Blog | SWTP

Apr

13

How to Effectively Prepare for the Human Growth and Development Section of the ASWB Exam

April 13, 2023 | knowledge

There’s an enormous amount of information to get a handle on to pass the exam. Happily, it’s divided into sections. Here, we look at the Human Growth and Development section and how to get yourself ready to pass questions in that topic area.

knowledge

Jan

13

The principles and techniques for building and maintaining a helping relationship (ASWB Exam Content Spotlight)

January 13, 2023 | knowledge

Here's a wordy item from the ASWB content outline. Among the knowledge, skills, and abilities the exam aims to assess. Do you know the principles and techniques for building and maintaining a helping relationship?

knowledge

Jan

03

Characteristics of Perpetrators of Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (ASWB Exam Content Spotlight)

January 3, 2023 | knowledge

The ASWB exam content outline has this broad topic area: Characteristics of Perpetrators of Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation. We asked ChatGPT-an artificial intelligence machine--for a post on the topic.

knowledge

Dec

23

Person-in-Environment (PIE) Theory (ASWB Exam Content Spotlight)

December 23, 2022 | knowledge

Person-in-Environment (PIE) theory is a holistic approach to social work practice that recognizes the importance of both individual and environmental factors in understanding a person's well-being and behavior.

knowledge

Oct

25

New NASW Code of Ethics Updates

October 25, 2021 | ethics | knowledge

The NASW has updated the Code of Ethics, its essential guide to social work practice and a hefty part of the social work licensing exam. Changes for 2020 and 2021 are highlighted here.

ethics | knowledge

Sep

20

Community Organizing and the Social Work Exam

September 20, 2021 | practice | knowledge

Social workers are not permitted to talk about what they encountered on the ASWB exam and we never ask. Which is how it should be. The social work exam changes fairly regularly.

practice | knowledge

Apr

07

NASW Ethics 8

April 7, 2020 | ethics | knowledge

Here's a series of articles via the NASW, each tackling another ethics issue (in eight bullet points): Ethics 8. Read through and imagine that you're an exam question writer on the hunt for a new question subject.

ethics | knowledge

Oct

04

Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders

October 4, 2019 | knowledge | DSM | practice

Let's take a look at the Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders chapter of the DSM. How do you distinguish the diagnosis from one another? This could come in handy on the licensing exam. First, the criteria.

knowledge | DSM | practice

Sep

16

ASWB Exam Practice - "You two are really good are arguing."

September 16, 2019 | practice | knowledge

Here's a free practice question to help get you ready to pass the ASWB exam. A couple has been meeting with a social worker for three weeks. They report wanting to work on their marriage.

practice | knowledge

Jul

11

Pod Save Your ASWB Exam Prep

July 11, 2019 | knowledge | audio

We used to blognounce every time a new episode of the Social Work Podcast came out. Now, instead of all those posts, you get a once-in-a-while reminder about all the exam-prep-friendly free content that the podcast has in its archives.

knowledge | audio

Jun

17

ASWB Exam Pratice—Erikson’s Stages

June 17, 2019 | practice | knowledge

Here's a quick practice question to keep you on your toes. A man brings his 16-year-old son to a therapy appointment to have him assessed for depression. His son has started wearing black and has dyed his blond hair black.

practice | knowledge

Feb

19

What's the difference between schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder?

February 19, 2019 | knowledge | DSM | practice

They sound alike and look alike. They're not the same thing. Here's how to tell the difference between schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. The DSM devotes a chapter to Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders.

knowledge | DSM | practice

Feb

12

What's the Difference Between Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa?

