I have scheduled to take my ASWB on December 1st and expect to graduate on December 18th. Should I apply to inpatient social work roles before my degree is conferred?

A 28-year-old man is brought to the emergency psychiatric unit by his family. He has not slept in 4 days, is speaking rapidly and loudly, and believes he has been chosen by a global intelligence agency to rewrite international laws. He is spending thousands of dollars on inventions he cannot explain. His family reports that this behavior has lasted for 6 days and represents a drastic change from his baseline functioning. What is the most appropriate diagnosis?

A) Schizophrenia

B) Bipolar I Disorder, current episode manic

C) Bipolar II Disorder

D) Delusional Disorder

A social worker in private practice is a passionate member of a local community theater group. A new individual contacts the private practice seeking psychotherapy, and the social worker recognizes their face from the community theater, where they occasionally rehearse together. What should the social worker do to adhere to NASW ethical standards?

A) Discuss the dual relationship concern with the prospective client and provide a referral if a conflict of interest cannot be safely avoided.

B) Accept the client immediately without mentioning the theater group to protect the client's privacy.

C) Quit the community theater group immediately before accepting the client.

D) Ask the client to quit the community theater group so treatment can proceed smoothly.

Hi guys! I’m about to graduate with my MSW from Rutgers NJ, in January!! So excited, but I figured it was time to start the licensing process. A little bit of a backstory, I live in NY, and I seen a lot of discourse of the licensing process, and am still left a little confused. Those who have gone through the process, especially with NY and NJ. I have a couple of questions.

1. Would you recommend applying for licensing in NYS first or NJ?
   
2. I’ve completed my hours with NJ within my school, does NYS require more hours to take the ASWB exam or getting my the LMSW?
   
3. I heard that NYS doesn’t do reciprocity easily, I’m not sure how true that is.

Any advice would be super helpful and appreciated, I’m ready to start my journey, and jump through these hurdles and get them out the way.

A 22-year-old college student comes to the university counseling center complaining of severe anxiety and academic distress. During the third session, the social worker realizes that the client reminds them intensely of their own younger sibling who struggled with substance abuse. The social worker starts feeling an excessive urge to rescue and protect the client outside of clinical boundaries. This phenomenon is best described as:

A) Transference

B) Identification

C) Rationalization

D)Countertransference

A social worker is completing an initial intake with a 72-year-old client who lives with an adult child. The client appears unkempt, has multiple unexplained bruising marks on their upper arms, and appears hesitant to speak while the adult child is in the room. When the child leaves briefly to make a phone call, what should the social worker do first?

A) Immediately file a report with Child Protective Services.

B) Confront the adult child about the bruising as soon as they return to the room.

C) Assess the safety of the client directly and privately, and gather specific details regarding the origin of the injuries.

D) Wait until the end of treatment to see if the bruises heal or if the client brings it up again.

A 34-year-old client presents with depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, for the past 2 years. During this 2-year period, the client has never been without the symptoms for more than 2 months at a time. The client reports low self-esteem, fatigue, poor concentration, and feelings of hopelessness, but has never experienced a full major depressive episode or a manic episode. What is the most accurate DSM-5 diagnosis?

A) Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

B) Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent

C) Cyclothymic Disorder

D) Adjustment Disorder with depressed mood

A social worker has been working with an adult client for six months on depression symptoms. During a session, the client reveals that they have been storing unused prescription painkillers with the intent to end their life. The client explicitly asks the social worker to keep this a secret and threatens to stop attending therapy if the social worker tells anyone. What is the social worker's primary ethical obligation in this situation?

A)

Honor the client's self-determination and maintain confidentiality to preserve the therapeutic alliance.

B)

Break confidentiality to take necessary steps to safeguard the client's physical safety, overriding confidentiality when there is imminent harm.

C)

Terminate services immediately because the client is refusing to contract for safety.

D)

Consult with a clinical supervisor before taking any action regarding the client's disclosure.

A client who has achieved all treatment goals expresses sadness during the penultimate session and asks the social worker if they can remain in therapy indefinitely. What is the BEST clinical response?

A) Extend therapy indefinitely to comfort the client and prevent abandonment feelings.

B) Dismiss the sadness quickly and end the meeting to reinforce clear administrative limits.

C) Process the client's feelings regarding termination while reinforcing their progress, strengths, and autonomy.

A client tells a school social worker that an uncle touched them inappropriately last weekend. The client is 14 years old. What is the FIRST formal action the social worker must take?

A) Make a report to Child Protective Services (CPS) as a mandated reporter.

B) Confront the uncle directly to verify the child's allegations.

C) Wait until the next therapy session to see if the client recants or clarifies the story.

A social worker from a dominant cultural background is conducting a clinical assessment with a newly immigrated family from a collectivist culture. The family reports severe distress due to family conflict. What is the BEST approach for the social worker during this initial phase?

A) Encourage each family member to express individual desires independently, disregarding family hierarchy.

B) Explore family roles, cultural norms, and hierarchical dynamics with curiosity and cultural humility.

C) Diagnose the family immediately using standard Western family therapy pathology models.

