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 various therapy theories; they must know history, different schools within the same theory, etc. LCSW's, on the other hand, in most cases need only to know the major concepts of the theory and how they might apply to a clinical situation. I'll apologize in advance to all the MFT's out there if this

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 as it sounds) that I've felt a bit inspired and even empowered by all the athlete's accomplishments. As social worker's, empowerment is a ongoing theme throughout our work and important to helping client's reach their own goals. Here's a sample question to get us started: Sample Question: Which of

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 sample test item: Sample: A 37 year-old man is admitted to the emergency room after being found wandering naked in a local park. When the social worker interviews him, he speaks rapidly, seems euphoric, and repeatedly tries to tell the social worker about his plan to create a "major art piece" in the

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 statements describe defense mechanisms EXCEPT: A. Conscious behavior used by the client to protect the client from the influence of the therapist B. Justifying actions or thoughts to make them seem acceptable when unconsciously they are not C. Rejecting or attributing unacceptable aspects of one’s

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 when we say goodbye to clients, but we can provide a model for our clients of how to say goodbye in a healthy way that honors whatever relationship we've had. So, how does termination show up on the exam? Let's look at an example. Sample: A 27 year-old male client has been working with a therapist

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 question to get a deeper understanding of countertransference. Sample: Which of the following statements BEST describes countertransference within the client-therapist relationship? A. The projection of the client's feelings regarding past experiences onto the therapist B. The therapist's emotional

The exam prep process is not only stressful, it's also expensive -- especially for people who struggle to pass. I recently spoke to two different women who have both failed by a few point multiple times using other companies' materials. Both reported confusion about what they could have done differently and wondered if they should repeat the program. They shared that it only would cost $100 to repeat the program. There are a couple things wrong here. First, why would a person want to repeat the same system that just failed them? Second, and more disturbing to me, how could a company have the

Oh, the places we could go with this topic! Intervention encompasses a majority of what clinical social workers and therapists do -- from the first interaction with a client until termination is complete, we're intervening. So, let's focus in and look at one way this topic can come up on the exam. Sample: In an initial session with a therapist, a 42 year-old man reports feelings of nervousness and difficulty sleeping. When the therapist attempts to clarify the client's feelings, he begins discussing conflicts with coworkers and an increase in arguments with his wife. He goes on to report that

We are onto week two of the Social Work Exam Prep: The ABC’s Blog! This week we’ll be looking at boundaries and the impact they have on our work. Boundaries are an important part of social work because they are there to not only protect the client, but to protect you as the social worker as well. Here’s a sample question to start us off. Sample Question: All of the following statements are characteristics of boundaries within the client-therapist relationship EXCEPT: A. Developing a framework that allows for a safe connection based upon the needs of the client B. Maintaining the social work

Well, folks, we've officially made it halfway through our list of Hot Topics! This week we tackle Assessment. The word itself is complex; it can refer to an individual document, a test, a process, or an entire segment of the treatment process. Ideally, you are assessing your clients on some level during every session, although the quality of this assessment changes over time. So, how does this topic come up in test items? Let's look at a sample. Sample: A 43 year-old woman begins working with a therapist, reporting significant issues in both her personal and professional relationships that