February 12, 2019 | knowledge | DSM | practice

Given the similarities between bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa, binge-eating/purging type, there's room for confusion when making a diagnosis, whether on the ASWB exam or in real life. Let's take a look at what the DSM says about each.

knowledge | DSM | practice

Aug

05

Name That Defense Mechanism

August 5, 2016 | knowledge | quiz

Here's a quick quiz that should help you lock down your ease with defense mechanism. What are defense mechanisms?

knowledge | quiz

Apr

13

Generalized Anxiety Disorder and the Social Work Exam

April 13, 2016 | knowledge | DSM

The theme lately has been anxiety disorders. Let's continue now with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Criteria for GAD are pretty straightforward: A.

knowledge | DSM

Apr

07

Panic Disorder and the Social Work Exam

April 7, 2016 | knowledge | DSM | practice

Your client reports occasional "freak outs" during which she experiences: 1. Palpitations 2. Sweating 3. Trembling 4. Shortness of breath 5. Choking feelings 6. Chest pain 7. Nausea 8. Dizziness 9. Chills 10. Numbness 11. Feelings of unreality 12.

knowledge | DSM | practice

Apr

02

Social Anxiety Disorder and the Social Work Exam

April 2, 2016 | knowledge | DSM

Social anxiety disorder aka SAD aka social phobia is one of those diagnoses, like OCD or PTSD, that many people use casually to describe non-clinical symptoms (eg, "I really don't want to go to that party, my social phobia's kicking in.

knowledge | DSM

Mar

09

The Patient Self-Determination Act and the Social Work Exam

March 9, 2016 | knowledge

The Patient Self-Determination Act of 1990 directly affects social work clients and social work practice (and social work paperwork). Among other things, it made advance directives a required part of health care. Cancer.

knowledge

Mar

08

The ADA and the Social Work Exam

March 8, 2016 | knowledge

We continue our survey of social work exam-relevant federal policy. Next up, the Americans with Disabilities Act. Here's some background from ADA.

knowledge

Mar

07

The Indian Child Welfare Act and the Social Work Exam

March 7, 2016 | knowledge

So much of the social work exam is taken up with practice questions--ethics, diagnosis, and the like-- it's easy to forget another giant part of the social work: policy. We'll take a look at some essentials over a series of posts.

knowledge

Aug

01

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

August 1, 2015 | knowledge | DSM

Here begins a series of quick posts highlighting big diagnostic changes that appear in DSM-5. First up for spotlighting: Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD).

knowledge | DSM

Jul

08

HIPAA and the Social Work Exam

July 8, 2015 | knowledge | quiz

Here's something you can reasonably expect to see covered on the social work licensing exam: the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, HIPAA for short.

knowledge | quiz

Apr

01

Maslow for the Social Work Exam

April 1, 2015 | knowledge | theory

It's Abraham Maslow's birthday (4/1). Happy Birthday, Maslow! It's as good a time as any to review Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Picture it as a big, pyramidal birthday cake, if that helps you get them understood.

knowledge | theory

Mar

30

Social Work Case Presentations

March 30, 2015 | knowledge

If you take ASWB exam content outlines to heart, you've got a lot of information to learn before sitting for the social work licensing exam. The outlines (available at aswb.org--

knowledge

Feb

25

Knowing Bowlby

February 25, 2015 | knowledge

How are you on John Bowlby? Knowing some basic Bowlby is wise as you approach the social work licensing exam. Good news: it's relatively simple, and probably already built in to your understanding of how people work.

knowledge

Jan

29

Social Work Exam Resource: Wiki Psychology

January 29, 2015 | knowledge

Once upon a time--just a few years back--there was no difficulty locating people who frowned upon using Wikipedia as a reliable source of information. "Crowd-sourced" seemed to equal "iffy." Things change fast.

knowledge

Jan

20

Residential Treatment and the Social Work Exam

January 20, 2015 | knowledge

If you've been taking social work licensing exam practice questions, you've no doubt encountered items that require you to know when reporting and hospitalization are required.

knowledge

Aug

04

Jean Piaget and the Social Work Exam

August 4, 2014 | knowledge

August 9th is Jean Piaget's birthday. Consider marking the occasion by brushing up on the parts of Piaget's work that you might encounter on the social work licensing exam. Here's About.

knowledge

Jul

07

Interpersonal Psychotherapy and the Social Work Exam

July 7, 2014 | knowledge | theory

What is Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)? We could go into some detail, but then Wikipedia has it laid out so nicely, why waste your time?

