This month’s ASWB LMSW and LCSW topic is one that is important well beyond the exam: Clinical Documentation. Even our code of ethics speaks to the importance of clinical documentation. “Social workers should take reasonable steps to ensure that documentation in records is accurate and reflects the services provided. Social workers should include sufficient and timely documentation in records to facilitate the delivery of services and to ensure continuity of services provided to clients in the future” (standard 3.04, NASW Code of Ethics). Regardless of the setting(s) you work in throughout your

Today’s ASWB social work blog topic is one that is important for both the exams and our clinical practice: clinical assessment. In fact, this topic is so important that TDC created a six hour clinical assessment course on life stressors and coping. While this course goes into more depth than will be needed for the LMSW or LCSW exams, it is a great resource for anyone in clinical practice. Clinical Assessment in Social Work The assessment process is key to understanding why a client is seeking treatment, what their presenting issue(s) are, and what they are hoping to gain from treatment. It

If you’ve taken any of the ASWB social work exams, you’ve probably seen a number of questions on domestic violence. Because of this, we've made some awesome domestic violence updates in our programs. (More on this below). These updates will show up in both our LMSW Exam Prep and our LCSW Exam Prep programs. These questions can be challenging because there are so many possible correct answers. And which answer is correct depends on a number of factors. What is happening in the scenario? Which answer options are available for this question? What type of question is it? (FIRST, NEXT, BEST, MOST

As I coach our LMSW and LCSW customers, the question of the ‘why’-the purpose of the test- sometimes comes up. Ultimately, the ASWB exists for the purpose of public safety. The ASWB exists to be a gatekeeper to the profession, ensuring licensed social workers are able to practice safely and ethically. So many questions on the exam fall under safety and ethics. (And so many of our challenging situations once we’re licensed come from ethical issues; more on our ethics CE offerings below!). ASWB Exam Prep: Ethics So what happens when a social worker acts in a manner that is unsafe or that goes

As a coach, I get a lot of questions on HIV and how it will show up on the exam. Are we required to maintain confidentiality of a person’s status? What if they are having unprotected sex and not telling their partner(s)? Doesn’t this fall under duty to warn? HIV on the LMSW and LCSW exams These are all great questions! The answer to most of these for our actual practice is: it depends. This is an area where what to do depends largely on individual state laws. A lot of people don’t know this, but the LMSW/LCSW exams are national exams given by the ASWB. So state laws are not tested. While it is

In this month’s MFT FREE practice question we are talking about suicide. This is an important and relevant topic, not only because you are guaranteed to see it on the exam, but also because it is a major public health concern and something every therapist will deal with in the course of their clinical practice. Unfortunately, as significant as this topic is, most therapists do not receive adequate training on how to assess and manage suicide. Amanda Rowan noticed this gap in training and decided to do something about it. She created the Edge of Life Model, a humanistic approach to treating

Today’s topic is one near and dear to us here at TDC-suicide. If you haven’t already heard, I’m excited to share with you that Amanda Rowan’s incomparable 6 hour suicide training is here. On the Edge of Life: Introduction to Treating Suicidality brings a new perspective to the conceptualization and treatment of suicide, and is truly unlike any suicide course you’ve taken before. It’s the culmination of nearly a decade of research, exploration, and Amanda’s personal experiences battling her own suicidality throughout her life. On the Edge of Life takes a humanistic approach and a profoundly

Imagine sitting on the Edge of Life with the person in the picture. What emotions do you experience? What physical sensations arise? What thoughts do you have? Treating suicidality is scary for both the patient and the therapist. To help clients move away from the edge, we must first be able to welcome, explore and understand the depths of their unique suffering. And we must learn how to sit wholeheartedly on the edge of life with them. On the Edge of Life: Introduction to Treating Suicidality is the culmination of nearly a decade of research, exploration and my personal experiences battling

8 BBS supervision changes every licensed and pre-licensed clinician should be aware of: On January 1st, 2022, a significant number of changes impacting supervision in California took effect. Some of these changes are designed to streamline documentation for trainees and associates, while other changes are more substantive and add new requirements for supervisors and supervisees. The overall goal of these changes is to enrich the professional development of supervisees and ultimately enhance client care. 1. Supervisor Self-Assessment Report All supervisors are now required to complete and

Dear TDC Community Member, The Therapist Development Center is recruiting members for our new Continuing Education Oversight Committee. We plan to bring together a diverse group of LICENSED therapists from a range of clinical backgrounds to provide quality assurance through on-going guidance and feedback of continuing education courses as they are developed. We are seeking CE Oversight Committee licensed therapists who are able to: Commit to piloting a minimum of 15 *free* CE hours each year Collaborate with TDC staff to create courses in your area(s) of expertise, if desired Provide