LMSW Professional Relationships, Values, and Ethics Quiz

A social worker who was recently licensed has a master's degree in social work and a Ph.D. in American history. Which of the following can the social worker include on his professional business card? Select one: A. Designation as a social worker and license number. B. Master's degree, Ph.D., and license number. C. Ph.D. and designation as a social worker. D. Ph.D., license number, and designation as a social worker.

A. Designation as a social worker and license number.

A social worker is having marital problems. If the social worker were to discuss these problems with his supervisor in an individual supervision meeting, which of the following responses by the supervisor would be LEAST appropriate? Select one: A. Helping the social worker understand his marital problems. B. Providing the social worker with relevant education. C. Providing the social worker with support. D. Letting the social worker take some time off of work.

A. Helping the social worker understand his marital problems.

A social worker begins to work in individual therapy with a client who is from a culture that differs from her own. The social worker knows relatively little about the client's culture and acknowledges this to him in the first meeting. What should the social worker do NEXT? Select one: A. Invite the client to tell her something about his culture. B. Shift the focus to the presenting problem. C. Offer to refer the client to a therapist from his own culture. D. Tell the client that she will seek information about his culture before the next session.

A. Invite the client to tell her something about his culture.

A client in need of case management services immigrated to the United States from Mexico two years ago. He is uncomfortable speaking English and asks the social worker to provide her services in Spanish. The social worker speaks some Spanish, but recognizes that her Spanish-language skills may be insufficient for interacting effectively with this client. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Make an appropriate referral. B. Offer to bring in a translator with cultural knowledge. C. Use a trained paraprofessional who speaks Spanish. D. Encourage the client to speak English and use her Spanish-language skills to assist him when he has difficulty communicating with her.

A. Make an appropriate referral.

What are the core ethical principles that social work researchers must take into account when conducting research on human subjects? Select one: A. Obtain informed consent, minimize harm, protect confidentiality, avoid deception and give participants withdrawal rights. B. Do good, do no harm, obtain informed consent, avoid deception and inform them of their right to withdrawal. C. Obtain informed consent, protect confidentiality, minimize harm, and give participants the right to withdraw from the study. D. Do no harm, obtain informed consent, protect confidentiality and give participants the right to withdraw from the study.

A. Obtain informed consent, minimize harm, protect confidentiality, avoid deception and give participants withdrawal rights.

A social worker begins assessment of a new client, and after one session with her, realizes that she needs long-term psychotherapy. The client has insurance that covers only 10 sessions and she can't afford to pay even social worker's lowest fee. What is the social worker's BEST course of action? Select one: A. Refer the client to a low-fee community-based clinic. B. See the client and intervene with the insurance company on her behalf. C. See the client, intervene with the insurance company on her behalf, and refer her only if the company refuses to continue paying. D. See the client for 10 sessions and then refer her to a low-fee clinic.

A. Refer the client to a low-fee community-based clinic.

An adolescent with a history of aggressive behavior has been referred for individual therapy from a juvenile detention facility. The client also has a history of alcohol use and school truancy. In a session with the social worker, the client says, "I can't stand this kid I know, Pete. He's a total douche, and I'm going to get him." What should the social worker do FIRST in this situation? Select one: A. Remind the client of the limitations to his right of confidentiality and of her related legal obligations. B. Contact the police and try to locate Pete. C. Clarify why the client "can't stand" Pete. D. Either warn Pete of the danger he is in or notify law enforcement officials of the client's threat.

A. Remind the client of the limitations to his right of confidentiality and of her related legal obligations.

A social worker has recently started working at a community agency. She is dedicated to her clients, works hard, and complies with the agency's rules and policies. One day, she arrives 30 minutes late for a group supervision meeting and is unprepared to present her case to the group. What should the supervisor do? Select one: A. Speak privately with the social worker about this. B. Write up an evaluation and place it in the social workers record but include a notation that this is her first offense. C. Do nothing because this is the social workers first offense. D. Educate the entire group by discussing this problem during the group supervision meeting.

A. Speak privately with the social worker about this.

A social worker discovers that a former client has filed a complaint against him with the state board. The board contacts the social worker asking for his clinical records on this client. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Submit the records. B. Claim the privilege. C. Get the client's permission before submitting the records. D. Submit the records in summary form in an effort to safeguard the clients confidentiality.

A. Submit the records.

A 29-year-old therapy client reveals that she is being stalked and harassed by her ex-boyfriend who is a police officer. She hasn't told anyone else about this and doesn't know what she should do. During the past week, the ex-boyfriend has left her several threatening voicemail messages. What should the social worker do FIRST? Select one: A. Urge the client to file a police report. B. Break confidentiality and file a police report. C. Encourage the client to express her feelings about this. D. Assess the degree of risk.

A. Urge the client to file a police report.

A social worker is given two days to prepare and submit a report to the court about a client's progress. The social worker's supervisor needs to review the client's record before the report can be sent to the court. The social worker's BEST course of action is to: Select one: A. request an extension. B. meet her obligation to submit the report on time. C. notify the client that she didnt receive the information in time. D. encourage her supervisor to meet the deadline.

A. request an extension.

While having dinner at a local restaurant, a social worker discusses one of his clients with a friend. Although he doesn't mention the client's name, he describes the client's problems in detail. As it turns out, the friend knows the client and is able to identify her through the social worker's description. In this case, the social worker's behavior is: Select one: A. unethical. B. ethical because he had no way of knowing that his friend knows the client. C. ethical because he did not reveal the client's name. D. ethical if the friend is also a mental health professional.

A. unethical.

A client has private health insurance. When billing for services provided to this client, which of the following will be MOST important? Select one: A. The anticipated prognosis and treatment duration. B. A specific DSM diagnosis. C. A broad diagnosis that describes the client's primary symptoms and current level of functioning. D. Verification of the client's eligibility beforehand.

