Monthly Study Group ( 5)

A client begins court-ordered treatment with a social worker for anger management. After attending four sessions, the client misses the next two appointments without prior notice. What is the most appropriate step for the social worker to take?

After an initial visit with an elderly client, a social worker schedules a follow-up appointment for four weeks later. However, the client begins calling daily with repetitive, minor inquiries that do not appear urgent or clinically significant. The client seems reassured by the worker’s responses but continues calling persistently. The social worker is concerned that these calls may indicate underlying anxiety or unmet psychosocial needs. What would be the MOST clinically appropriate response?

A supervisor identifies that a social worker is proficient in conducting client interviews but encounters difficulties in presenting case information clearly and effectively during supervision. What should the supervisor recommend FIRST to improve the social worker’s case presentation skills?

A client with chronic anxiety and depression is not adhering to prescribed antidepressants due to concerns about side effects. The client expresses a desire for help but is ambivalent about medication. How should the social worker address the client’s ambivalence?

A social work student in a community mental health center is conducting therapy during a field placement when a client discloses an urge to overdose on a bottle of medication to escape emotional distress. The student has limited experience working with suicidal clients. What is the MOST appropriate action for the student to take in this situation?

A social worker in a correctional facility is running a group therapy session for inmates addressing substance use issues. The prison’s classification committee has assigned ten inmates from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to participate. However, during the first two weeks of sessions, the social worker observes minimal participation, with most group members reluctant to speak. What is the MOST likely explanation for this behavior?

A social worker is providing therapy to a client with a history of substance use disorder who recently relapsed after a sustained period of sobriety. The client expresses intense guilt and shame, stating they have failed their family. Although the social worker knows the client has a historically supportive family, the client resists involving them, citing fears of judgment and rejection. The social worker is also aware that unresolved family dynamics contributed to the client’s past substance use. What should the social worker do FIRST?

A mother informs her social worker at a mental health clinic that her 5-year-old son has recently started wetting the bed, sucking his thumb, and clinging to her excessively. She explains that her husband was recently hospitalized in a mental health inpatient unit, and to cope financially, she and her son moved in with her elderly parents. The grandparents appear critical of the child, often reprimanding him for being noisy or getting dirty. What is the MOST likely explanation for the child’s behavior?

A social worker meets with a couple following the birth of their first child. The couple reports feeling overwhelmed by the demands of parenthood, with noticeable stress affecting their relationship and daily functioning. While there are no immediate signs of danger or distress, the couple’s concerns are significant. What should the social worker do to address the couple’s concerns, considering both the immediate stress and potential underlying issues?

A social worker is assessing a married woman who is distressed by her husband’s recent inability to sustain an erection. She reports that her husband has hypertension, and his physician has explained how high blood pressure can contribute to erectile dysfunction. However, the woman believes that her husband’s condition indicates that “he doesn’t love me anymore.” What should the social worker do first?

A social worker conducts a therapy session with a client who abruptly ends the session early, leaving in an angry state. As the client walks out, they state, “I’m going to hurt her.” What is the social worker’s MOST appropriate course of action?

A social worker is treating a client who expresses a desire to kill a former lover who recently ended their relationship. Upon further inquiry, the client admits that while this desire exists, it is not overwhelming and there is no concrete plan to act on it. The client also states, “I probably won’t do anything,” and agrees to a contract with the social worker not to harm the former lover. What is the social worker’s MOST appropriate step?

A 10-year-old girl has stopped attending school and refuses to leave home. Initial assessments have ruled out school phobia, trauma, and other common psychological factors. The girl shows significant resistance to engaging with others, and his family reports increasing frustration. What should the social worker do next?