Exam Prep Blog
Understanding Confidentiality: LCSW & MFT Exam Prep
Ok folks, this week we're diving into the topic of confidentiality. I might say this every week, but there are few topics on licensure exams that matter more than this one -- protecting clients' privacy and confidentiality is a key ethical standard for both social workers and MFT's. Test makers and
Read MoreWhat Do You Know About Hallucinations? LMSW Exam Prep
Social Work Exam Prep: Hallucinations We're switching gears this week and moving from gender roles to hallucinations. Hallucinations have often been portrayed in the movies and media in a variety of ways. I think one of the more commonly known movies is, "A Beautiful Mind," which depicts a professor
Read MoreUnderstanding Informed Consent: LCSW & MFT Exam Prep
No one wants to think about malpractice...I know I don't! But we have to -- it's a risk that we take when we choose to enter a profession whose focus is helping others. One of the most important ways you can protect yourself against malpractice is through the process of informed consent. Of equal
Read MoreWhat Do You Need to Know About Gender Roles for the LMSW Exam?
Alright everyone, this week we are looking at the concept of gender roles. This term can be somewhat sticky because it is often disputed and criticized by a wide variety of theorists. Even just the term gender has many definitions and can vary person-to-person depending on what it means for that
Read MoreUnderstanding Psychological Phenomena: LCSW & MFT Exam Prep
Okay, so a couple of weeks ago, my colleague Emily Pellegrino did an excellent blog post on defense mechanisms (if you haven't seen it yet, check it out!). We're going to be looking at them again tonight as our attention turns to psychological phenomena. It may seem redundant, but defense mechanisms
Read MorePreparing for the LMSW Exam: Free Association
Apparently the F's are a little scarse for finding social work terms, so this week we are talking about a lesser discussed term: Free association. Free association was developed and used by Freud throughout his work in psychoanalysis. While it's a pretty simple process, it can actually be pretty
Read MoreWhat Should You Know About Therapy Theories for the LCSW & MFT Exam?
Okay folks, this week we're turning to the topic of therapy theories. This is one of the topics in which there's a pretty significant difference in the amount of information that you might need to know, and it all depends on your discipline. MFT's, as I understand it, are tested on minute details of
Read MoreStudying for the LMSW Exam: Empowerment
I think empowerment is a fitting topic for this week as the Olympics have been constantly streaming through my T.V. While I love watching the events themselves, my favorite is hearing the athlete's stories and seeing the various obstacles they have faced in their lives. I'd like to think (as cheesy
Read MoreWhat Do You Need to Know About Medication Management for the LCSW & MFT Exam?
It's Tuesday, and even though I'm glued to the Olympics, it's time for another Hot Topic! This week we're moving on to Medication Management. This topic could include things like common medications, when to refer for a medication evaluation, and collaborating with a psychiatrist. Let's look at a
Read MoreAre You Studying for the LMSW Exam? Let's Understand Defense Mechanisms
Oh defense mechanisms. I think we're all guilty of using them and with good reason. They serve an important role in our lives and our client's lives by helping us cope with the many challenges that we face in life. Here’s a sample question to start us off: Sample Question: All of the following
Read MoreAre You Studying for the LCSW or MFT Exam? Let's Understand Termination
Oh, goodbyes...most of us aren't very good at them in our personal lives, but it's important that we become good at the process around saying goodbye in our professional lives. Termination is a vital part of treatment and deserves our attention and respect. We may not always get to control how and
Read MoreLMSW Exam Prep: Gaining an Understanding of Countertransference
Countertransference has always been one of my favorites topics because it is something that everyone experiences while working with clients. While Freud was the first to coin this term, the way we view countertransference today has changed and been molded over time. Let's jump right in with a sample
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