Therapist Development Center Practice Exam 1 | Answered with Rationales

Therapist Development Center Practice Exam 1 | Answered with Rationales A hospital emergency room social worker meets with a 45-year-old man who recently immigrated from Mexico and has been experiencing severe panic a ...

Therapist Development Center Practice Exam 1 | Answered with Rationales A hospital emergency room social worker meets with a 45-year-old man who recently immigrated from Mexico and has been experiencing severe panic attacks and anxiety. When the social worker approaches him, he says that he does not need any mental health treatment and that she can leave. The MOST likely explanation for his behavior is: A. His preference for seeking treatment from a curandero. B. His denial that he has a mental health problem. C. The negative cultural response associated with mental health treatment. D. A miscommunication due to a language barrier. Rationale: C is the best answer because many cultures associate stigma with mental health treatment. A is not the best answer because it makes an assumption that is not indicated by the information in the stem. B may be true, but is not as likely as C. D is not the best answer since the stem gives no indication that there is a language barrier between the client and social worker. A group of adolescents with behavioral problems has been court-ordered to attend a group treatment with a social worker. One of the adolescents has taken over the group and tries to intimidate the other members. He often talks about various crimes he has committed and says that his older brother, who is in prison, would be proud. What should the social worker do? A. Encourage group members to share their feelings about the member's comment B. Confront the informal leader about his behavior and challenge him to find alternatives. C. Allow the group to proceed without intervening. D. Model an accepting stance to the group members. Rationale: A is the best answer because it utilizes an intervention that both empowers group members to express their feelings and communicates the social worker's professional leadership. B is not the best answer because it focuses on an individual and not group process. C is not the best answer because it avoids all intervention; D is not the best answer because it allows the group member to continue in an inappropriate leadership role. A social worker is assessing a 2-year-old foster child. The social worker notes that the child cries when the caregiver leaves the room and upon the caregiver's return the child is unable to be soothed. What theory is guiding the social worker's assessment? Score: 1 of 1 A. Psychodynamic B. Systems C. Behavioral D. Attachment Rationale: D is the best answer in this case because evaluating a child's response both when the caregiver leaves and returns is drawn from attachment theory. A, B, and C would be indicated by different evaluation techniques. During a utilization review phone call, a social worker in private practice is informed that one of her clients who has a diagnosis of PTSD is only authorized for two more sessions. The social worker disagrees and asserts that the client needs 10 more sessions in order to be sufficiently able to deal with the demands of everyday life. However, the utilization review agent maintains that insurance will not pay for more than 2 sessions. The social worker knows that the client is unemployed and will be unable to pay without insurance. The social worker should: A. Refer the client to a community mental health agency that is understaffed. B. Terminate the client after the two sessions are complete. C. Continue to see the client and explore an alternative payment plan. D. Continue to see the client free of charge. Rationale: C is the best answer because it avoids client abandonment, which would be unethical, while at the same time maintaining some payment for the social worker. A and B both constitute client abandonment, which is unethical. D sets up a situation in which the therapist may begin to resent the client for not paying, which could undermine the therapeutic relationship. A mother meets with a social worker due to concerns with her seven-year-old son. The mother reports that her family recently survived an earthquake that destroyed their house and the surrounding area. She is worried about her son because any time he hears a loud noise he starts to cry inconsolably and won't leave her side. In behavioral therapy, what is this an example of? A. Extinction B. Negative reinforcement C. Operant conditioning D. Classical conditioning Rationale: This is a recall question: the stem describes an example of classical conditioning in which the client develops a conditioned response (crying and clinging to mom) when exposed to stimuli (loud noises) that represent a previously experienced event (the earthquake). A, B, and C would all be described differently. A young adult client has been meeting with a social worker due to a diagnosis of major depression. When discussing his childhood, the client reports that he was often bullied and humiliated by peers at school. The client reports this with a flat affect and a sense of detachment. The social worker should respond by: A. Sharing a personal experience of being teased as a child. B. Assist the client in developing awareness around his feeling related to being bullied. C. Confront the client's denial. D. Provide the client with psychoeducation on the relationship between bullying and depression. Rationale: B is the best answer because awareness is the first step in helping the client integrate and process his feelings. A is inappropriate; C is inappropriate and may cause the client harm. D is less therapeutic than B and may not be helpful for the client. A client who is diagnosed with trichotillomania meets with a social worker after being referred by her primary care physician. The client says she feels guilty and ashamed, but is having difficulty stopping the behavior. She says that she doesn't even know why she started the behavior