B. A specific DSM diagnosis.

A social worker employed at an agency has been working in individual therapy with an adult client for several months. The client, who has been pleased with his progress in therapy to date, gives the social worker a wool sweater that he bought while on vacation in Scotland. The agency has no policy regarding accepting gifts from clients. What is the social worker's BEST course of action? Select one: A. Simply accept the gift as a token of the clients satisfaction. B. Accept the gift but explore with the client why he is giving it. C. Decline the gift and move swiftly to another topic to preserve therapeutic boundaries. D. Decline the gift and notify administrative staff that the agency needs to formulate a policy to address this.

B. Accept the gift but explore with the client why he is giving it.

The client is a young man who has recently lost visitation rights with his children. He tells the social worker that he has sought therapy primarily as a means of having his visitation rights reinstated. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Schedule conjoint sessions with the client's ex-spouse in order to determine what is in the children's best interests. B. Advise the client to consult with a lawyer and provide a referral. C. Advise the client as to whether or not he is likely to get his visitation rights reinstated. D. Direct the client to talk to a divorce mediator.

B. Advise the client to consult with a lawyer and provide a referral.

During a therapy session, a client asks a social worker a question about her private life. The social worker doesn't feel comfortable answering the question. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Answer the question anyway to avoid damaging the therapeutic relationship. B. Decline to answer the question and authentically share her reasons why. C. Deflect attention from the question by shifting the focus back to the client. D. Find out why the client is asking the question before deciding what to do.

B. Decline to answer the question and authentically share her reasons why.

A social worker conducting the first interview with a client finds herself feeling angry at the client. What is the social worker's BEST course of action? Select one: A. Share her feelings with the client so that they wont interfere with treatment. B. Identify the source of her anger. C. Set aside her negative feelings. D. Refer the client to a colleague.

B. Identify the source of her anger.

A social worker employed at a hospital learns that a medical doctor is refusing to tell a patient that the recent tests he ran showed that she is terminally ill. The social worker objects to keeping this kind of information from patients. What should the social worker do FIRST? Select one: A. Schedule a meeting with the patient and her doctor. B. Meet with the doctor to discuss this. C. Tell the patient about her medical condition. D. Report the doctor to a hospital administrator.

B. Meet with the doctor to discuss this.

A social worker who is a recovering alcoholic begins to drink again. After several weeks, she is drinking heavily every evening after work and having a few beers with her lunch, even though she sees clients in the afternoon. To behave in an ethical manner, what should the social worker do? Select one: A. Seek consultation. B. Refer her clients and seek treatment. C. Join an AA group. D. Cancel her appointments until she is able to practice effectively.

B. Refer her clients and seek treatment.

A man telephones a social worker to schedule an appointment. The man says he wants couple's counseling to work on communication difficulties that he and his husband have been having. The social worker is not comfortable working with gay individuals because of personal biases. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Talk over these concerns with the man before agreeing to treat him and his husband. B. Refer the man to another qualified therapist. C. Explain to the man that she cannot work with him because of her personal bias against homosexuality. D. Suggest to the man that he might have better results with a gay therapist.

B. Refer the man to another qualified therapist.

A social worker is working in individual therapy with a client who has a history of lying and conning people. The client tends to flatter the social worker and ask her for special favors such as deferring his fee and extending his sessions. The social worker feels as though the client is always testing her and, lately, she's been finding it harder to maintain the limits she set with him at the beginning of therapy. Last week, the social worker allowed the client an extra 15 minutes at the end of his session because he'd arrived late. To handle this situation properly, what should the social worker do? Select one: A. Tell the client how she feels. B. Seek consultation with someone who can be objective. C. Avoid judging the client. D. Refer the client to a colleague.

B. Seek consultation with someone who can be objective.

Which of the following usually CANNOT consent to mental health treatment for a child? Select one: A. The parent with legal custody. B. The foster parent. C. The adoptive parent. D. The legal guardian.

B. The foster parent.

The primary element in determining "vicarious liability" is: Select one: A. the social worker's intentions. B. the disparity in training and experience. C. the presence or absence of a contract. D. whether or not a waiver had been signed.

B. the disparity in training and experience.

A social worker has been hired by the court to conduct an evaluation of two divorcing parents and to prepare a report that will be used in determining how to award custody of the couple's children. Both parents call the social worker, telling him they don't want him to submit the report. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Check with the court and ask them what he should do. B. Contact the attorneys. C. Complete the report and submit it to the court. D. Comply with the parents wishes.

C. Complete the report and submit it to the court.

During the final session of therapy, the client invites her social worker to dinner to thank him for his help. To behave in an ethical way, what should the social worker do? Select one: A. Accept the invitation if he wants to since therapy is over. B. Make a decision based on what he knows about this client. C. Decline the invitation. D. Suggest that he and the client meet for dinner at a later date after some time has passed.

C. Decline the invitation.

A social worker employed at a hospital is asked by a physician to engage in a behavior that conflicts with NASW's Code of Ethics. The physician insists that the action would be in the patient's best interests. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Refuse to comply because he should follow the hospitals policies and procedures rather than a physicians request. B. Refuse to comply with the physicians request and arrange to meet with a supervisor or administrator to explain the conflict. C. Discuss his concerns with the physician. D. Fulfill the physicians request if it will not harm the patient.

C. Discuss his concerns with the physician.

A social worker has been working for several months in individual therapy with a client and has developed a therapeutic relationship with him. The client is progressing well. The client loses his job and can't afford to pay the social worker's fee anymore. What is the social worker's BEST course of action? Select one: A. Allow the client to divert payments until he gets another job. B. Refer the client to a low-fee community-based clinic. C. Reduce her fee for this client or offer him shorter sessions. D. Provide the therapy pro bono.

C. Reduce her fee for this client or offer him shorter sessions.

The BEST overall focus for performance appraisals of social workers employed at an agency would be which of the following? Select one: A. Their abilities so that they can be strengthened. B. Their deficiencies so that they can be corrected. C. The quality and quantity of their output. D. Their professional skills.

C. The quality and quantity of their output.

When asked by the social worker why he has come in, a client says he has low self-esteem and a lack of direction in his life and wants that to change. In the first interview with this man, which of the following should be the social worker's primary objective? Select one: A. To motivate the client for change. B. To understand the problem. C. To establish rapport. D. To identify the goals of treatment.

