A group
members is now able to recognize the triggers for anger and is committed to
changing resulting actions. According to the trans theoretical model of
change, what stage is the group member MOST likely experiencing?
A. Precontemplation
B. Contemplation
C. Maintenance
D. Termination - correct answer B. Contemplation
To take into account the information processing deficits of clients with
schizophrenia, what should the social worker do to BEST structure group
treatment?
A. Encourage the free flow of ideas
B. Use expressive therapy tools
C. Enforce a rigid agenda for the group
D. Schedule a variety of brief activities - correct answer D. Schedule a
variety of brief activities
A social worker who recently graduated begins working in a drug treatment
program. The social worker notices that clients have many needs, including
medical attention, mental health services, social services, housing assistance,
and employment training. The social worker feels overwhelmed. What should
the social worker do FIRST?
A. Establish priorities
B. Be aware of countertransference
C. Obtain supervision
,D. Plan to write a grant to hire an additional worker - correct answer C.
Obtain supervision
A social worker at a community mental health program includes a spiritual
assessment as part of the intake interview. The program serves members of a
local tribal community. What is important for the social worker to remember
when working with clients who are Native Americans/Indigenous people?
A. Closed-ended questions within a structural protocol should be used
B. The assessment must be kept brief and storytelling minimized
C. Clinical language should be used to create a safe environment
D. Trust should be established before asking for sensitive info - correct
answer D. Trust should be established before asking for sensitive info
A social work supervisor meets with a staff person who has difficulty setting
limits with clients. What is the MOST effective strategy that the supervisor
could suggest to correct this pattern?
A. Avoid contact with manipulative clients
B. Increase assertiveness through educational activities
C. Use work time for self-appraisal
D. Ask colleagues to provide feedback during client sessions - correct
answer B. Increase assertiveness through educational activities
What is the FIRST thing social workers should do when attempting to evaluate
institutionalized racism in an agency?
A. Analyze the agency's policies and procedures
B. Discuss the issue of fairness with the supervisor
C. Facilitate research on the impact of agency policies
D. Review policies that have been successful in other agencies - correct
answer A. Analyze the agency's policies and procedures
, A hospital social worker assists a patient who is scheduled for discharge. The
patient and family feel the patient needs more time to regain strength before
returning home alone. What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Educate the family on assisting with patient care
B. Arrange a meeting to discuss aftercare options
C. Inform the patient and family about hospital rules
D. Ask hospital administration to extend the discharge date - correct answer
B. Arrange a meeting to discuss aftercare options
A social worker is asked to email a client's records to a. Local physician. The
client has signed a document legally permitting the release of the records.
What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Email the records to the physician
B. Hand deliver the records to the physician
C. Confirm that the information can be securely transmitted
D. Explain that ethical standards prohibit electronic transmission of
information - correct answer C. Confirm that the information can be
securely transmitted
After the death of their child, a couple attends a bereavement group led by a
social worker. The group meeting deals almost exclusively with this couple's
loss. After the session, other group members report that this caused them to
feel frustrated and uncomfortable. What should the social worker do NEXT?
A. Ask the couple to join a different support group
B. Plan to discuss the issue with the group at the next session
C. Meet individually with the couple before the next session
D. Remind the members of their own first group experiences - correct
answer B. Plan to discuss the issue with the group at the next session
