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

What should a therapist first do if a client presents a list of problems related to anxiety?

1. Refer the client for a psychiatric evaluation

2. Help the client identify and prioritize treatment objectives

3. Validate the client's feelings of anxiety

4. Suggest self-help strategies

The correct answer is: Help the client identify and prioritize treatment objectives

When a client presents a list of problems related to anxiety, helping the client identify and prioritize treatment objectives is a crucial initial step. This process allows the therapist to understand the client's most pressing concerns and to collaboratively set specific goals for therapy. It also empowers the client, making them an active participant in their treatment plan. Engaging in this prioritization encourages the client to articulate what they feel is most important to address first, which fosters a sense of agency and helps set a clear direction for therapy. It also aids the therapist in focusing on the areas that will likely yield the most significant benefit for the client, thereby enhancing the therapeutic process. While validating the client’s feelings of anxiety is important for building rapport and ensuring the client feels heard, it does not directly contribute to the structuring of a treatment plan. Similarly, suggesting self-help strategies and referring for a psychiatric evaluation may be appropriate actions in the future, but these do not address the immediate need to collaboratively establish priorities in therapy. Addressing treatment objectives at the outset lays a solid foundation for ongoing therapeutic work.