Exam 1: Assessment: Assessments and Interventions in Social Work

Existential therapy focuses on helping clients find meaning amidst anxiety by making choices to act and think responsibly and focusing on individual problems such as loneliness, despair, isolation and death. Existential therapy believes that clients' problems come from not sufficiently exercising choice to bring meaning into their lives. What are the main themes for this type of therapy?

All initial assessments should be conducted by an experienced and qualified social worker. Before confronting the family, there should be a plan about who is doing what and when information can be shared with the parents. Which of the following should be part of an initial assessment?

Most individuals deal with the world by utilizing acquired knowledge in collaboration with inherited abilities to solve problems. When a person fails to develop a rich, complex and satisfying personality, what problem should be addressed?

Lisa is a 14-year-old adolescent who skips school on a regular basis. She normally misses at least two days per week and reports just staying home in bed. The teen reports being tired all the time and cannot function at school most days. A social worker will identify a target behavior by examining the antecedent, identifying the function and identifying a positive replacement behavior. What type of problem solving should be initiated by the social worker?

Many social workers utilize a therapy-not to be confused with classical conditioning.-that deals with modifications of voluntary behaviors caused by environmental influences. This kind of therapy includes four basic consequences: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment and negative punishment. Which of the following therapies is described above?

Phillip is a 24-year-old male who has been in prison on four different occasions. His criminal record includes domestic assault on a girlfriend, stealing a car, setting fire to an abandoned warehouse and drug use. None of Phillip's acts were premeditated, and he claims to have little control over his actions. What disorder might a social worker set out to treat?

Ashley's family has sought out the services of a social worker to determine what kind of problems the child is having. She tends to display involuntary movements such as repeatedly blinking her eyes and saying things at inappropriate times. These issues have worsened with age. Her father states that there is an uncle in the family who demonstrates the same behaviors. What might be the findings of the social worker's assessment?

Crisis is a normal part of life, and individuals try to maintain equilibrium by using coping mechanisms. Sometimes the usual techniques do not work when a problem is threatening. People in crisis may experience guilt, feelings of anxiety, helplessness, and fear. Which of the following criteria are used to determine whether a situation constitutes a crisis?

Of the following types of studies, which are concerned with the effects of drugs on behavior, thought, perception, or mood?

Citalopram or Celexa is often used to treat depression. It comes in tablet form and should be taken by mouth one time per day. This drug is in a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). How does citalopram work?

A social worker is asked to help a family struggling after the recent loss of their home. A fire consumed the entire structure and all contents within. Tangible supports such as food and clothing have been donated. What other care would be most beneficial at this time?

A social worker meets with the Robertson family to complete a comprehensive family assessment to help recognize parental behavior. Information will be collected on who lives in the home, health history, employment and stability. Which of the following possible contributing factors should the social worker consider?

What type of changes in a behavior can be observed when a person is in crisis mode?

Sabrina has managed to alienate all of her co-workers with bizarre behaviors. She is constantly stealing other people's food from the refrigerator in the lunchroom, arguing with fellow employees over unimportant issues and most recently showing up for work intoxicated. Sabrina is quick-tempered and has even thrown a stapler at a coworker's computer. She has been ordered to seek help for observable problems. A full assessment will more than likely display what findings?

A social worker is helping a client who has had a tumultuous past. The client's main is the way his past has come full circle and resulted in problems in the present. After a thorough assessment, the social worker decides to focus on the here and now. What theory is being followed?

A referral comes into the local Children's Protective Services in regards to a female infant. The concerns raised by the informant include a lack of nutrition and improper supervision. Neighbors hear the baby cry at all hours of the night for long lengths of time. The parents leave the home before dark and do not seem to reappear until dawn the next day. Groceries brought into the home are noticeably snack foods and alcohol. The social worker responding will need to complete what kind of assessment?

Alysha meets with a social worker and discusses self-perceived problems. She reports complex mood swings that last for weeks and sometimes months. Alysha's main concern is that her manic behaviors may one day become life threatening. When the client is in a more sullen mood, she feels sad but somewhat safer. When completing a full assessment, what might the social worker diagnose Alysha as having?

Sabrina sees a social worker once a week due to an internal conflict that has hindered her everyday functioning in society. The therapy focuses on freedom of choice for issues that are present and those in the possible future. Sabrina will work on four themes, including isolation, freed om, meaninglessness and death. What method is being utilized?

A social worker is confirming that an assessment plan flows naturally from child and family to service planning. To assess needs and recognizing positive strengths, she conducts face-to-face meetings. Other agencies may be involved including teachers, therapists, and other community support systems. What type of assessment encompasses all of the above?

A local hospital refers a regular patient to the facility's social worker. Madeline is considered a "frequent flyer" by the nurses due to her high number of visits. The patient exaggerates or creates symptoms of illness in an effort to seek treatment, attention, and sympathy. What disorder will the social worker want to focus on for intervention?