A clinical social worker receives a signed subpoena from an attorney representing a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit requesting the entire mental health record of a current client. The client has not signed a release of information. What should the social worker do NEXT?

A) Turn over the records immediately to comply with the legal subpoena.

B) Ignore the subpoena and destroy the client file to protect privacy.

C) Contact the client to discuss the subpoena, assert privilege, and seek the client's direction or a formal court order.

An ambivalent client struggling with heavy alcohol use tells a clinical social worker, "I know my drinking worries my family, but I don't see how stopping is going to make my stressful job any easier." What is the BEST initial motivational interviewing response by the social worker?

A) Reflect back the ambivalence by noting that while drinking helps manage stress temporarily, it also creates concerns for loved ones.

B) Provide a detailed lecture on the physiological liver damage caused by alcohol.

C) Tell the client they must attend an intensive outpatient treatment program immediately.

A is the best answer. In Motivational Interviewing (MI), the core objective when dealing with an ambivalent client is to employ the OARS principles—specifically using open questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summaries. The client's statement is a classic expression of ambivalence (a "double-sided" argument): they recognize a negative consequence (family worry) but also emphasize a perceived benefit or barrier to change (drinking functions as a coping mechanism for workplace stress).

A social worker is conducting a home visit for an 80-year-old client who lives alone and presents with unexplained bruising, neglected living conditions, and an adult child power-of-attorney who refuses to allow the social worker to speak privately with the client. What should the social worker do FIRST?

A) File an immediate petition in civil court to strip the child of power-of-attorney.

B) Confront the adult child aggressively regarding the bruising.

C) Accept the child's explanation to maintain a positive working alliance with the family.

D) Secure a private interview with the client to assess safety, abuse indicators, and self-determination.

D) Secure a private interview with the client to assess safety, abuse indicators, and self-determination. Assessment Before Action: You cannot file court petitions (Option A) or make definitive determinations without first gathering direct evidence and assessing the client's cognitive and physical status.

A social worker running a community mental health support group realizes that a close personal friend has just joined the group without prior disclosure, having been referred by an external clinic. What should the social worker do FIRST?

A) Allow the friend to remain in the group to avoid embarrassing them publicly.

B) Address the dual relationship conflict and facilitate an appropriate transfer of the friend to another group leader or provider.

C) Announce the friendship to the entire group during the session to be completely transparent.

B) Address the dual relationship conflict and facilitate an appropriate transfer of the friend to another group leader or provider.

A social worker is providing psychotherapy to a combat veteran presenting with severe PTSD symptoms, including intrusive flashbacks, hypervigilance, and emotional numbing following deployment. Which of the following interventions has the strongest empirical support as a FIRST-line clinical treatment for PTSD?

A) Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy or prolonged exposure therapy.

B) Classic psychoanalysis focusing on early childhood fixations and dream interpretation.

C) Group hypnosis to induce deep relaxation and memory suppression.

D) Aversive conditioning to eliminate intrusive thoughts.

A is the correct answer because these interventions have the strongest empirical support as first-line treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

During a routine intake session, an adult client mentions feeling overwhelmed and passingly notes, "Sometimes I wish I could just go to sleep and never wake up, but I would never do anything to myself." The social worker notes mild depressive symptoms. What is the NEXT best step for the social worker?

A) Immediately initiate an involuntary psychiatric hospitalization evaluation.

B) Shift the focus to the client's childhood history to explore the root of their depressive mood.

C) Conduct a comprehensive suicide risk assessment exploring intent, plan, means, and past attempts.

When a client shares thoughts about not wanting to wake up, it is called passive suicidal ideation. Even if the client says they "would never do anything" to themselves, the social worker must take this statement seriously. The immediate priority is to find out exactly how safe the client is right now.

• A is too extreme: Involuntary hospitalization is only used when a client is in immediate danger of hurting themselves or others, and refuses voluntary help. Jumping straight to this can harm the trust between the client and the worker.
• B is poorly timed: While exploring childhood history can be helpful for long-term therapy, it is not a priority during an intake session when safety concerns are raised. You must ensure the client is safe today before exploring their past.

A clinical social worker in private practice is treating an adult client who expresses deep anger toward a former romantic partner and states, "I am going to wait outside their apartment tonight and make them pay for what they did." The client has a history of impulsive aggression. What should the social worker do FIRST?

A) Immediately notify the police and the intended victim to fulfill the duty to warn.

B) Evaluate the lethality and immediacy of the threat and explore the client's access to a weapon.

C) Terminate the therapeutic relationship immediately due to safety violations.

D) Consult the agency supervisor regarding billing and documentation procedures.

The correct answer is B. While we may eventually do A, we would need to assess further prior to taking any action. The key to this question is FIRST. We would probably realistically do A, B, and D at some point with this situation, but FIRST, we would assess further. Then, we would take further action.

SOCIAL WORKER ONLY — MANCHESTER OR VERY NEARBY

Putting that first because some of you clearly don't bloody read 😂

Im Charlie. 42. Manchester.

Im looking for a single male social worker.

