[caption id="attachment_1881" align="alignright" width="300"] Image courtesy of Urine Drug Test[/caption] Think back to grade school when you heard the slogan “Just Say No” to drugs. Your perception of drug addiction may have involved dimly lit streets, shady characters, and feeling far removed from your daily life. At that time, you may not have thought of a doctor office or a 70-year-old grandmother as being involved in substance abuse. The same individuals who use a few pain pills can quickly find themselves injecting heroin. The opioid epidemic has changed societies perception of drug

This month’s blog explores the topic of duty to protect. It is not uncommon for us to receive questions on this topic from people preparing for their MFT or social work law and ethics or clinical exams. A therapist's duty to protect is a complicated and emotionally charged issue to navigate. Most clinicians have not encountered clients who are a danger to others, which is a positive thing; however, it tends to make questions on this subject more challenging since it is an abstract concept. It is important to develop an understanding of your responsibilities with clients who are a danger to

My study partner and I met once a week while preparing for our licensing exams. We worked really well together; so well in fact that we continued to work together following our exams and continue to collaborate to this day. My study partner was actually my wonderful TDC colleague and dear friend, Asya Mourraille! To this day, we work as a team to provide support for the MFT programs and collaboratively participate in program development. Needless to say, having a study partner was a great experience for me and helped in managing anxiety. You may be wondering what this topic has to do with

This week, our free MFT exam practice question is going to focus on the topic of medical conditions. This is a subject that will more than likely appear on your exam since clinicians need to be on the lookout for medical conditions affecting mental health in their clients. The licensing board wants to make sure that all of us are aware of what to look for and what to do in case medical conditions are present. Regardless of how much or how little you already know about this subject, the Therapist Development Center’s exam prep, will ensure you know everything you need to correctly answer

If you provide marriage counseling or couples counseling you probably have discussed sex during a session. Maybe your client brought the topic up as an issue in their relationship, or you asked if there are any problems with intimacy. As a therapist, there is no way to escape the topic of sex and intimacy. Sex is a significant issue that leads people to begin couples therapy. In relationship counseling and marriage therapy, there is always something to learn about sex and intimacy. Even though I have a doctorate in clinical sexology and am a certified sex therapist, I continue to attend

Elder abuse and neglect is a subject that will more than likely appear on your exam, and there are numerous ways the topic can be tested. Whether you are studying for the social work or MFT law and ethics exam, it is important to be familiar with the types of abuse as well as the nuances of reporting elder abuse and neglect. How might reporting elder abuse be tested? There are several ways elder abuse and neglect can appear on the exam. Questions could test your knowledge regarding: The definition of an elder Signs of abuse and neglect Types of abuse and neglect When and where to report When

Self-determination is at the core of the social work profession. Self-determination can be defined as the clients' right to make their own decisions about their lives and their treatment. We may not always agree with our clients’ choices, but honoring their self-determination means we support them in the decisions they make (even when we ourselves would not make the same decisions). Questions on self-determination WILL show up on your ASWB social work exams, whether you are studying for the master’s level LMSW exam or the clinical LCSW exam. In many cases, the exam is looking for us to support

Last week, Friday arrived and I realized I spent the entire week running around like a chicken without a head. I was busy working and taking care of my family. I didn’t feel that I really had an opportunity to focus on taking care of myself or doing things for me. And, there were a good number of items on my to-do list that fell by the wayside. I have to admit, this was not the first time a Friday rolled around and this was my reality. And I know this experience is not unique to me; I hear this sentiment constantly being echoed by friends, colleagues, and associates like you. Many associates I

Free MFT Exam Practice Question: Working with Groups This week, our free MFT exam practice question is going to focus on the topic of working with groups. Some associates have had a good amount of experience leading and facilitating groups. Others have had almost none. Regardless of how much or how little you already know about this subject, the Therapist Development Center’s exam prep, will ensure you know everything you need to correctly answer questions on this topic. How Might Group Treatment Show Up on the Exam? Whether you are taking the Law and Ethics Exam, the California Clinical Exam

Millions of people struggle with addiction to alcohol and drugs. There is no barrier to entry to using substances such as alcohol and drugs. Substances are inexpensive and easy to access. You can buy drugs online, and alcohol is served at many movie theaters. Almost anywhere you go, from the pharmacy to a football game, you have access to alcohol and drugs. For many people, there is a strong genetic predisposition to addiction. A substance abuse disorder must meet the DSM 5 criteria. Determination of a substance abuse disorder is made by a counselor who is trained in substance abuse and