in the first place. What should the social worker do FIRST? A. Explore the feelings behind the behavior. B. Have the client wear a wig until she can stop the behavior. C. Reinforce that hair-pulling will likely lead to complete baldness. D. Teach the client thought stopping strategies. Rationale: A is the best answer because understanding the psychological purpose of the behavior will best help the client understand and change the behavior. B, C, and D might all be part of the complete intervention strategy, but A is the best place to start in terms of addressing the behavior. A social worker meets with a 14-year-old client who is having trouble at school. The client and social worker created a behavioral contract for him to complete his homework between sessions. During the next two sessions, the social worker inquires about the client's homework to which he responds, "I think I left it at home...I can't remember if I did it." The social worker says, "Help me understand - did you leave it at home because you didn't finish it? Or did you bring it with you, but it's just not done?" The social worker's statement is an example of the technique of: A. Reflection B. Confrontation C. Clarification D. Partialization Rationale: This is an application question; C is the best answer because the stem describes an example of clarification in which the social worker asks questions to help the client communicate more directly. A, B, and D would all be described differently. During a therapy session, a client states that he recently found out his partner is having an extramarital affair. He says he is furious and so angry that he wants to do something to "get back" at his partner. What should the social worker do FIRST? A. Ask questions to clarify the client's statements. B. Remind the client about the limits of confidentiality. C. Notify the authorities and the partner according to Tarasoff law. D. Assess the client for history of violent behavior. Rationale: A is the best answer because it helps the social worker assess potential risk. B might be appropriate if the client's clarification indicated Tarasoff. C is not the best answer because the client's statement does not reach the level of severity or specificity needed for Tarasoff. D might be an appropriate intervention, but not until after the therapist has identified the level of risk. A social worker is meeting with a recently retired woman who is seeking counseling due to feelings of irritability and poor frustration tolerance. The client reports that she was looking forward to retirement so that she could do the things she enjoyed and see more of her spouse after a demanding career in the health care industry. The client says that instead she's been having trouble sleeping and just wants to be alone. She says that she doesn't enjoy the things that she used to and is confused. The social worker should FIRST inquire about: A. Any dysfunctional changes in the marital relationship. B. The impact of losing status in the community. C. Other symptoms that might indicate depression. D. Volunteer opportunities that might help the client feel useful again. Rationale: C is the best answer because the client has indicated several symptoms of depression and the therapist should start by asking more about symptoms in this category. A, B, and D would likely all be part of the assessment and intervention plan, but only after a provisional diagnosis has been reached. A social worker meets with a client who reports that he is struggling with thoughts that often scare him. He says that he would like help learning to control the thoughts because he can't seem to get them to go away and they are disrupting his job performance. What should the social worker do FIRST? A. Make a psychiatric referral. B. Evaluate the frequency of the thoughts. C. Teach the client thought stopping techniques. D. Ask clarifying questions to determine the content of his thoughts. Rationale: D is the best answer because it will guide the intervention process (e.g., if the client is having suicidal thoughts, the therapist will proceed in a certain way, and if the client is have paranoid delusions, the therapist would proceed in a different way). A, B, and C might all be reasonable interventions, but only AFTER the therapist has an understanding of the intrusive thoughts. A social worker in private practice meets with a 90-year-old man who recently lost his wife of 60 years. The client reports that since his wife passed away, he has been feeling irritated, does not have much energy, and has trouble falling asleep. A hospital social worker met with the client and conducted a clinical evaluation for depression. What should the social worker do FIRST? A. Demonstrate acceptance of the client's feelings of loss. B. Provide psychoeducation about depression. C. Complete a mental status examination. D. Contact the hospital social worker for additional information. Rationale: A is the best answer because the client has experienced a significant loss and acknowledging and accepting his feelings is an effective way to help him feel more comfortable and encourage him to discuss his feelings and symptoms. B, C and D might all be useful interventions, but not before the social worker has acknowledged the client's feelings of loss regarding his wife. A couple meets with a social worker. The woman reports that her 80-year-old father has been living with them since her mother passed away four years ago. The woman reports that her father has recently been refusing to eat meals with the couple, appears agitated, and is concerned that he may be depressed. The woman says that she and her husband are constantly arguing about whether or not they should suggest that her father move to an assisted living facility. The FIRST factor the social worker should consider is the: A. Family's cultural background and the value placed on caregiving. B. Father's decreased risk for suicide since he is living with a family member. C. Guilt associated with caregivers suggesting that the family member move