ASWB Masters 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client diagnosed with major depressive disorder tells the social worker, 'I've been giving away my belongings and I finally feel at peace.' The social worker should FIRST:
- Reinforce the client's sense of peace as a positive sign
- Conduct a thorough suicide risk assessment (Correct answer)
- Contact the client's psychiatrist to adjust medication
- Schedule more frequent therapy sessions
Correct answer: Conduct a thorough suicide risk assessment
Giving away possessions and sudden calmness after depression are warning signs of suicidal intent, requiring immediate risk assessment.
Question 2: The biopsychosocial model of assessment is valuable in social work practice because it:
- Focuses exclusively on medical diagnoses to guide intervention
- Considers biological, psychological, and social factors as interconnected influences on functioning (Correct answer)
- Prioritizes social factors over biological ones in treatment planning
- Is required by the DSM-5 for all mental health assessments
Correct answer: Considers biological, psychological, and social factors as interconnected influences on functioning
The biopsychosocial model provides a holistic framework by recognizing that health and behavior result from the interaction of biological, psychological, and social variables.
Question 3: A social worker receives a subpoena for a client's therapy records. The BEST course of action is to:
- Immediately release the records to comply with the legal order
- Notify the client and consult with an attorney before releasing any records (Correct answer)
- Destroy the records to protect the client's confidentiality
- Release only a summary of the records rather than the full file
Correct answer: Notify the client and consult with an attorney before releasing any records
Upon receiving a subpoena, the social worker must notify the client and consult legal counsel; a subpoena does not automatically waive privilege.
Question 4: In motivational interviewing, 'rolling with resistance' means the social worker should:
- Firmly challenge the client's ambivalence about change
- Avoid arguing and instead explore the client's perspective without confrontation (Correct answer)
- Educate the client about the negative consequences of their behavior
- Refer the client when resistance becomes too strong
Correct answer: Avoid arguing and instead explore the client's perspective without confrontation
Rolling with resistance avoids confrontation and instead invites the client to examine their own perspective, preserving the therapeutic alliance.
Question 5: A social worker at a community mental health center has a very high caseload and feels emotionally exhausted and detached from clients. This is MOST consistent with:
- Secondary traumatic stress
- Compassion satisfaction
- Burnout (Correct answer)
- Countertransference
Correct answer: Burnout
Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced sense of accomplishment resulting from chronic workplace stress.
Question 6: When facilitating a support group for cancer survivors, a member begins to monopolize every session. The group leader's BEST response is to:
- Ask the member to leave the group temporarily
- Privately speak with the member and set clear participation expectations (Correct answer)
- Allow the behavior to continue to respect the member's autonomy
- Disband the group and reconvene without the member
Correct answer: Privately speak with the member and set clear participation expectations
Addressing monopolizing behavior privately and respectfully protects group dynamics while maintaining the member's dignity.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the principle of 'least restrictive environment' in social work practice?
- Clients should always be treated in outpatient rather than inpatient settings
- Interventions should use the minimum level of restriction necessary to meet the client's needs (Correct answer)
- Minors must be placed with family before entering foster care
- Social workers should avoid using involuntary commitment at all times
Correct answer: Interventions should use the minimum level of restriction necessary to meet the client's needs
The least restrictive environment principle holds that services should be provided in the setting that maximizes client freedom while still meeting their care needs.
ASWB Masters 3
A client diagnosed with major depressive disorder tells the social worker, 'I've been giving away my belongings and I finally feel at peace.' The social worker should FIRST: