LMSW Treatment and Intervention Planning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client with major depressive disorder refuses medication but is open to therapy. Which evidence-based intervention should the LMSW prioritize?
- Psychoeducation only
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (Correct answer)
- Supportive counseling without structure
- Crisis debriefing
Correct answer: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT has robust empirical support for treating major depressive disorder without medication.
Question 2: When developing a treatment plan for a client experiencing grief, the LMSW should first:
- Introduce cognitive restructuring techniques
- Assess the client's stage of grief and support system (Correct answer)
- Refer the client to a psychiatrist for medication
- Begin exposure therapy immediately
Correct answer: Assess the client's stage of grief and support system
Comprehensive assessment of grief stage and available supports informs the appropriate intervention selection.
Question 3: A treatment plan goal states: 'Client will feel better.' This goal is problematic because it is:
- Too time-limited
- Not measurable or specific (Correct answer)
- Culturally inappropriate
- Focused on strengths
Correct answer: Not measurable or specific
SMART goals must be specific and measurable; vague emotional language like 'feel better' cannot be tracked objectively.
Question 4: Which intervention model is MOST appropriate for a client who has experienced childhood trauma and presents with dissociative symptoms?
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) (Correct answer)
- Behavioral Activation
Correct answer: Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
TF-CBT is specifically designed to address trauma symptoms including dissociation in clients with trauma histories.
Question 5: A social worker is writing long-term goals for a client with schizophrenia. The MOST realistic long-term goal would be:
- Client will eliminate all hallucinations within 6 months
- Client will manage symptoms and maintain community living skills (Correct answer)
- Client will return to pre-illness functioning in 90 days
- Client will discontinue antipsychotic medication
Correct answer: Client will manage symptoms and maintain community living skills
Realistic goals for schizophrenia focus on symptom management and functional living rather than full remission.
Question 6: Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of short-term goals in a treatment plan?
- They replace long-term goals when progress is slow
- They serve as incremental steps toward achieving long-term goals (Correct answer)
- They are used only in crisis intervention settings
- They focus exclusively on medication compliance
Correct answer: They serve as incremental steps toward achieving long-term goals
Short-term goals create measurable benchmarks that guide progress toward broader long-term treatment objectives.
Question 7: An LMSW is treating a client with comorbid alcohol use disorder and anxiety. Which treatment sequencing approach is generally recommended?
- Treat anxiety first, then address alcohol use
- Treat only the primary diagnosis
- Use an integrated approach that addresses both simultaneously (Correct answer)
- Defer treatment until the client is abstinent for one year
Correct answer: Use an integrated approach that addresses both simultaneously
Integrated treatment that simultaneously addresses co-occurring disorders produces better outcomes than sequential approaches.
LMSW Treatment and Intervention Planning 2
A client with major depressive disorder refuses medication but is open to therapy.
Which evidence-based intervention should the LMSW prioritize?