out. D. Daughter's ability to withstand the father's negative response. Rationale: C is the best answer because the guilt may both prevent the couple from reaching a consensus and be adding to the tension between them; without resolving it, it will be difficult to move forward. A may be considered, but not before the more likely issue of guilt. B is not the best answer because the stem doesn't provide enough information to determine whether there is a risk of suicide. D is not the best answer because the stem does not indicate that the father will have a negative response. A social worker meets with a mother and her 18-year-old daughter, who will soon be leaving for college. The mother reports that she has recently been going through a bitter divorce with her husband and says her daughter has been a big source of comfort for her. She reports that she is afraid what will happen when she leaves for college as she doesn't have many other friends to confide in. The daughter reports that she is considering staying closer to home because she feels bad leaving her mom alone. This is an example of which of the following boundaries? A. Rigid B. Enmeshed C. Differentiated D. Individuated Rationale: This is an application question; B is the best answer because the dynamic described is an example of enmeshment in which there is confusion about roles and dependence between family members. A, C, and D would all be described differently. A 7-year-old child who was sexually abused by a family friend is being treated by a social worker. During one session, the client's mother reports that his teacher contacted her to report that the child was sexually act out with another child at school. The mother reports that she is concerned by this behavior and unsure what to do. The social worker should explain that this behavior: A. Will almost certainly decrease over time. B. Probably means the child is still being abused. C. Necessitates continued treatment. D. Substantiates child abuse. Rationale: C is the best answer because the behavior indicates that the child has not resolved sexual issues and needs continued intervention. A and B may not be at all true; D does not make sense since the validity of the abuse was not in question A social worker has been facilitating a psychotherapy group for adults diagnosed with bipolar disorder. At the end of a session, a group member approaches the social worker to privately address a situation that occurred during the group. The client reports that he noticed another member lying to the group during the session, violates group rules. The client states that he feels frustrated and thinks the social worker should speak individually with this group member. The BEST therapeutic response would be to: A. Positively reinforce the client's honesty with the social worker. B. Explore ways for the client to bring up the incident for discussion in the next group session. C. Validate the client's feelings of frustration about being lied to. D. Reflect on the client's participation in the lie by remaining silent during group. Rationale: B is the best answer because it allows the group to manage and process the issue. A, C, and D all miss the opportunity for the group to address the issue and focus too much on the individual. A 15-year-old student meets with a social worker due to defiant behavior toward teachers and several fights with peers following the death of his mother 2 weeks ago. When he enters the social worker's office, she notes that he has no expression on his face and refuses to make eye contact. He responds to questions with one-word answers and shows no affect. This behavior is demonstrating the client's: A. Defenses B. Self-concept C. Depression D. Anger Rationale: This is an application question; A is the best answer because the student is most likely attempting to defend against feelings of grief related to the loss of his mother. B and C would be described differently. D is not the best answer because the student may be experiencing anger as part of a grief reaction, but his behavior is demonstrating his defenses. A 35-year-old woman who is a survivor of childhood abuse has been meeting with a social worker for individual therapy. More recently, the client has started to become distressed while discussing the details of the abuse. During the next session, she says that she thinks the abuse was a dream and actually never happened . What is the MOST likely reason for this behavior? A. The client has been contacted by the abuser and is scared. B. The client is using avoidance to manage anxiety brought up by discussing the abuse. C. The client is unconsciously using suppression. D. The client fabricated the story and now feels guilty as a result. Rationale: B is the best answer because the change described is most consistent with avoidance. A and D don't make sense and are not likely; C is not the best answer because while the client might suppress feelings associated with the experience, the actual experience would not be suppressed. A social worker attends a conference in which the speaker focuses on prophylactic therapy in the preschool setting. What interventions are MOST likely part of the speaker's presentation? A. Psychodynamic interventions B. Preventive interventions C. Interventions around termination D. Behavioral interventions Rationale: This is an application question; B is the best answer because prophylactic therapy would be aimed at preventing future problems. A, C, and D are not specifically indicated by the stem. A social worker meets with a couple who have a two-year-old and a newborn child. The mother says she feels like she is doing all the work around the house by cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children. Her spouse says that she never makes time for him and it feels like she would rather be with the kids than with him. The couple MOST likely is: A. Endangering their children. B. In need of professional home-based support services. C. Using their children to mask deeper problems in their relationship. D. Experiencing