ASWB Clinical Social Worker 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client with borderline personality disorder frequently calls between sessions in crisis. What is the most appropriate clinical response?
- Provide your personal cell number for emergencies
- Establish clear boundaries around between-session contact while ensuring crisis resources are available (Correct answer)
- Refuse all contact outside scheduled sessions
- Immediately refer to a higher level of care
Correct answer: Establish clear boundaries around between-session contact while ensuring crisis resources are available
Clear boundaries with crisis resource access balances therapeutic structure and client safety.
Question 2: During a home visit, a social worker notices signs of elder abuse. The alleged abuser is the client's primary caregiver. What is the FIRST priority?
- Maintain confidentiality to preserve the therapeutic relationship
- Assess the immediate safety of the elder client (Correct answer)
- Contact law enforcement immediately without assessing
- Document and wait until the next scheduled visit
Correct answer: Assess the immediate safety of the elder client
Safety assessment of the vulnerable adult is always the first clinical and ethical priority.
Question 3: A client discloses they are HIV-positive and refuses to inform their sexual partner. The social worker is most likely to:
- Immediately disclose to the partner without telling the client
- Respect absolute confidentiality in all circumstances
- Explore the client's reasons and consult supervision/legal guidance on duty to protect (Correct answer)
- Terminate services if the client refuses to disclose
Correct answer: Explore the client's reasons and consult supervision/legal guidance on duty to protect
Balancing confidentiality with duty-to-protect requires exploration, consultation, and knowledge of jurisdiction-specific law.
Question 4: Which defense mechanism is a client using when they attribute their own unacceptable anger to their therapist, claiming the therapist is hostile toward them?
- Reaction formation
- Displacement
- Projection (Correct answer)
- Rationalization
Correct answer: Projection
Projection involves attributing one's own unacceptable feelings or impulses to another person.
Question 5: A social worker is treating a child whose parents are divorcing. Both parents request separate copies of session notes. The social worker should:
- Provide notes to both parents equally
- Provide notes only to the parent with physical custody
- Determine who holds legal authority to authorize release of records (Correct answer)
- Decline to provide notes to either parent to protect the child
Correct answer: Determine who holds legal authority to authorize release of records
Legal custody status determines who has authority to authorize release of a minor's mental health records.
Question 6: A client experiencing a major depressive episode reports passive suicidal ideation with no plan or intent. The most appropriate next step is to:
- Hospitalize the client immediately
- Conduct a thorough suicide risk assessment and document findings (Correct answer)
- Increase session frequency without further evaluation
- Refer to a psychiatrist and close the case
Correct answer: Conduct a thorough suicide risk assessment and document findings
A comprehensive risk assessment is required to determine appropriate level of care and intervention.
Question 7: Which theoretical framework emphasizes the therapeutic relationship itself as the primary agent of change?
- Behavioral therapy
- Solution-focused brief therapy
- Person-centered therapy (Correct answer)
- Rational emotive behavior therapy
Correct answer: Person-centered therapy
Person-centered therapy (Carl Rogers) holds that a genuine, empathic therapeutic relationship is the primary vehicle for change.
ASWB Clinical Social Worker 2
A client with borderline personality disorder frequently calls between sessions in crisis.
What is the most appropriate clinical response?