C. To establish rapport.

A social worker whose private practice is located in an urban setting has many clients who are poor and live in impoverished parts of the city. Some of her clients fail to show up for their appointments or show up late. Which of the following is the MOST likely reason for this? Select one: A. Environmental stressors that prevent them from showing up. B. Low motivation for change. C. Value differences that impede trust and/or effective treatment. D. Hostility or resistance.

C. Value differences that impede trust and/or effective treatment.

A social worker is working in the initial stage of therapy with an adolescent client and attempting to build a therapeutic relationship with him. Effective ways of doing this are likely to include all of the following EXCEPT: Select one: A. listening nonjudgmentally but telling the client when his thinking is dangerous. B. being clear and honest about the need to inform the clients parents about high-risk behaviors. C. being firm when urging the client to self-disclose if he is unwilling to do so. D. demonstrating empathy and personal warmth to help the client feel safe and accepted.

C. being firm when urging the client to self-disclose if he is unwilling to do so.

As a result of numerous abuse of human subjects such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and radiation experiments in the Cold War, the National Research Act of 1974 established laws that outline ethical principles regarding research using human subjects. Institutional Review Boards (IRB) are now required by any institution conducting research on human subjects. An IRB may only approve research: Select one: A. for which informed consent has been given B. that is federally funded C. for which the risks to subjects are balanced by potential benefits to society D. where medical procedures are used in the research

C. for which the risks to subjects are balanced by potential benefits to society

A social work student is required to complete a research project as part of his final year of college. He decides that he would like to study the effects of music on the behavior of children in a local pre-school. He wants to see if the children's behavior in the playground is affected by the choice of music played while the children are eating lunch, just prior to recess. Because he is using human subjects he must FIRST: Select one: A. clear his research design and methods with the NASW B. assure that the risk of harm to the children involved in the research project is minimized C. get approval for the project by his schools Institutional Review Board D. receive informed consent from participants

C. get approval for the project by his schools Institutional Review Board

It would be MOST appropriate to use a warm-up period with a client who is: Select one: A. highly motivated. B. feeling hopeless. C. highly defensive. D. manipulative.

C. highly defensive.

Which of the following is NOT a strategy that is typically effective for establishing rapport? Select one: A. Conveying empathy nonverbally. B. Admitting one's errors to clients. C. A low level of self-disclosure if the client is defensive. D. A warm-up period (small-talk) before asking the client why he came in.

D. A warm-up period (small-talk) before asking the client why he came in.

A social worker has started working in family therapy with a Mexican American family. After meeting with the family three times at her office, she visits their home to complete her assessment. The mother has prepared a meal and asks the social worker to eat with the family. What is the BEST way for the social worker to respond? Select one: A. Remind the clients of the purpose of her visit and decline the invitation. B. Decline the invitation and explain the ethical problem. C. Decline the invitation with a polite excuse, such as telling the family that she has just eaten. D. Accept the invitation to share the meal.

D. Accept the invitation to share the meal.

A social worker observes that her client's motivation for change has diminished significantly during the middle phase of treatment. Which of the following interventions would be LEAST appropriate for restoring the client's motivation? Select one: A. Expressing realistic confidence in the client's capacities. B. Reminding the client of negative consequences of not changing. C. Using persuasion to encourage the client to take an important step. D. Conveying to the client more belief in the potential helpfulness of an intervention than she actually has.

D. Conveying to the client more belief in the potential helpfulness of an intervention than she actually has.

A social worker suspects a colleague of violating ethical guidelines. To be consistent with the provisions of NASW's Code of Ethics, the social worker should do which of the following? Select one: A. Contact the state licensing board or a professional ethics committee about this as soon as feasibly possible. B. Contact the state licensing board or a professional ethics committee about this only if the ethical violation is a serious one. C. Handle the situation informally by discussing the violation with the colleague. D. Either handle the situation informally or contact the state licensing board or a professional ethics committee, depending on which course of action he or she believes is appropriate.

D. Either handle the situation informally or contact the state licensing board or a professional ethics committee, depending on which course of action he or she believes is appropriate.

A woman diagnosed with bipolar I disorder and alcohol use disorder is scheduled to be released from an inpatient treatment facility in one day. She tells her social worker that, as soon as she leaves the facility, she will get drunk and stop taking her lithium. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Make sure that the woman takes her medication by having medical professionals at the facility administer it against her will. B. Recruit the womans family to monitor her mood and behavior. C. Have the woman rehospitalized involuntarily. D. Explore this statement with the woman.

D. Explore this statement with the woman.

A social worker's client becomes verbally aggressive toward the social worker during a session. In response, the social worker offers no resistance and acknowledges to the client that she has legitimate reasons for being angry. What technique is the social worker using? Select one: A. Visualization. B. Funneling. C. Mirroring. D. Fogging.

D. Fogging.

A court-ordered therapy client asks the social worker not to divulge to the court any information about her recent marijuana use. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Comply with the clients request because the client is entitled to a confidential relationship with her him. B. Provide all records to the court because the client has been ordered to attend therapy. C. Refuse to comply with the clients request because the court is entitled to this information. D. Get clarification from the court.

D. Get clarification from the court.

During the first interview, a client mentions that she has been seeing a psychologist for individual therapy for the past four months. The client says that she would like to see both the social worker and the psychologist because she feels that she would benefit the most if she did this. The psychologist has been helping the client feel less anxious around other people and develop her social skills. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Continue seeing the client and help her clarify her motives and goals for coming in. B. Explain to the client that it would be unethical to see her while she is receiving services from another therapist and discontinue seeing her. C. Contact the psychologist to see if their services would be redundant and, if they are, tell the client that he cannot continue seeing her while she is seeing the psychologist. D. Help the client clarify her reasons for seeing both a social worker and the psychologist and then evaluate whether it is appropriate for her to see both.

D. Help the client clarify her reasons for seeing both a social worker and the psychologist and then evaluate whether it is appropriate for her to see both.

A social worker's therapy client, age 15, discloses that she is planning to have an abortion and says that she doesn't want her parents to know. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Urge the client to tell her parents. B. Contact the parents about this. C. Recommend a family session. D. Maintain the clients confidentiality.

