PRACTICE ASWB EXAM 4 -
PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS,
VALUES, & ETHICS QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH SOLUTIONS 2024
Question ID #47744: A social worker provided short-term therapy to a client who was experiencing a
high level of job-related stress and whose HMO authorized only six sessions. In the sixth session, the
client expressed a desire to begin long-term therapy to address childhood issues that emerged during
their sessions. The social worker gave the client three referrals for long-term therapy. Two weeks after
termination, and before the client has had a chance to begin seeing a new therapist, she calls the social
worker, saying that a terrible crisis has occurred and she needs to talk to him. What is the social worker's
BEST course of action?
Select one:
A. Tell the client that he cant see her because he is no longer her therapist.
B. Schedule an appointment and see the client until the crisis has abated.
C. Give the client contact information for a 24-hour-suicide help-line so that she has support in place
until she can - ANSWER B is correct: It's important to remember to always act in the best interests of the
client. Although it's likely that you will not be reimbursed by the HMO, "B" is clearly the right thing to do
to care for your client.Answer C: There is nothing in the question to indicate that the crisis is about
suicide; therefore, the mention of suicide in this answer is a reason to eliminate it right away.
The correct answer is: Schedule an appointment and see the client until the crisis has abated.
Question ID #47444: A social worker is working with a 25-year-old client who has reported feeling
anxious in social situations and uncomfortable dating. In the third session, the client discloses that, as a
boy, he was sexually abused by an uncle. He still sees this uncle at family gatherings and feels "panicky"
in his presence. He says, "It makes me sick when I see him hanging around my little nieces and
nephews." From a legal or ethical standpoint, what should the social worker do?
Select one:
A. Normalize the clients feelings and collect additional information about the family gatherings.
B. Encourage the client to warn family members about the danger posed by this uncle.
C. Explain to the client that a child abuse report won't be filed on the abuse he experienced because he
is an adult now and discuss other options for taking legal action.
D. File a child abuse report on the uncle. - ANSWER is correct: Because the client is age 25 (no longer a
minor), you don't have to file a child abuse report concerning the abuse he experienced as a child.
However, when an adult client discloses childhood abuse, you must be alert to the possibility that his
,abuser is currently victimizing other children. This often requires you to enlist the client's aid in gathering
information ("A"), but, in this case, the client has already provided you with sufficient information to
choose "D" - the fact that his uncle currently has contact with and access to young family members gives
rise to a reasonable suspicion of current child abuse. Therefore, you should file a report concerning that
abuse. If you had doubts about whether or not your suspicion was "reasonable," you could call CPS
anonymously and ask for guidance, but that answer is not offered.Answer C: This is also correct, but,
from a test-taking standpoint, it's important to demonstrate your awareness that a social worker should
have a reasonable suspicion of current child abuse in this case and file a report on it (i.e., it's better to
choose answer "D"). In addition to filing a report, however, you may also discuss with the client the
option of filing assault charges with the police or initiating civil action for damages for the abuse he
suffered. Such advice is particularly helpful when the client would benefit therapeutically from taking
control of the situation by confronting it through the legal system. As a part of this discussion, you
should inform the client of the potential negative consequences of such actions and allow him to make
the decision to file a charge or initiate a legal action without pressure.
The correct answer is: File a child abuse report on the uncle.
Question ID #47690: A social worker has been working in individual therapy with a client for six weeks,
and the client has made good progress toward resolving his problem. In the seventh session, the social
worker confronts the client about a behavior that she believes is contributing to his problem. The client
reacts defensively and becomes angry. What should the social worker do FIRST?
Select one:
A. Explore what underlies the clients reaction.
B. Recognize her error, apologize, and shift the focus to another topic.
C. Reframe what she did as a sign of concern for the client.
D. Challenge the clients avoidance of change. - ANSWER C is correct: This intervention could help deflect
the client's defensiveness and open the door for a discussion about what happened.Answer A: You
would want to explore the client's defensive reaction next, but doing this before doing "C" might only
cause the client to become more defensive.Answer B: There's no reason to believe that you did anything
wrong. Instead, what is clear is that you should use this event as an opportunity for therapeutic
intervention.Answer D: This is a form of confrontation used to point out a client's resistance. The client
reacted badly when you confronted before, and you must address that before confronting him again.
The correct answer is: Reframe what she did as a sign of concern for the client.
Question ID #47594: An 8-year-old boy in play therapy is sullen and unwilling to speak to the social
worker. Which of the following strategies should the social worker use to engage the boy?
Select one:
A. Choose a game and offer to play it with the boy.
, B. Encourage the boy to choose a game and then play it with him.
C. Try to convince the boy to talk by explaining that she needs information so that she can help him.
D. Let the boy be quiet until he is more comfortable. - ANSWER B is correct: "A" and "B" are similar, but
"B" is better because you're encouraging the boy to choose a game himself. If the boy refused to select a
game, then you might choose one yourself and invite the boy to play it with you.Answer C: This approach
doesn't include an effort to connect with the boy on his terms and is much too directive for play
therapy.Answer D: Although you don't want to be overly directive as a play therapist, you do want to
want develop a warm, friendly relationship with the child, in which rapport is established. Therefore, you
should try find an active way of increasing the boy's comfort and trust.
The correct answer is: Encourage the boy to choose a game and then play it with him.
Question ID #47519: A social worker receives a phone call from client who reports that his neighbor, a
policeman who was recently fired, is standing on his front lawn waving a rifle in the air and screaming,
"I'm going to kill the next gang member I see!" The client, who is clearly shaken up, tells the social
worker that there are several gang members who live on his street. What should the social worker do?
Select one:
A. Tell the client they will deal with this frightening event in therapy the next time he comes in.
B. Warn the intended victims and then deal with this in therapy the next time the client comes in.
C. Warn the intended victims and call the police and then deal with this in therapy the next time the
client comes in.
D. Briefly help the client with his feelings of fear or anxiety and encourage him to call the police
immediately. - ANSWER D is correct: This may appear to be a duty to protect situation since there are
(somewhat) identifiable victims and a serious threat of physical harm, but it's not. For there to be a
mandated duty to protect, the threat must be made by the client - here, your client is reporting that
someone else is engaging in threatening behavior. Still, this is a dangerous situation that requires action.
Because the client is "shaken up," you should attend briefly to his feelings, but you should also
encourage him to take immediate measures to prevent the potential violence (e.g., encourage him to call
the police).Answer A: This sounds like you're brushing the client off even though he is clearly
upset.Answers B and C: The client has not asked you to tell anyone else about what's happening. If you
warned the potential victims or contacted the police, you would be telling them confidential information
disclosed by your client without a legal basis for doing do.
The correct answer is: Briefly help the client with his feelings of fear or anxiety and encourage him to call
the police immediately.
Question ID #48144: A social worker employed at an agency has been working in individual therapy with
an adult client for several months. The client, who has been pleased with his progress in therapy to date,