knowledge | theory

Jun

18

Defense Mechanisms and the Social Work Exam

June 18, 2014 | knowledge | theory

One way to anticipate what may appear on the social work licensing exam is to think what you might write as a question if the task fell to you.

knowledge | theory

May

27

The Transtheoretical Model and the Social Work Exam

May 27, 2014 | knowledge | theory

While the social work exam may not refer to the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), there's a pretty good chance you'll encounter an exam question about the Stages of Change.

knowledge | theory

May

22

Bowenian Family Therapy and the Social Work Exam

May 22, 2014 | knowledge | theory

Murray Bowen is credited by some with generating a wholly new way of thinking about human behavior. That new way: Family Systems Theory, put into action as Bowenian Famliy Therapy.

knowledge | theory

May

18

Person-Centered Therapy and the Social Work Exam

May 18, 2014 | knowledge

Person-Centered Therapy (sometimes PCT) is the default setting for the majority of psychotherapists practicing today.

knowledge

May

14

Crisis Intervention and the Social Work Exam

May 14, 2014 | knowledge | theory

While touring various theories and interventions that may come up on the social work exam, don't forget to take some time for something that you can be fairly certain to encounter on the big test (and in social work practice): crisis intervention.

knowledge | theory

May

12

Solution-Focused Therapy and the Social Work Exam

May 12, 2014 | knowledge

Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT; also Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, SFBT) got a mention a couple of posts ago, but deserves some space of its own--it's not unheard of for SFT to show up on the social work licensing exam. What's SFT?

knowledge

May

08

Existential Therapy and the Social Work Exam

May 8, 2014 | knowledge | theory

Did you have to read The Stranger or maybe some Sartre in school? If so, you know something about existentialism. If not, or if you need brushing up, here's Merriam-

knowledge | theory

May

05

Gestalt Therapy and the Social Work Exam

May 5, 2014 | knowledge | theory

Once you've got down the basics--CBT, DBT, psychodynamic therapy, and the like--you're ready to dig deeper in your licensing exam prep. That means you'll be putting together knowledge about material that may not actually appear on the exam.

knowledge | theory

May

03

Psychodynamic Therapy and the Social Work Exam

May 3, 2014 | knowledge | theory

For most vignette questions on the social work licensing exam where a client presents with a problem and the social worker needs to choose the BEST intervention, you'll be given a choice between something here-and-now, problem-

knowledge | theory

Apr

21

DBT and the Social Work Exam

April 21, 2014 | knowledge | theory

Here's another therapy you shouldn't be surprised to see appear on the social work licensing exam: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). What's DBT? Here are some quick answers to that question--

knowledge | theory

Apr

08

CBT and the Social Work Exam

April 8, 2014 | knowledge | theory

A good general guideline for the social work licensing exam: "When in doubt, it's CBT." Why? Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is research validated therapy practice. That is, it works--studies say so.

knowledge | theory

Mar

19

Social Work Exam Resource: Human Development Theory

March 19, 2014 | knowledge

Part of effective prepping for the social work licensing exam is gauging just how much is necessary to know about a given topic to get through the test. There's so much information that can potentially end up on the exam.

knowledge

Dec

02

Social Workers and Subpoenas

December 2, 2013 | knowledge

You can cross your fingers through your entire social work career and hope to never receive a subpoena. But that's a lot of finger-crossing, and finger-crossing's unlikely to help you on the social work licensing exam.

knowledge

Oct

13

Salvador Minuchin for Social Workers

October 13, 2013 | knowledge

Posting on Salvador Minuchin's birthday (October 13th). A good day for brushing up on Structural Family Therapy for the social work exam.

knowledge

Oct

10

Behavioral Psych and the Social Work Exam

October 10, 2013 | knowledge | quiz

The principles of behavioral psychology are easy to learn...and just as easy to confuse or forget.

knowledge | quiz

Oct

02

Kohlberg and the Social Work Exam

October 2, 2013 | knowledge

Worth reviewing for the social work licensing exam, Lawrence Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development. Pick your source--they all say more-or-less the same thing: from SimplyPsych from Wikipedia from About Here's Wikipedia's version: Level 1 (Pre-

knowledge

Sep

19

Erik Erikson and the Social Work Exam

September 19, 2013 | knowledge | quiz

Here's more material you may have known for a moment in school and then forgotten: Erik Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development. Now worth reviewing as you prepare for the social work licensing exam. About.