D. Maintain the clients confidentiality.

A physician refers a terminally ill woman to a social worker. The physician says that the woman would like help writing her will, and the woman confirms that this is what she wants. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Assess the woman's mental and emotional status. B. Assess how the woman is coping with her diagnosis. C. Help the woman write her will since this is the reason she has come in. D. Refer the woman to an attorney.

D. Refer the woman to an attorney.

A social worker begins working in individual therapy with an adult client. In their second meeting, the social worker discovers that the client's values differ markedly from his own. What is the social worker BEST course of action ? Select one: A. Disclose his values to the client to build trust. B. Set aside the value difference and remain objective. C. Refer the client to another therapist. D. Seek consultation.

D. Seek consultation.

Of the following, which is the BEST sign that a working alliance with a client has developed? Select one: A. The client arrives early to his sessions. B. The client begins asking the social worker questions about her personal life. C. The client refers other individuals to the social worker. D. The client thinks about solutions to his problems during the week.

D. The client thinks about solutions to his problems during the week.

A social worker who is also a teacher at the local community college is providing counseling to a newly married couple who is having trouble adapting to married life. After getting their permission to do so, the social worker videotapes the couple during one of their sessions. What is true about this situation? Select one: A. The social worker can never use the tape for educational purposes. B. The social worker can avoid being sued for using the tape in a college lecture as long as he receives verbal consent from the clients. C. The social worker can use the tape in a college lecture as long as he does not exploit the clients. D. The social worker can use the tape in a college lecture if he gets signed permission to do so from the clients.

D. The social worker can use the tape in a college lecture if he gets signed permission to do so from the clients.

A social worker learned during a therapy session that his client physically abuses her 10-year-old son, and he is now preparing to file a child abuse report. According to the NASW Code of Ethics, which of the following is true? Select one: A. The social worker is required to notify the client in advance that he is making the report. B. The social worker is required to notify the client in advance that he is making the report if doing so is clinically indicated. C. The social worker is required to notify the client in advance that he is making the report if he foresees a future therapist-client relationship with the client. D. The social worker is not required to notify the client in advance that he is making the report.

D. The social worker is not required to notify the client in advance that he is making the report.

When can it be considered appropriate to not inform participants in a study that they are being studied? Select one: A. When conducting covert research. B. It is never appropriate to not inform participants in a study that they are being studied. C. When the researcher is doing participant/observer research. D. When there is a discontinuity of research participants, i.e., the researcher is studying numerous subjects over a course of time in a naturalistic setting.

D. When there is a discontinuity of research participants, i.e., the researcher is studying numerous subjects over a course of time in a naturalistic setting.

A social worker receives a subpoena requesting that she provide information about an 18-year-old client who is currently the defendant in a court case. There is no consent to release information signed by the client attached to the subpoena. The social worker contacts her client to discuss with him the implications of releasing the requested information, and he ends up refusing to give his permission for the release of confidential information. What should the social worker do NEXT? Select one: A. Withhold the requested information for now and ultimately provide the court with the information only if she is able to obtain a release from her client. B. Comply with the subpoena because she is required to, and provide the court with the requested information even though the client has not consented. C. Comply with the subpoena because she is required to, even though the client has not consented, but provide the court only with information that she believes will not be harmful to the client. D. Withhold the requested information for now and attempt to negotiate with the party who issued the subpoena.

D. Withhold the requested information for now and attempt to negotiate with the party who issued the subpoena.

A client in need of crisis intervention is short on funds and asks the social worker to waive his insurance copayment. He suggests that the social worker bill his insurance company at a higher hourly rate so that the reimbursement will cover her full fee. If the social worker does this, she will be acting: Select one: A. legally and ethically, since the client is in crisis. B. legally but unethically, since the law permits this when clients are in crisis. C. illegally but ethically, since the client is in crisis. D. illegally and unethically.

D. illegally and unethically.

Based on something he reads in a client's employment records, a social worker discovers that he and the client attend the same church. From an ethical standpoint, the social worker's BEST course of action is to: Select one: A. refer the client to a different therapist. B. discuss this with the client. C. stop attending that church immediately. D. seek consultation.

D. seek consultation.

A social worker is working in individual therapy with a 10-year-old boy. The guidance counselor at the boy's school calls the social worker, requesting advice on how to deal with a recent incident at school in which the boy was involved. What is the social worker's BEST course of action? Select one: A. Explain that she cannot discuss any client until she has written permission from the client or the client's parents. B. Ask the counselor to describe the school incident and then offer general suggestions for dealing with the problem. C. Provide minimal information about the client, limited to areas that are specifically relevant to the school incident. D. Offer to visit the school to talk over the incident with the client and school personnel.

A. Explain that she cannot discuss any client until she has written permission from the client or the client's parents.

A social worker has been working in couple's therapy with a married couple. During a phone call, the wife reveals new information and asks the social worker to keep it secret from her husband. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Follow the policy regarding privately shared information that he discussed with the couple at the beginning of treatment. B. Not keep the secret because it was revealed on the phone and, therefore, is not governed by confidentiality principles. C. Consider the welfare of both clients and decide accordingly. D. Reveal the information only if properly subpoenaed or questioned in court.

A. Follow the policy regarding privately shared information that he discussed with the couple at the beginning of treatment.

A key component of empathy is which of the following? Select one: A. Reflecting the clients feelings. B. Listening to the clients feelings. C. Accepting the clients feelings. D. Normalizing the clients feelings.

A. Reflecting the clients feelings.

A social work professor has designed a research project regarding the impact of various factors on how students interact with each other during group assignments. He is requiring all his students to participate and has them sign an informed consent document. One student objects to being included in the project, and the professor gives him a failing grade because of it. Which of the following statements is MOST true? Select one: A. The professor should have given the student an alternate assignment to be graded on a similar scale to participation in the research. B. Because the professor had the students sign an informed consent document, he is justified in giving the student a failing grade. C. The professor may allow the student to drop the class if he is not interested in participating. D. The professor acted unethically by asking his students to participate in the research project.

A. The professor should have given the student an alternate assignment to be graded on a similar scale to participation in the research.