stress associated with a life cycle change. Rationale: D is the best answer because the stem described a very typical pattern in families experiencing a life cycle change (new baby). A makes the assumption that there is a safety issue, when nothing in the stem indicates that. B is not supported by the stem, since the couple's problem, while very real, is not unusual. C is not supported by the information in the stem. A 15-year-old student meets with a social worker for an assessment due to concerns from her parents and teachers. For the past 3 months, the girl has been failing three of her classes, despite normally being a very good student. The girl says she feels worthless and doesn't enjoy the same things that she used to. Her teachers report that she is inattentive and appears to have lost weight. What should the social worker do FIRST? A. Refer the client to a school psychologist to begin the IEP process. B. Assess the client for substance abuse. C. Evaluate the client for depression. D. Refer the client to a psychiatrist for a medication evaluation. Rationale: C is the best answer because the client is exhibiting several symptoms associated with depression and specifically depression in children (irritability and inattentiveness). A and B would be appropriate if either a learning disorder or substance abuse were indicated, but they are not. D might be an appropriate step, but not until the social worker has evaluated the client. A 25-year-old man meets with a social worker for the first time. The client describes the presenting problem, which includes symptoms of depression and a lack of sexual desire with his same-sex partner. The social worker feels uncomfortable when the client begins discussing changes in his sexual activity. At the end of the session, the client states that he feels better already and is looking forward to working with the social worker. The social worker should FIRST: A. Offer to provide brief treatment for depression only. B. Refer the client to an agency specializing in the treatment of homosexual clients. C. Agree to work with the client on a trial basis. D. Meet with the supervisor to discuss the discomfort. Rationale: D is the best answer the Code of Ethics requires social workers to seek consultation or supervision in cases in which personal values conflict with client needs. A is inappropriate as it does not meet the client where he is or address his problem; C disregards the therapist's discomfort and may negatively impact the client's treatment. B might be a step later if the social worker is unable to manage his/her countertransference and/or discomfort. A mother brings her 16-year-old son to the emergency room stating that she does not know what is wrong with him. She reports that starting a few weeks ago, her son has been forgetful about his homework and chores around the house, has fallen down the stairs twice, and this evening attempted to make an expensive purchase from an infomercial. When asked, the mother reports that the only other change in the teen's life is that a new neighbor moved in a month ago. The MOST likely cause for the son's behavior is: A. Peer conflict B. Sleep loss C. Typical adolescent behavior D. Marijuana abuse Rationale: This is a recall question; D is the best answer because the behaviors described in the stem are most associated with marijuana abuse. A is not the best answer because no social problems are indicated in the stem. B is not the best answer because it is not as likely as D and would be described differently in terms of the boy's behavior. C does not make sense given the significant changes in the boy's behavior. A family meets with a social worker after their 17-year-old son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. The psychiatrist recommends intensive outpatient treatment so that the client can remain in the family home with a support system. The family physician believes that inpatient treatment is necessary due to the presence of alcohol abuse. The client's parents are afraid and unsure what to do. The social worker should FIRST: A. Support the family in making a treatment decision. B. Schedule a conference with both the psychiatrist and physician involved. C. Try outpatient therapy with the addition of AA meetings. D. Discuss the importance of sobriety with the family. Rationale: B is the best answer in order to help the family and achieve some agreement between professionals regarding the course of treatment. A and D might both be reasonable, but not until after trying to obtain consensus between the professionals involved. C disregards the family physician's opinion, which may be based on physical withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol abuse. A 45-year-old male client is referred to a social worker by his EAP due to decreased productivity and several costly mistakes at work. In the intake, the client reports that his wife of 20 years recently left him and that he is in danger of losing his home. He also tells the social worker that he is a veteran of the Iraq war and says that he frequently uses large amounts of prescription opiates to sleep despite a lack of pain. The social worker should INITIALLY focus on: A. Possible PTSD symptoms associated with military deployment. B. Stopping his drug use. C. His housing issues. D. His grief over the end of his marriage. Rationale: B is the best answer because the substance abuse must be addressed before any other issue can be explored. A social worker has been meeting with a 9-year-old child who was severely neglected by her parents. The child is in foster care and has been seeing the social worker for six months with good results. The social worker discovers that the child's parents want to get her back, however, refuse to follow the treatment plan mandated by the judge. They report that they know what they did was wrong, but state that since they are her parents they deserve to have her back. The social worker should focus on: A. A plan for reunification. B. Developing a permanency plan for the child. C. The