LMSW LMSW Crisis Intervention Strategies Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client calls a crisis hotline stating they have a loaded gun and plan to use it tonight. What is the FIRST priority for the social worker?
- Assess the lethality of the plan and access to means (Correct answer)
- Provide empathic listening and validate feelings
- Contact the client's next of kin immediately
- Schedule an emergency in-person appointment
Correct answer: Assess the lethality of the plan and access to means
Lethality assessment including means, plan, and intent is the immediate priority to determine level of danger and appropriate intervention.
Question 2: Which crisis intervention model focuses on restoring the client to at least their pre-crisis level of functioning?
- Psychosocial Transition Model
- Roberts' Seven-Stage Crisis Intervention Model
- Equilibrium Model (Correct answer)
- Cognitive Model of Crisis
Correct answer: Equilibrium Model
The Equilibrium Model, developed by Caplan, aims to restore homeostasis and return the individual to their pre-crisis state of functioning.
Question 3: A social worker is responding to a community disaster. Which approach is MOST consistent with Psychological First Aid (PFA)?
- Conduct formal trauma debriefing sessions within 24 hours
- Provide basic needs, safety, and calm support without forcing disclosure (Correct answer)
- Administer standardized PTSD screening tools immediately
- Encourage survivors to relive the traumatic event to process it
Correct answer: Provide basic needs, safety, and calm support without forcing disclosure
PFA focuses on promoting safety, calm, connectedness, self-efficacy, and hope without requiring survivors to discuss the traumatic event.
Question 4: During a mobile crisis response, a client is agitated and pacing. The social worker should FIRST:
- Request police backup as a precautionary measure
- Speak in a calm, low tone and maintain a non-threatening posture (Correct answer)
- Present a written safety plan for the client to sign
- Conduct a full mental status examination
Correct answer: Speak in a calm, low tone and maintain a non-threatening posture
De-escalation begins with the worker's own calm demeanor, non-threatening body language, and measured tone of voice.
Question 5: A client in crisis discloses active suicidal ideation with a specific plan but agrees to go to the emergency room voluntarily. This is an example of:
- Involuntary hospitalization
- A safety contract
- Least restrictive intervention (Correct answer)
- Imminent danger protocol
Correct answer: Least restrictive intervention
Voluntary hospitalization honors client autonomy while ensuring safety, making it the least restrictive appropriate intervention.
Question 6: Which factor is MOST associated with increased lethality in a suicidal crisis?
- History of previous suicide attempts (Correct answer)
- Expressing feelings of sadness
- Recent loss of employment
- Lack of social support
Correct answer: History of previous suicide attempts
A history of prior suicide attempts is the single strongest predictor of future attempt and completed suicide.
LMSW LMSW Crisis Intervention Strategies Questions and Answers 2
A client calls a crisis hotline stating they have a loaded gun and plan to use it tonight.
What is the FIRST priority for the social worker?