An older social worker begins missing work more frequently, is tired, and has been feeling very irritable. While her cases have been quite intense, she has been late to a few appointments and hasnt been eating well. Based upon the limited information, what is the MOST likely reason for the social workers behavior? Select one: A. The social worker is feeling burnout and/or compassion fatigue B. The social worker is abusing substances C. The social worker is experiencing dementia D. None of the above

A. The social worker is feeling burnout and/or compassion fatigue

A client has been required to receive therapy as a condition of her probation and tells the social worker that she is coming to therapy only to avoid jail time and doesn't think she needs help. Regarding informed consent in this situation, which of the following is true? Select one: A. The social worker must get the clients informed consent. B. The social worker does not have to get informed consent because the court ordered the treatment. C. The social worker does not have to get informed consent because people convicted of crimes do not have the right to refuse treatment. D. The social worker does not have to get informed consent because there is no way that the clients consent can be voluntary in this situation.

A. The social worker must get the clients informed consent.

A client who has been in therapy for a few months often arrives five to ten minutes late for her sessions. One day, after arriving late for her appointment, she asks the social worker to extend the session so that she can finish telling him about what happened at work that week. What is the social worker's BEST course of action? Select one: A. Extend the session, but tell the client that this is an exception. B. Decline to extend the session, but ask the client if it's a problem to come at the scheduled time and offer her an alternative appointment time if she says yes. C. Decline to extend the session, and during the next session, discuss with the client her pattern of irresponsibility. D. Decline to extend the session, and during the next session, review his office policies with the client.

B. Decline to extend the session, but ask the client if it's a problem to come at the scheduled time and offer her an alternative appointment time if she says yes.

The husband of a social worker recently died of a heart attack. The social worker is grieving. She is having difficulty sleeping at night and finds that her concentration is sometimes impaired. During sessions with her clients, she finds that she sometimes has trouble focusing on what her clients are saying. From an ethical standpoint, what should the social worker do? Select one: A. Take time off from work and refer her clients to another therapist. B. Discuss these concerns with a supervisor to determine the best course of action. C. Maintain her current caseload, but seek personal therapy. D. Reduce her client caseload and make appropriate referrals.

B. Discuss these concerns with a supervisor to determine the best course of action.

A social worker is providing therapy to a middle-aged man who was referred by the court as a condition of his probation. In the first interview, the man is very guarded. He refuses to answer when the social worker asks him to share his understanding of why the court referred for him therapy. He tells her that he doesn't want to come to therapy. What is the BEST action for the social worker to take? Select one: A. Confront him. B. Elicit his feelings about being forced to come to therapy. C. Explain how the referral can help him. D. Point out that, from a legal standpoint, he must cooperate.

B. Elicit his feelings about being forced to come to therapy.

A social worker is meeting with a 16-year-old client with the consent of his parents. The client discloses that he wishes to transition and is considering sex reassignment surgery. To be an ethical social worker, how BEST would you respond? Select one: A. Tell your client you are mandated to discuss with his parents as they consented for treatment B. Encourage your client to invite his parents into session to discuss further C. Begin helping you client research doctors to conduct the surgery D. Discuss your concerns that this option is risky and your client should reconsider

B. Encourage your client to invite his parents into session to discuss further

During the first therapy session, a client says that she wants to reveal certain information, but is reluctant to do so because it involves other people in her family. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Let the client know that, as a social worker, he must maintain her confidentiality. B. Explain the principle of confidentiality and the limitations to a client's right of confidentiality. C. Avoid pressuring the client to self-disclose and let her know that she can set her own pace. D. Disclose information about himself to build trust.

B. Explain the principle of confidentiality and the limitations to a client's right of confidentiality.

A social worker is meeting for the first time with a young single mother who has been referred for individual therapy by her doctor. The client begins her verbal report by telling the social worker that her children are too active and demanding of her attention. The client then complains about needing to see a therapist because she's too busy already with other responsibilities, like motherhood, housekeeping, and a part-time job. The client appears anxious and overwhelmed, but not depressed. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Gently, but directly, point out to the client that she seems to need help. B. Express to the client that it must be tiring and frustrating to have so many responsibilities. C. Suggest that the client come back in when she has more time and offer her literature on parenting. D. Let the client know that she can come back in when she is ready.

B. Express to the client that it must be tiring and frustrating to have so many responsibilities.

A social worker's new clients are an African American couple who introduce themselves as "Mr. and Mrs. Peterson." To facilitate the development of a positive working relationship with the clients, the social worker should do which of the following? Select one: A. Ask them for their first names in order to personalize the relationship and increase their comfort. B. Introduce herself using her full name and address them as "Mr. Peterson" and "Mrs. Peterson" until they invite her to do otherwise. C. Invite them to use her first name and ask for their permission to call them by their first names. D. Ask them why they prefer to be called by their last names and how they would prefer to address her.

B. Introduce herself using her full name and address them as "Mr. Peterson" and "Mrs. Peterson" until they invite her to do otherwise.

A social worker is working in individual therapy with an older female client and he finds himself becoming irritated at the client during sessions. He tells his supervisor about this. What should the supervisor do FIRST? Select one: A. Encourage the social worker to disclose these feelings to the client B. Normalize the feelings and explore what underlies them. C. Advise the social worker to refer the client to another therapist. D. Observe a session in order to better understand the problem.

B. Normalize the feelings and explore what underlies them.

A social workers new client is a 32-year-old male who has sought therapy to figure out how deal with his needy and emotional mother. During the initial two interviews, he describes his mother in condescending terms and attributes her flaws to the fact that shes female. The social worker grew up with a father who held sexist views and often disparaged women, including her mother. The social worker feels very uncomfortable around this client and finds she is unable to empathize with him. What action should the social worker take in this situation? Select one: A. Get supervision. B. Offer the client a referral to another therapist. C. Explore other areas of the clients life to find reasons to empathize with him. D. Ask the client to bring his mother in.

B. Offer the client a referral to another therapist.

State legislators can be involved in decisions related to which of the following? Select one: A. Confidentiality. B. Privilege. C. Anonymity. D. Self-determination.