parents' mental health treatment. D. Helping the parents change their behavior. Rationale: B is the best answer because the child's parents have had sufficient time to make changes and address their issues, but have failed to do so; at this point, the social worker should focus on finding a permanent, safe place for the child. A is not a good choice, since the parents have not met their court-ordered obligations to achieve this. C and D don't make sense in this context, since the social worker's responsibility is to the child. A couple meets with a social worker after their third child leaves home for college. The wife reports that they expected to feel relieved but instead feel stressed and unhappy. What should the social worker do FIRST? A. Provide referrals for adult activity groups in the area. B. Ask the couple why being alone together is so hard. C. Teach the couple communication techniques. D. Determine what is causing the stress. Rationale: D is the best answer because the social worker needs to understand the source of the stress before trying to help the couple address it. A, B, and C might all be appropriate, but not until the social worker knows WHY they are stressed. A social worker in private practice meets with the parents of a young child who has recently been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The parents report that the child's teacher is open to working with the child and they feel supported by the school and community. The social worker should NEXT: A. Recommend that the parents move the child into a special needs class in order to receive more individual support. B. Encourage the parents to enroll the child in a social skills group. C. Refer the parents to a gymnastics class for children with special needs. D. Help the parents identify appropriate classmates for future play dates. Rationale: B is the best answer because it will help the student prepare for both C and D. A does not appear necessary at this point based on the information in the stem. A Mandarin-speaking client meets with a social worker at a mental health clinic after witnessing a shooting in the community. The client and his brother, who accompanies him, have limited proficiency in English. The social worker does not speak Mandarin, but knows a receptionist who is a native speaker. The social worker's MOST appropriate action is to: A. Approach the receptionist and ask her to translate. B. Attempt to conduct the interview without assistance. C. Refer the client to a different social worker. D. Obtain a professional translator before proceeding. Rationale: D is the best answer because the social worker should ensure that the translation is accurate and that the person translating is familiar with standards of confidentiality. A and B both compromise the level of care that the client receives. C may not address the problem, since we don't know if the another social worker will have the language fluency. An established client discloses to her social worker that several years ago, she had an affair and subsequently had a child. The client confessed to her husband and the two have been raising the child as their own since then. The client says that she never told anyone else and that she and her husband have not discussed the paternity of the child since her confession. Which family therapy concept does this illustrate? A. Family rules B. Enmeshed boundaries C. Family secrets D. Emotional cutoff Rationale: This is an application question; C is the best answer because the scenario fits the definition of "family secrets." A, B, and D would all be described in a different way. A social worker is treating a mother and her 15-year-old son for frequent conflicts. At the end of one session, the mother points out how helpful her son has been around the house; the son replies by saying, "I didn't really do that much." What should the social worker do FIRST? A. Point out the son's inability to accept praise from his mother. B. Ask the mother why she's complimenting the son now. C. Suggest that perhaps the son resents having to help around the house. D. Assist the son in accepting his mother's praise. Rationale: D is the best answer because it directly addresses the dynamic that has just occurred and uses a positive strategy to create change. A, B, and C might all be good interventions at a future session, but would not be done before working to help the son accept the mother's praise in the moment. A client tells a social worker that her boyfriend, who is married, recently broke up with her. She reports feeling overwhelmed and has since had thoughts about killing the man's wife. The social worker asks clarifying questions and learns that the client has no specific plan. The client states, "I don't think I would act on it since they have a child together." After contracting for safety, the social worker should NEXT: A. Consult with a supervisor about the case. B. Carefully monitor the client's feelings and behavior in future sessions. C. Report the client to local law enforcement. D. Contact the ex-boyfriend's wife and notify her of the threat. Rationale: B is the best answer because it addresses the safety issue while maintaining the client's confidentiality, since the level of threat has not yet risen to a mandatory reporting level. A is a good idea, but is not more important that monitoring the client's feelings and functioning. C and D both violate the client's right to confidentiality and are not warranted at this time. A 22-year-old college senior meets with a social worker. The client reports that he has been struggling with feelings of anxiety and depression. He says that all his friends have job offers for post-graduation, but he has not even been able to get an interview. He is frustrated, and says that if he doesn't find a job soon, he doesn't know what he will do. What should the social worker do FIRST? A. Refer the client to a career counselor. B. Point out the client's high expectations for himself. C. Teach the client stress management techniques. D. Assess for the risk of