Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Therapist Development Center Practice Exam

What is the main focus when working with adult clients from violent relationships?

1. Rebuilding their relationships with family

2. Providing emotional support and safety planning

3. Directing them to group interventions

4. Encouraging separation from all relationships

The correct answer is: Providing emotional support and safety planning

The primary focus when working with adult clients from violent relationships is to provide emotional support and safety planning. This approach recognizes the immediate needs of clients who have experienced violence, emphasizing the importance of their emotional wellbeing and their physical safety. By establishing a supportive environment, therapists can help clients process their experiences, validate their feelings, and build a sense of empowerment. Safety planning is particularly crucial, as it equips clients with strategies to protect themselves and navigate their circumstances effectively. This plan may include identifying safe places to go, establishing an emergency contact, and strategizing on how to leave a violent relationship if necessary. While rebuilding relationships with family, directing clients to group interventions, or encouraging separation from all relationships may have their place in therapy, they do not address the immediate needs for safety and emotional support as effectively as prioritizing emotional wellbeing and safety planning does. This approach ensures that clients are supported and equipped to make informed decisions about their lives and relationships moving forward.