B. Privilege.

A social worker has been working with a family that includes the parents and two children; the focus of intervention has been on communication difficulties between the parents and children. During a session, the social worker learns that the teenage daughter has been beating up her 7-year-old brother on a frequent basis. What should the social worker do FIRST? Select one: A. Shift the focus of therapy to explore and document instances of the girls aggressive behavior. B. Remind the family about the limitations to their right of confidentiality and file a child abuse report. C. Refer the girl for individual therapy focusing on anger management. D. Arrange for the boy to be removed from the family home and placed in foster care.

B. Remind the family about the limitations to their right of confidentiality and file a child abuse report.

A social worker provided short-term therapy to a client who was experiencing a high level of job-related stress and whose HMO authorized only six sessions. In the sixth session, the client expressed a desire to begin long-term therapy to address childhood issues that emerged during their sessions. The social worker gave the client three referrals for long-term therapy. Two weeks after termination, and before the client has had a chance to begin seeing a new therapist, she calls the social worker, saying that a terrible crisis has occurred and she needs to talk to him. What is the social worker's BEST course of action? Select one: A. Tell the client that he cant see her because he is no longer her therapist. B. Schedule an appointment and see the client until the crisis has abated. C. Give the client contact information for a 24-hour-suicide help-line so that she has support in place until she can see a new therapist. D. Schedule an appointment for the client with a therapist on the referral list.

B. Schedule an appointment and see the client until the crisis has abated.

A young, recently divorced woman has sought individual therapy. The social worker is helping her cope with issues related to her divorce and the adjustments she's making in her new life as a single woman. After the social worker and client have met several times, the client's ex-husband phones the social worker and says that he has important information about the client that he wants to share. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Consider the clients welfare carefully before deciding whether to hear this man out. B. Tell the ex-husband that she cant discuss anything with him. C. Tell the ex-husband that she must discuss this situation with his ex-wife first. D. Listen to what the man has to say and, once she knows what the information consists of, decide whether to tell her client about the call.

B. Tell the ex-husband that she cant discuss anything with him.

What is the primary role of a school social worker? Select one: A. To coordinate special education services. B. To link the school, home, and community. C. To improve the schools culture and climate. D. To deal with student misconduct.

B. To link the school, home, and community.

Why do social workers perform self-assessments? Select one: A. To recognize and correct their mistakes. B. To monitor their professional strengths and weaknesses. C. To identify countertransference feelings. D. To recognize when a clients problem is outside their scope of competence.

B. To monitor their professional strengths and weaknesses.

A social worker has been seeing a client who has been diagnosed with a psychotic disorder for a few months. At the start of therapy, he was on regular anti-psychotic medication that was helping him to maintain stable employment at a part-time job as well as improving his relationships with his family. However, during todays session he explains how he thinks he may want to stop taking medication because he does not like the side effects. What would be the social workers NEXT response? Select one: A. Tell the client that although the side effects may be causing him discomfort, under no circumstances should he stop B. Utilize active listening and reflection to demonstrate empathy for the clients. Engage him in discussing the behaviors that have resulted from being on his medication C. Show him his psychiatric evaluation that states he should be on medication for his mental illness. D. Explain his right to self-determination and tell him to do what he feels is best

B. Utilize active listening and reflection to demonstrate empathy for the clients. Engage him in discussing the behaviors that have resulted from being on his medication

Your new client is a 42-year-old recently divorced man who sought therapy two weeks ago for feelings of grief. While you are waiting at your dentists office, this client enters the waiting room with a boy who appears to be his teenage son. You and the client have yet to discuss what youll do if you happen to see each other in a setting outside of your office. How should you handle this chance encounter? Select one: A. Exit the waiting room without acknowledging the client and discuss this encounter at the beginning of your next therapy session. B. Wait to see whether the client wants to acknowledge knowing you and how he does so. C. Say hello to the client in a friendly way and build trust by openly acknowledging that this encounter is awkward. D. If the client acknowledges knowing you, respond politely but dont converse with him because he might be confused about therapeutic boundaries if you do.

B. Wait to see whether the client wants to acknowledge knowing you and how he does so.

A case manager has recently noticed that several of her new clients have been declined for Medicaid coverage in recent weeks. Although the clients are low-income and need quality health care services, their incomes are just slightly too high to qualify for Medicaid under state law. Thus, they remain uninsured entirely. In keeping with your ethical obligations as a social worker, what is the BEST response? Select one: A. Begin individual therapy with each of the clients B. Talk to your supervisor about the clients challenges C. Contact policy makers in your state to let them know that the requirements of the law are too stringent to meet the needs of your clients D. Create a new program at your agency connecting clients with local physicians who are willing to provide health care services pro bono

C. Contact policy makers in your state to let them know that the requirements of the law are too stringent to meet the needs of your clients

A social worker is invited to serve on the board of a large charitable organization in her community. She knows that a client who has been in individual therapy with her for six months has been serving on that board for many years. From an ethical standpoint, what should the social worker do? Select one: A. Accept the position and then tell the client about it before the first board meeting. B. Discuss with the client how he would feel about having his therapist serve on the board with him. C. Decline the position and dont tell the client about the offer. D. Decline the position but tell the client about the offer.

C. Decline the position and dont tell the client about the offer.

A social worker has been working in individual therapy with a client for eight months. The client, age 45, sought therapy because she was feeling unfulfilled as a homemaker but felt unable to set goals for herself due to long-standing low self-esteem. She recently decided to go back to school to study for her master's degree in business administration. At first, she was afraid to tell her husband about this decision because she always deferred to his wishes in their marriage. With the social worker's help, however, she finally felt able to do this. She reports that her husband became very upset when she told him and that they have been having heated arguments ever since. The couple, who is not used to fighting, has been unable to resolve this dispute. The client asks the social worker to start working with her and her husband to teach them "how to fight fairly and make a decision we can both live with." From an ethical standpoint, what is the social worker's BEST course of action? Select one: A. Agree to see the couple but recommend that the focus be on the husbands role in creating and maintaining the clients original problem. B. Agree to see the couple as long as the focus is only on resolving this dispute. C. Decline to see the couple but provide referral to a different therapist for conjoint sessions. D. Decline to see the couple and teach the client conflict resolution skills in individual sessions.