knowledge | quiz

Sep

13

Freud and the Social Work Exam

September 13, 2013 | knowledge

Via AllPsych.

knowledge

Sep

05

Mental Disorders from A to Z

September 5, 2013 | materials | knowledge

The Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders offers quick definitions of psych concepts from the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (not on the exam) to Zolpidem (a med also not likely to show on the exam).

materials | knowledge

Jul

24

Encyclopedia of Social Work Online

July 24, 2013 | knowledge

The NASW and Oxford University Press have launched a new, online Encyclopedia of Social Work. It's not clear what access will cost, but the whole site is free through August, 2013. Great for free social work exam prepping for now.

knowledge

Jul

02

Ethical Decision-Making in Social Work

July 2, 2013 | knowledge | ethics

Looking for more guidance about social work ethics? Here's a textbook, Ethical Decision-Making in Social Work, by Wade Robison and Linda Cherrey Reeser, posted in its entirety by the Rochester Institute of Technology. No charge.

knowledge | ethics

Jun

28

Erikson, Piaget, and Kohlberg Stages

June 28, 2013 | knowledge

From UsefulCharts.com, here are Erikson, Piaget, and Kohlberg's stages laid out and photo-accompanied for your exam prepping needs.

knowledge

Feb

05

LCSW Exam Help

February 5, 2013 | knowledge

Load up on exam-friendly psych knowledge at Simply Psychology. The site includes entries about psych basics and beyond from A (Abnormal Psychology) to Z (Zone of Proximal Development).

knowledge

Jan

17

Understanding Attachment Theory

January 17, 2013 | knowledge | video | theory

Attachment in eight minutes: Find more helpful video on SWTP's YouTube channel. Too long; didn't watch?

knowledge | video | theory

Jan

14

Psychology 101

January 14, 2013 | knowledge | quiz

Looking for free review of the psych basics that might be covered on the social work exam? You could do much worse than the Psychology 101 course offered on AllPsych.com.

knowledge | quiz

Jan

13

Motivational Interviewing

January 13, 2013 | knowledge

Good to know for the exam: Motivational Interviewing. A definition from SAMHSA's quick training pages: [A] collaborative, person-centered form of guiding to elicit and strengthen motivation for change.

knowledge

Jan

12

Family Systems Therapy

January 12, 2013 | knowledge

Everything you ever wanted to know about Family Systems Therapy (or may need to know to help you pass the ASWB exam) is here (Psychology Today).

knowledge

Dec

13

Studying for the Social Work Exam

December 13, 2012 | aswb | knowledge

Or just check out this best ways to study for the social work exam list: Start early. The earlier you start studying, the more time you will have to cover the material and the less stressed you will feel. Create a study schedule.

aswb | knowledge

Dec

02

Code of Ethics: Confidentiality

December 2, 2012 | knowledge

Section 1.07 of the NASW Code of Ethics--Privacy and Confidentiality. Know it, learn it, exam it. It begins like this: (a) Social workers should respect clients' right to privacy.

knowledge

Sep

17

LCSW Study Buddy

September 17, 2010 | knowledge

A welcome to new social work exam blog, LCSW Study Buddy. Just a handful of posts up as of this writing, but useful stuff and made fun, as in this post looking at ego defenses as exemplified by Friends characters. From there: Intellectualization --

knowledge

Mar

04

Code of Ethics: Physical Contact

March 4, 2010 | knowledge

You may get a "hug" question on the social work exam. Let the Code of Ethics be your guide: 1.

knowledge

Feb

15

Code of Ethics: Social and Political Action

February 15, 2010 | knowledge

For your Presidents Day review, section 6.04 of the NASW's Code of Ethics, "Social and Political Action.