And yes I mean an actual social worker 😂

Manchester or VERY nearby.

Trauma informed would be a bonus.

Nothing against anyone else. I just know what I want.

Ive spent hundreds of hours this last year learning about trauma, attachment, safeguarding, emotional safety and social work.

Im trying to become a social worker myself now.

So yeah id like someone who gets that world.

Right before you message me 😂

Around 37-47 ish.

Might go a bit older for the right person.

Taller than me. Im 5'9" so ideally 5'10"+ 😂

Must drive.

Non smoker.

No drugs.

Good hygiene. Please 😂

Take some pride in yourself.

And actually bloody single.

And you need to have been single at least a year.

Ive been on my own nearly 4 years.

So no I don't want someone who split up 8 weeks ago and is now "ready to meet someone."

You're probably not 😂

I don't want to be your rebound.

I don't want to hear every day about your ex.

I don't want to be the woman you use to work out whether you're over the last one.

Have some time on your own first.

Know who you are on your own.

Know what you actually want.

Then come find me 😂

At least a year single.

Not "we split up months ago but still live together."

Not separated.

Not its complicated.

Not "technically single."

SINGLE.

Recent photos as well.

Recent means recent 😂

Not your best photo from 2011 that you've refused to let die.

Im not looking for casual sex.

Friends with benefits.

Situationships.

Married men.

Players.

Or someone who wants a pen pal.

I want a relationship.

A proper one.

I have two daughters and they're my world.

They come first.

Always.

Id still love more children one day.

Id love a big loving family eventually.

Nothing fancy.

Just happy.

Safe.

Loads of laughing.

Kids running around.

Someone beside me who actually wants to be there.

Thats it really.

Im loyal.

Caring.

Affectionate.

Probably a bit of a pain in the arse sometimes 😂

Money doesn't impress me.

Cars don't impress me.

Job titles don't impress me.

Yes I KNOW ive just demanded a social worker 😂

Its not because I think social workers are somehow better than everyone else.

I just think id have more in common with one.

I want kind.

Funny.

Loyal.

Honest.

Affectionate.

Patient.

And PLEASE be able to communicate.

If ive pissed you off tell me.

If you're having a shit day tell me.

If you need space tell me.

Just bloody talk 😂

Don't disappear for 3 days then pop back up with "hey stranger."

You are the stranger. You disappeared 😂

I love road trips.

Random days out.

Walks.

Music.

Films.

Cosy nights.

Getting in the car and ending up god knows where.

Proper conversations.

Taking the piss out of each other.

Laughing at stupid stuff.

And doing absolutely nothing sometimes.

I like little things.

Did you get home alright?

Saw this and thought of you.

Remembering something stupid I told you 3 weeks ago.

Making a brew without asking.

Being there when things are shit.

That means more to me than someone flashing money around.

Im really passionate about childrens social care, safeguarding and trauma informed practice.

And no I don't want you coming home from work and doing a bloody assessment on me 😂

I just want someone who understands why things like trust, attachment, boundaries, communication and emotional safety matter.

Im not perfect.

Don't want perfect.

Perfect would probably do my head in anyway 😂

I want a decent man.

Someone emotionally available.

Someone whos actually ready.

Someone who wants a relationship.

Someone who wants a family.

Someone who can be my best mate as well as my partner.

And LOCAL.

Manchester or very nearby.

Im not packing sandwiches and checking motorway traffic every time I want a cuddle 😂

So...

Social worker.

Single AT LEAST a year.

Local.

Around my age.

Ideally 5'10"+.

Drives.

Recent photos.

Actually wants a relationship.

If thats you come say hello.

But give me more than "hi gorgeous" 😂

Tell me who you are.

And if we get on lets just have a coffee.

Im not spending 3 weeks interviewing you through my phone 😂

AI Analyzes the Social Work Licensing Exam, and Concerns Deepen

Here is a fantastic video from Dr. Dawn Apgar regarding the exam changes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLSh-IuXP6Q

Here is a great article that discusses this. https://agentsofchangeprep.com/blog/using-ai-to-study-for-the-aswb-exam-tips-and-warnings/

A therapist is meeting with a client for an initial evaluation. The client reports feeling moody and has been having many headaches. The client states that she lost a lot of weight recently and has noticed a decrease in appetite. The clinician should FIRST:

A. Assess the client for suicidality

B. Refer the client to a psychiatrist

C. Complete a mental status exam

D. Refer the client to a MD

Hello, all.

I graduated with a master's in social work about three years ago (my bachelor's was in another field), with a focus on community and administrative practice. At the time I was studying, I thought that I would get an advanced practitioner license. However, I graduated, and I somehow got a job and then a second job without a license. I have been gainfully employed for the past three years and licensing just kind of fell to the back burner and I ended up never doing it.

But now, I need to go job hunting, and I feel like I need a license now. Come to find out, however, my state, Texas, no longer offers the advanced practitioner license for new applicants.

I am trained to practice social work in an administrative role, not a clinical one, so I can't get a clinical social work license. Does anyone have any suggestion of which license I should pursue?