Hi everyone and welcome to The Therapist Development Center’s Social Work Exam Prep: The ABC’s blog! Each Thursday I will use this blog to post about various social work terms that may show up on the exam. We will go through each term alphabetically and illustrate the importance of knowing these terms so that you are ready come test day! Here’s a sample question to start us off this week with the letter A:
Sample Question:
Which of the following statements BEST describes the assessment process that occurs during the beginning stages of treatment?
A.The process of determining what services are best for a client
B. The process of understanding a problem, what causes it, and how the client can decrease or resolve it
C. The process of exploring the nature of a problem and how the client currently manages it
D. The process of establishing rapport with a client
The assessment process is really important because it is often the first point of contact that a client and social worker have together. During the assessment, the social worker is able to gain a better understanding of the client's presenting problem and what the client is hoping to obtain from treatment. The Social Work Dictionary defines assessment as, “The process of determining the nature, cause, progression, and prognosis of a problem and the personalities and situations involved therein” (Barker, 2003).
Answer:
With this definition in mind, the best answer to the above question is B since it is the most comprehensive answer between all the choices. While A, C, and D, all occur during the assessment process, the question is looking for the best definition and therefore one that is all encompassing.
Coming up next week: Boundaries
Think our straightforward, sensible approach could help you PASS your LMSW exam? If you're preparing for the social work exam, check out our LMSW Study Materials. Learn more about our exam prep at the The Therapist Development Center home page.
Looking for more practice questions and some study tips? Check out our new Social Work Exam Study Guide:
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