LCSW Exam Therapist Development Center

1 LCSW Exam (Therapist Development Center) Practice Exam Questions with Correct Detailed (Verified) Answers/ Rated A+

A social worker is studying the effects of how different doses of an SSRI affect levels of depression as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory. Which of the following is the dependent variable?

• Type of SSRI
• Dosage of the SSRI
• Levels of Depression
• Beck Depression Inventory - ANS - The correct answer is C.

The type of SSRI (A) is not discussed in the question stem.The dosage of the SSRI (B) is the independent variable (remember, this is the variable being manipulated that will then impact the dependent variable).Levels of depression (C) are dependent on the dosage of the SSRI, making this the dependent variable.The Beck Depression Inventory (D) is the type of scale being used to measure levels of depression but is neither the independent variable nor the dependent variable.

All of the following statements describe defense mechanisms EXCEPT:

• Conscious behavior used by the client to protect the client from the influence of the

therapist.

• Justifying actions or thoughts to make them seem acceptable when unconsciously

they are not.

• Rejecting or attributing unacceptable aspects of one's personality to another

individual.

• The process of protecting oneself from anxiety, feelings of guilt, or undesirable

thoughts. - ANS - The best answer here would be A. 1 / 4

2 If we look at the definition provided above we notice that B, C, and D all incorporate various aspects of defense mechanisms. On the other hand, A is discussing conscious behaviors or thoughts, whereas defense mechanisms are on a more unconscious level.That is why as clinicians we need to help client's identify the various defense mechanisms they may use and bring them to a conscious level.

A social worker has been meeting with a 28-year-old woman for the past six months to work on issues of depression and suicidal ideation. The social worker observes that on days that she meets with this client, later in the day she spends a lot of time thinking about death and her mood is lower. What should the social worker do FIRST?

• Use her emotional reaction to explore how the client's suicidal ideation may be

impacting those around her.

• Seek supervision.
• Begin meeting with an individual therapist.
• Refer the client to someone who specializes in depression and suicide. - ANS - The

correct answer is B, to seek supervision.A is inappropriate because we should not be using countertransference (which is about our emotional reactions as the therapist) in therapy. Although it is possible that the therapist may begin their own therapy (C) at some point, this isn't the FIRST thing we would do. Individual therapy is something that could be discussed in supervision as one way to manage the therapist's countertransference. D is premature, as the therapist and client have been meeting for 6 months and have an established relationship. At this point, there is no need to refer out.

A social worker has been meeting with a 28-year-old woman for the past six months to work on issues of depression and suicidal ideation. The social worker observes that on days that she meets with this client, later in the day she spends a lot of time thinking about death and experiences a lower mood. What is this an example of?

• Poor Boundaries.
• Transference.
• Countertransference.
• Trauma Response. - ANS - The correct answer is C, countertransference.

The therapist is having an emotional reaction to what the client is sharing.

• / 4

3 A social worker meets with a 14-year-old client who shares with the social worker that she is pregnant. She does not want her parents to know she is pregnant. The social worker practices in a jurisdiction where social workers are required to share this information with the parents of a minor child. What should the social worker do FIRST:

• Maintain confidentiality per the client's request
• Maintain confidentiality due to safety issues that may arise if the parents are informed

of her pregnancy

• Inform the client that she is required to disclose this information with the client's

parents

• Inform the client's parents of the client's pregnancy - ANS - The correct answer is C.

While we may want to honor our client's self-determination and her wishes to have confidentiality maintained (A), the question stem specifies that the social worker practices in a jurisdiction where we must inform the client's parents of her pregnancy.Despite our own beliefs about this, we are required to follow the law. (B) is incorrect because nothing in the question stem states that a safety issue is present regarding telling the parents. While her parents will need to be informed of her pregnancy (D), telling the client about this (C) should come first. Additionally, we should explore with the client how she wants her parents to be informed; she may want to be a part of this rather than the social worker disclosing this on her behalf.

A 32 year-old man seeks treatment from a social worker for ongoing problems with both his personal and professional functioning. He reports that even though he has been moderately successful in his career, he continues to feel uncertain about his abilities, feeling as if at any moment he will be exposed as a fraud. When the social worker inquires about his personal relationships, he looks down and says that he doesn't really let anyone get close to him. According to Erikson, this client likely experienced difficulty during which developmental stage?

• Trust vs. Mistrust
• Industry vs. Inferiority
• Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
• Initiative vs. Guilt - ANS - C, Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt.

The prevailing characteristic that comes through about the client is his lack of self- assurance. We see him doubting himself professionally and perhaps also personally.This may explain his tendency to keep others at arm's length (protecting himself from failure). If the 'building blocks' strategy doesn't work for you, keeping playing with it and find something that does - it's not important why it works, only that it helps you remember and apply the information when you need to! 3 / 4

4 During an initial appointment, the social worker asks a husband and wife their reasons for seeking treatment. The wife hesitantly tells the social worker that it is because of "bedroom issues." Her husband cuts in and states that approximately a year ago, his wife seemed to lose interest in him sexually and that nothing he has done has been able to change this; he ends by saying, "I think she's having an affair." The wife insists, "I'm not cheating on him! It's not that I don't want to have sex with HIM, I don't want to have sex with ANYONE. I just don't feel that way anymore." What is the most likely diagnosis in this case?

• Sexual Aversion Disorder
• Female Sexual Arousal Disorder
• Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
• Dyspareunia - ANS - C is the correct answer;

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder is characterized by persistent and recurrently deficient (or absent) sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity (the person does not have the desire to engage in sexual activity). A is not the best answer because Sexual Aversion Disorder is characterized by an extreme aversion or avoidance of all (or most) genital sexual contact. B is not the best answer because Female Sexual Arousal Disorder is characterized by persistent or recurrent inability to attain or maintain the physiological responses associated with sexual arousal. D is not the best answer because Dyspareunia is characterized by genital pain associated with sexual intercourse.

A 17 year-old girl is admitted to a psychiatric unit after sudden onset of symptoms.According to her assessment, 2 weeks before her admission, she began experiencing frequent motor tics, shaking, and paralysis on her right side; she was evaluated by a team of doctors, but they were unable to account for her symptoms. Her history indicates a lack of mental health symptoms earlier in her life, no substance use or abuse, and her academic records indicate that she has been an honors' student since she entered high school. When the social worker interviews the girl, she states, "I've just been really stressed out...the SAT's are a week away and my whole future is riding on that." What is the most likely diagnosis in this case?

• Tourette's Disorder
• Hypochondriasis
• Somatization Disorder
• Conversion Disorder - ANS - D is the best answer to the question above because the

client is experiencing physical symptoms that would suggest a neurological condition but cannot be explained by a general medical or neurological condition and have been

• / 4