Michigan Social Worker Advanced Clinical
Exam Questions and Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. Which of the following best describes the primary goal of
cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)?
A. To explore unconscious conflicts
B. To change maladaptive behaviors and thought patterns
C. To strengthen familial bonds
D. To analyze early childhood experiences
B. To change maladaptive behaviors and thought patterns
CBT focuses on identifying and modifying negative thought patterns and
behaviors that contribute to psychological distress. Unlike
psychodynamic approaches, it is structured, goal-oriented, and present-
focused.
2. A client presents with chronic low mood and fatigue for over two
weeks, along with loss of interest in activities. The most likely
diagnosis is:
A. Bipolar II Disorder
B. Major Depressive Disorder
, C. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
D. Persistent Depressive Disorder
B. Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder is characterized by a depressed mood or loss
of interest/pleasure in most activities for at least two weeks,
accompanied by other symptoms like fatigue, changes in appetite, and
sleep disturbances.
3. The principle of beneficence in social work ethics requires a
practitioner to:
A. Avoid harming the client
B. Maintain client confidentiality
C. Act in the best interest of the client
D. Respect client autonomy
C. Act in the best interest of the client
Beneficence emphasizes actively promoting the well-being of clients,
beyond simply avoiding harm (nonmaleficence). It is a core ethical
principle in social work practice.
4. Which of the following is a hallmark feature of borderline
personality disorder?
A. Grandiosity and need for admiration
B. Unstable interpersonal relationships and fear of abandonment
C. Obsessive preoccupation with orderliness
D. Detachment from social relationships
B. Unstable interpersonal relationships and fear of abandonment
Borderline Personality Disorder is defined by patterns of instability in
,relationships, self-image, and affect, often with impulsive behaviors and
intense fears of abandonment.
5. A social worker notices a client’s report of physical abuse but the
client insists on confidentiality. The first ethical action is to:
A. Maintain confidentiality completely
B. Notify the authorities immediately
C. Review mandatory reporting laws and discuss limits of
confidentiality with the client
D. Advise the client to leave the abusive situation
C. Review mandatory reporting laws and discuss limits of
confidentiality with the client
Ethical practice requires understanding the legal mandates (such as
child or elder abuse reporting laws) and clarifying to the client what can
and must be disclosed, balancing ethics and legal obligations.
6. Which attachment style is most commonly associated with
difficulty trusting others and emotional withdrawal in adulthood?
A. Secure
B. Anxious-preoccupied
C. Avoidant
D. Disorganized
C. Avoidant
Avoidant attachment develops from early experiences where the
caregiver was emotionally unavailable or rejecting, leading individuals
to maintain emotional distance and avoid intimacy in adult
relationships.
, 7. The term “dual relationships” in social work refers to:
A. A client seeing two therapists simultaneously
B. A social worker having multiple roles with the same client that
could impair objectivity
C. Co-facilitation of group therapy
D. Working in both clinical and administrative roles
B. A social worker having multiple roles with the same client that
could impair objectivity
Dual relationships can create conflicts of interest, blurred boundaries,
and ethical dilemmas, potentially impacting the worker’s professional
judgment.
8. A client with schizophrenia expresses auditory hallucinations
commanding them to self-harm. The social worker’s immediate
priority is:
A. Explore the meaning of the hallucination
B. Assess risk and ensure client safety
C. Use cognitive restructuring
D. Encourage journaling to track symptoms
B. Assess risk and ensure client safety
Safety is the first priority in clinical social work. Suicidal or self-harm
directives from hallucinations require immediate risk assessment and
intervention.
9. Which therapy is most effective for treating PTSD in adults?
A. Psychoanalysis
B. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Exam Questions and Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. Which of the following best describes the primary goal of
cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)?
A. To explore unconscious conflicts
B. To change maladaptive behaviors and thought patterns
C. To strengthen familial bonds
D. To analyze early childhood experiences
B. To change maladaptive behaviors and thought patterns
CBT focuses on identifying and modifying negative thought patterns and
behaviors that contribute to psychological distress. Unlike
psychodynamic approaches, it is structured, goal-oriented, and present-
focused.
2. A client presents with chronic low mood and fatigue for over two
weeks, along with loss of interest in activities. The most likely
diagnosis is:
A. Bipolar II Disorder
B. Major Depressive Disorder
, C. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
D. Persistent Depressive Disorder
B. Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder is characterized by a depressed mood or loss
of interest/pleasure in most activities for at least two weeks,
accompanied by other symptoms like fatigue, changes in appetite, and
sleep disturbances.
3. The principle of beneficence in social work ethics requires a
practitioner to:
A. Avoid harming the client
B. Maintain client confidentiality
C. Act in the best interest of the client
D. Respect client autonomy
C. Act in the best interest of the client
Beneficence emphasizes actively promoting the well-being of clients,
beyond simply avoiding harm (nonmaleficence). It is a core ethical
principle in social work practice.
4. Which of the following is a hallmark feature of borderline
personality disorder?
A. Grandiosity and need for admiration
B. Unstable interpersonal relationships and fear of abandonment
C. Obsessive preoccupation with orderliness
D. Detachment from social relationships
B. Unstable interpersonal relationships and fear of abandonment
Borderline Personality Disorder is defined by patterns of instability in
,relationships, self-image, and affect, often with impulsive behaviors and
intense fears of abandonment.
5. A social worker notices a client’s report of physical abuse but the
client insists on confidentiality. The first ethical action is to:
A. Maintain confidentiality completely
B. Notify the authorities immediately
C. Review mandatory reporting laws and discuss limits of
confidentiality with the client
D. Advise the client to leave the abusive situation
C. Review mandatory reporting laws and discuss limits of
confidentiality with the client
Ethical practice requires understanding the legal mandates (such as
child or elder abuse reporting laws) and clarifying to the client what can
and must be disclosed, balancing ethics and legal obligations.
6. Which attachment style is most commonly associated with
difficulty trusting others and emotional withdrawal in adulthood?
A. Secure
B. Anxious-preoccupied
C. Avoidant
D. Disorganized
C. Avoidant
Avoidant attachment develops from early experiences where the
caregiver was emotionally unavailable or rejecting, leading individuals
to maintain emotional distance and avoid intimacy in adult
relationships.
, 7. The term “dual relationships” in social work refers to:
A. A client seeing two therapists simultaneously
B. A social worker having multiple roles with the same client that
could impair objectivity
C. Co-facilitation of group therapy
D. Working in both clinical and administrative roles
B. A social worker having multiple roles with the same client that
could impair objectivity
Dual relationships can create conflicts of interest, blurred boundaries,
and ethical dilemmas, potentially impacting the worker’s professional
judgment.
8. A client with schizophrenia expresses auditory hallucinations
commanding them to self-harm. The social worker’s immediate
priority is:
A. Explore the meaning of the hallucination
B. Assess risk and ensure client safety
C. Use cognitive restructuring
D. Encourage journaling to track symptoms
B. Assess risk and ensure client safety
Safety is the first priority in clinical social work. Suicidal or self-harm
directives from hallucinations require immediate risk assessment and
intervention.
9. Which therapy is most effective for treating PTSD in adults?
A. Psychoanalysis
B. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
