The Social Work Relationship Flashcards

A client angrily tells the social worker, "You're judging me just like my mother always did," though the worker has said nothing critical. This is an example of:

Answer: Transference

Transference occurs when the client redirects feelings from past relationships onto the worker.

A social worker notices she feels consistently irritated and bored with one client and dreads sessions. The MOST appropriate response is to:

Answer: Reflect on possible countertransference and discuss it in supervision

Recognizing and examining countertransference in supervision protects the relationship and may yield clinical insight.

From a strengths-based perspective, client resistance is BEST understood as:

Answer: A natural expression of ambivalence or fear about change

Resistance is a normal part of change and often signals ambivalence, fear, or a mismatch in approach.

In motivational interviewing, "rolling with resistance" means the social worker:

Answer: Avoids arguing and reflects the client's perspective to reduce defensiveness

Arguing increases resistance; reflecting and reframing invites the client to consider change.

Midway through a session, a client becomes silent for nearly a minute while looking down. The BEST response is usually to:

Answer: Allow the silence, then gently reflect what the client may be experiencing

Silence often allows reflection; tolerating it and then gently checking in respects the client's process.

Client: "My son hasn't called in months, and nobody even asked about my birthday." Which response is a reflection of feeling?

Answer: "It sounds like you're feeling hurt and forgotten."

Reflection of feeling identifies and names the emotion underlying the client's message.

Confrontation is MOST appropriately used in the helping relationship when:

Answer: Trust is established and the worker points out discrepancies in a caring way

Effective confrontation relies on rapport and highlights inconsistencies to promote growth, not to punish.