knowledge

Jan

28

Code of Ethics: Payment for Services

January 28, 2010 | knowledge

Another test-prep helping code of ethics section for your review: Payment for Services. 1.13 Payment for Services (a) When setting fees, social workers should ensure that the fees are fair, reasonable, and commensurate with the services performed.

knowledge

Jan

25

Informed Consent

January 25, 2010 | knowledge

Not a fill-in-the-blank, not a multiple choice, just an excerpt, 'cause you need to know this. Section 1.03 of the Code of Ethics: Informed Consent.

knowledge

Nov

10

Glossary of Psychiatric Terms

November 10, 2009 | knowledge

On Wikipedia, here's a glossary of psychiatric terms, from abreaction to zoophilia. May come in handy. Abreaction, by the way, is--says Wikipedia--a process of vividly reliving repressed memories and emotions related to a past event.

knowledge

Aug

05

IED v. AAB v. APD

August 5, 2009 | knowledge

Sorting through the DSM alphabet: Intermittent Explosive Disorder Intermittent explosive disorder is characterized by repeated episodes of aggressive, violent behavior in which you react grossly out of proportion to the situation.

knowledge

Aug

05

DSM-IV Training Guide

August 5, 2009 | knowledge

Hey, check it out. DSM help in a book. Exam-prep-o-riffic. Happy browsing... UPDATE: Here's DSM-5 help via the same source. The ASWB exam assesses social workers' knowledge and understanding of the DSM.

knowledge

Jul

31

Primary Insomnia

July 31, 2009 | knowledge

Via emedicine: Primary insomnia is sleeplessness that is not attributable to a medical, psychiatric, or environmental cause. Case study A 56-year-old woman reports difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.

knowledge

Jul

21

Social Work Exam Review

July 21, 2009 | knowledge

Rereading some old material as prep for exam #2, jotted down a list of stuff I'd half-forgotten or just plain didn't know any more. Follow links to (more complete) defs. Echolalia is the repetition of vocalizations made by another person.

knowledge

May

12

Bipolar I, II, and Cyclothymia

May 12, 2009 | knowledge

Gotta know 'em. Wikipedia is happy to help. It's helpful to draw out a little grid with the whole gang of mood swings: MDD (big down), Dysthymia (medium down, 2+ years), Bipolar I (big up), Bipolar II (medium up), Cyclothymia (medium swings).

knowledge

May

08

Major Depression v. Dysthymia

May 8, 2009 | knowledge

Differential of the day, MDD v. Dysthymia. From the EofMDs: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a condition characterized by a long-lasting depressed mood or marked loss of interest or pleasure (anhedonia) in all or nearly all activities.

knowledge

May

05

OCD v. OCPD

May 5, 2009 | knowledge

To know: the difference between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder. Take it away, Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders... Obsessive-compulsive disorder Obsessive-

knowledge

Apr

28

Dementia v. Delirium

April 28, 2009 | knowledge

Something to know: The difference between dementia and delirium. Dementia (according to the Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders): ...is not a specific disorder or disease.

knowledge

Apr

19

Somatization Disorder

April 19, 2009 | knowledge

From the practice tests to the Wiki of the day: Somatization Disorder. The criteria--pulled from the Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders--

knowledge

Apr

15

Identity Problem

April 15, 2009 | knowledge | vignette

This came up running vignette practice questions. What exactly is an Identity Problem in the DSM? An answer: Identity Problems are characterized by severe distress and uncertainty about issues related to identity, such as long-

knowledge | vignette

Mar

06

Teen Reporting CA

March 6, 2009 | knowledge

LCSW bound (meaning licensed in California)? You need to know this stuff. Here, for everyone else USA, are the reporting numbers and websites nationwide. ALWAYS REPORTABLE:• Under 18 (14-17 years)1.

knowledge

Mar

01

Delusions of...

March 1, 2009 | knowledge | quiz

knowledge | quiz

Feb

16

Quiz: Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development

February 16, 2009 | knowledge | quiz

Quick quiz: Name the three levels in Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development (via Wikipedia). Answer in Comments. Level 1: ______________1. Obedience and punishment orientation(How can I avoid punishment?)2. Self-

knowledge | quiz

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