suicide. Rationale: D is the best answer because the client may be at risk for harming himself; he is presenting with symptoms of depression and situational stressors that put him at risk. A, B, and C might all be useful interventions, but not until the client's safety is ensured. A social worker is treating a client who has recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The social worker plans on sharing the diagnostic information with the client. When doing this, the social worker should think PRIMARILY about: A. Assessing the potential for future legal action. B. Explaining which diagnostic category the client currents falls in. C. Providing information on the specific behaviors that led to the diagnosis. D. Only providing information that the client can handle. Rationale: C is the best answer because enhancing the client's understanding of the diagnostic information will allow the client to participate fully in treatment. A does not make sense in this context. B does not do as much to enhance the client's understanding of the diagnosis; as well, D will not allow the client to participate fully in treatment and may cause therapeutic problems. During an initial evaluation, a 53-year old man reports that he is upset regarding his sex life with his wife. He reports that they used to have an active sex life, but that since his wife started menopause a few months ago, she often refuses sex or says she isn't in the mood. The client has done online research that has normalized his wife's experience, but he still believes that she may be having an affair. The social worker's MOST appropriate action is to: A. Suggest that the wife have a medical evaluation. B. Provide psychoeducation about the effects of menopause on desire. C. Offer couples therapy to the client and his wife. D. Suggest individual therapy to help the husband address his frustration. Rationale: C is the best answer because it will address the issue that exists BETWEEN the husband and wife. A is not the best answer because there is not enough to suggest that this is necessary at this time. Likewise, B may not be particularly helpful in this case as the husband has done some research and is more concerned with his wife's fidelity. D is not the best answer because it would not address one partner in an issue that is between the couple. While meeting with a social worker, a client discusses his concerns regarding the amount of time he spends playing video games. The client reports that he has trouble paying attention to "anything else" because he's preoccupied with strategy and planning associated with the games. He states that he has tried, "but can't control it." The social worker should FIRST assess? A. How the content of the games contributes to the client's preoccupation. B. The specific ways in which the client's life is impacted. C. The quality of the client's interpersonal relationships. D. The frequency and duration of his game playing. Rationale: B is the best answer because the social worker needs a more complete understanding of the presenting problem and its impact on the client's life. A, C, and D might all be part of the overall evaluation, but would not be clarified before the social worker understands the extent of the problem. A 30-year-old man begins court-ordered treatment with a social worker following an arrest for driving under the influence. The man attends two sessions and then no-shows to the next two appointments. What should the social worker do FIRST? A. Call the client and ensure his understanding of the consequences of his behavior. B. Send the man a bill for the two missed sessions and close the case. C. Inform the court of the client's noncompliance with treatment. D. Call the man and reschedule the appointments. Rationale: A is the best answer because the social worker should first ensure that the client knows and understands the conditions set by the court. B and C may both have to be done at a later point, but not before the social worker attempts to inform the client of the consequences of her actions. D is not the best answer because it may enable a dysfunctional pattern and go against the conditions set by the court. A client with a diagnosis of major depression meets with a social worker. The client reports that she has been in treatment many times before, but says, "my depression has never gotten any better." While developing the treatment plan, the client agrees with the social worker's suggested objectives saying, "I will do anything to make this go away." To develop a realistic treatment plan, the social worker should FIRST: A. Ensure the client's understanding of the treatment process. B. Help the client identify barriers to success in previous treatment attempts. C. Suggest that the client set her own objectives. D. Discuss evidenced-based treatment protocols for major depressive disorder. Rationale: B is the best answer because it is the most effective way to improve the chances of success in this treatment relationship. A, C, and D may all be part of the treatment planning process, but would not be done before the therapist understands the barriers to previous attempts at treatment. A 6-year-old girl and her mother meet with a social worker for an initial evaluation. The mother reports that her daughter has been wetting her bed nightly, which started after she returned from a week-long visit with his father. The girl tells the social worker that her father hit her with a newspaper, refused to give her any food other than dinner, and insisted on sleeping in the bed with her. The social worker should: A. Assume that the client's mother is coaching her to strengthen her custody case. B. Suggest that the mother speak with the father to investigate her daughter's claims. C. Make a report of suspected child abuse. D. Assist the child in safety planning for the next visit. Rationale: C is the best answer because suspected child abuse must be reported immediately to the appropriate authorities. A, B, and D all neglect the social worker's duty as a mandated reporter.