C. Decline to see the couple but provide referral to a different therapist for conjoint sessions.

A client says, "I'm not sure if I'm ready to start college yet." The social worker responds, "So, you've decided you don't really want to go to college." What type of reflection error has the social worker made? Select one: A. Timing. B. Meaning. C. Depth. D. Stereotyping.

C. Depth.

Which of the following BEST describes the use of peer group supervision at an agency? Select one: A. A social worker schedules an individual conference with a peer to consult on a case. B. Social workers meet to review cases and exchange expertise, and supervisors cannot attend the meetings. C. Social workers meet to review cases and exchange expertise, and there is no designated leader in the meetings. D. Social workers meet to review cases and exchange expertise, and a supervisor sits in and leads the meetings.

C. Social workers meet to review cases and exchange expertise, and there is no designated leader in the meetings.

Which of the following differences between a therapist and client is generally considered to be the MOST difficult to overcome in forming a therapeutic alliance? Select one: A. Gender. B. Race. C. Socioeconomic status. D. Religious beliefs.

C. Socioeconomic status.

A social worker is working in individual therapy with a 26-year-old female who sought therapy after experiencing two successive relationships with boyfriends who belittled her and made her feel stupid. The clients goals for therapy are to become more assertive and restore her sense of self-esteem. The social worker and the client have been working on these issues, including discussing what constitutes abuse in intimate partner relationships. During the current session, the client tells her about a man she met at a work-related event. She says they have gone on several dates and are growing quite close. The social worker discovers through questioning that this man is a lot like the clients former boyfriends and has already belittled the client several times. The client minimizes this behavior, stating that hes very romantic most of the time. To behave ethically, which action should the social worker take regarding the clients decision to date this man? Select one: A. Do your best to talk the client out of dating this man; but offer to provide couples therapy if she begins a relationship with him. B. Confront the client about the inconsistency between this decision and her therapy goals; and explain that you cant continue working with her if she chooses to be self-destructive. C. Discuss the pros and cons of the clients decision with her but allow her to make her own decision; and monitor her safety. D. Openly tell the client that this is a bad decision; and explain to her that you are ethically required to prevent your clients from making bad decisions that may harm them.

C. Discuss the pros and cons of the clients decision with her but allow her to make her own decision; and monitor her safety.

A social worker employed at a family service agency meets with a 16-year-old girl who is failing several classes and frequently truant from school. She goes out with her friends on many nights and often misses her 10:00 p.m. curfew. The girl tells the social worker that she just found out she is pregnant and is excited about having a baby to care for. She hasn't told her parents because she is sure they will force her to have an abortion. What is the social worker's BEST course of action? Select one: A. Support the girls right to keep the baby and arrange for her to receive prenatal care. B. Discuss with the girl the pros and cons of keeping the baby, making sure she understands why an abortion may be indicated under the circumstances. C. Encourage the girl to bring her parents in for a family session to disclose whats going on and discuss alternatives. D. Explain to the girl that he must contact her parents about her possible pregnancy.

C. Encourage the girl to bring her parents in for a family session to disclose whats going on and discuss alternatives.

A client informs her social worker that she doesn't want any confidential information about her to be discussed at an upcoming interdisciplinary team meeting. How should the social worker handle this? Select one: A. Inform the other team members that the client doesnt want any confidential information to be discussed. B. Explain to the client that, to best serve her needs, he has to share confidential information about her at the meeting. C. Explain to the client relevant issues related to confidentiality and how information is shared at team meetings. D. Respect the clients wishes and disclose as little confidential information as possible at the meeting.

C. Explain to the client relevant issues related to confidentiality and how information is shared at team meetings.

A social worker provides outreach services after a major flood in the community where he lives and works. Soon after the community has recovered, he considers publicizing in the local media the services he provided during this public emergency as a way of promoting his private practice. To behave in an ethical manner, what should the social worker do? Select one: A. Garner support for the claims he will make by soliciting testimonials from people he helped. B. Make sure that the publicity is objective and does not exploit the people he helped or offer prospective clients any guarantees. C. Not publicize his work. D. Publicize his work but avoid giving any professional advice when speaking to the media.

C. Not publicize his work.

When may a social worker conduct research that does not use consent procedures? Select one: A. Never. B. Only when rigorous and responsible review of the research has found it to be justified because of its scientific value. C. Only when consent is not feasible, and when a rigorous review has found it to be justified because of its scientific value. D. Only when conducting naturalistic observation.

C. Only when consent is not feasible, and when a rigorous review has found it to be justified because of its scientific value.

A social worker has been working in individual therapy with a client for six weeks, and the client has made good progress toward resolving his problem. In the seventh session, the social worker confronts the client about a behavior that she believes is contributing to his problem. The client reacts defensively and becomes angry. What should the social worker do FIRST? Select one: A. Explore what underlies the clients reaction. B. Recognize her error, apologize, and shift the focus to another topic. C. Reframe what she did as a sign of concern for the client. D. Challenge the clients avoidance of change.

C. Reframe what she did as a sign of concern for the client.

A social worker has been providing psychotherapy to an adult male who is on probation. The client was ordered into therapy by the court and has been cooperating. One day, his probation officer contacts you and requests information about how the client is progressing in therapy. How BEST should you handle this request? Select one: A. Release information to the probation officer with or without the clients permission because his therapy is court ordered. B. Remind the probation officer that you hold the privilege in this situation and refuse to release the information to the officer if you believe that doing so could harm the client. C. Release information to the probation officer only if you have the clients permission to do so. D. Refuse to release information to the probation officer unless there is court order that mandates you to release it.

C. Release information to the probation officer only if you have the clients permission to do so.

An 11-year-old girl shows up by herself at a community clinic. She requests therapy from one of the social workers and says she doesn't want her parents to know about it. How could the social worker fulfill this girl's request? Select one: A. If the girl is mature enough to participate meaningfully in the treatment. B. If the social worker is able to get consent from any other adult in the girl's family. C. The social worker cannot treat this girl without parental consent. D. If the girl is the alleged victim of child abuse.

C. The social worker cannot treat this girl without parental consent.

Which of the following is required for a valid claim of malpractice? Select one: A. The therapist must have had malevolent intentions and there must be a causal connection between the therapists actions and the harm suffered by the client. B. The therapist must have had malevolent intentions and/or there must be some harm to the client as a result of the therapists actions. C. The therapist may or may not have had malevolent intentions, but there must be a causal connection between the therapists actions and the harm suffered by the client. D. The therapist must have violated normal standards of practice or must have had malevolent intentions.

C. The therapist may or may not have had malevolent intentions, but there must be a causal connection between the therapists actions and the harm suffered by the client.

Many developing countries have established national, regional or local Institutional Review Boards (IRB). What is the primary goal of Institutional Review Boards? Select one: A. conduct risk-benefit analysis studies of proposed research projects. B. govern social workers C. protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects. D. review the conduct of institutions that do research on humans.

C. protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects.

The mother of a 14-year-old client calls the social worker to check on her son's progress in therapy. The mother says that she suspects her son is taking drugs and wants to know if the boy has said anything that might confirm her suspicion. For an ethical standpoint, the social worker's BEST course of action is to: Select one: A. answer the mother's question truthfully because she has a right to access any information she wants about her son's therapy. B. invite the mother to join her son for the next therapy session to discuss this issue. C. remind the mother that her son's treatment will be more effective if he (the social worker) doesn't disclose specific information that the boy shares in his sessions. D. refuse to give the mother any information, either on the phone or in person, because her son is entitled to a confidential relationship with his therapist.

C. remind the mother that her son's treatment will be more effective if he (the social worker) doesn't disclose specific information that the boy shares in his sessions.

If a health care provider is faced with a conflict between state law and HIPAA requirements: Select one: A. state law would preempt the HIPAA requirements. B. the health care provider should respond based on the best interests of the client. C. the HIPAA requirement would preempt state law when the requirement provides the client with greater privacy protection or control over access to his or her records. D. the health care provider has the discretion to resolve the issue in any appropriate manner.

C. the HIPAA requirement would preempt state law when the requirement provides the client with greater privacy protection or control over access to his or her records.

A social worker opens a private practice office in a community that includes both low-income residents and affluent residents. What is the BEST way for the social worker to set the fee for his services? Select one: A. According to the low-income residents ability to pay so that they are able to use his services. B. According to the affluent residents ability to pay so that his new practice has greater chance of succeeding. C. By asking other therapists in the community what they charge. D. According to each clients ability to pay.

D. According to each clients ability to pay

A social worker is meeting for the first time with a new client, a Gulf War I veteran who uses a wheelchair. He has paraplegia. In making the appointment over the phone, the client said that he wanted to work on feelings of depression and improve his relationships, but didn't mention his disability at all. What should the social worker do with regard to raising the topic of the client's disability? Select one: A. Refrain from mentioning the disability until the client does because the client seems more interested in dealing with his depression. B. Ask the client why he didn't mention his disability and discuss the reasons for this omission. C. Suggest that the client might be more comfortable at a veterans' counseling center where personnel share his experience. D. Acknowledge the client's disability and ask him if he thinks it plays any role in his presenting problem.

D. Acknowledge the client's disability and ask him if he thinks it plays any role in his presenting problem.

A female social worker who specializes in couples therapy begins working with a lesbian couple. After two sessions, the social worker realizes that the clients are under the impression that she is gay, which is not the case. The social worker wants to continue providing therapy to this couple. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Say nothing unless the clients ask her about her sexual orientation since this misunderstanding may not cause a problem given her qualifications, and continue therapy. B. Refer the clients to a gay therapist, regardless of her own wishes. C. Proceed with therapy since this misunderstanding hasn't posed a problem yet, but seek consultation from a colleague who specializes in working with clients who are gay. D. Clarify that she is not gay and explore what the clients want.

D. Clarify that she is not gay and explore what the clients want.

During the first interview with a family, the social worker learns that the parents are very upset because they have found out that their 15-year-old son is gay. They say that they heard from a friend that reparative therapy might make him straight, and they ask the social worker to provide this. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Provide this therapy only if she is qualified to do so. B. Provide this therapy only if the son wants it. C. Provide this therapy but seek consultation to ensure the competence of her work and protect the client from harm. D. Decline to provide this therapy.

D. Decline to provide this therapy.

A social worker has been working in individual therapy with a client for five months. One week, near the end of a session, the client begins to cry and states, with a great deal of emotion, that therapy has helped him a lot. In the next session, the client seems embarrassed and becomes uncomfortable when the social worker asks him how he is feeling. What should the social worker do FIRST? Select one: A. Avoid focusing on the client's feelings for now. B. Resolve the transference. C. Disclose her own feelings. D. Discuss what happened in the last session.

D. Discuss what happened in the last session.

A social worker is working with a 25-year-old client who has reported feeling anxious in social situations and uncomfortable dating. In the third session, the client discloses that, as a boy, he was sexually abused by an uncle. He still sees this uncle at family gatherings and feels "panicky" in his presence. He says, "It makes me sick when I see him hanging around my little nieces and nephews." From a legal or ethical standpoint, what should the social worker do? Select one: A. Normalize the clients feelings and collect additional information about the family gatherings. B. Encourage the client to warn family members about the danger posed by this uncle. C. Explain to the client that a child abuse report won't be filed on the abuse he experienced because he is an adult now and discuss other options for taking legal action. D. File a child abuse report on the uncle.

D. File a child abuse report on the uncle.

A social worker is referred a client whose cultural background differs from her own. The client reports engaging in a particular behavior that, while disturbing to the social worker, is apparently approved of by members of the client's cultural group. What should the social worker do? Select one: A. Seek consultation immediately to address her loss of objectivity. B. Be genuine and tell the client how she feels about the behavior. C. Refer the client to another therapist, preferably one from his own culture. D. Further educate herself about the clients culture, including the behavior in question.

D. Further educate herself about the clients culture, including the behavior in question.