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

When a client reveals a long-term affair but requests confidentiality, what should the therapist do next?

1. Explore the reasons for the affair

2. Encourage the client to disclose to their partner

3. Assess the impact of the affair on treatment

4. Confront the client about their behavior

The correct answer is: Assess the impact of the affair on treatment

The most appropriate course of action is to assess the impact of the affair on treatment. This option is correct because understanding how the affair affects the client's mental health and progression in therapy allows the therapist to tailor their approach according to the client's needs and the therapeutic goals. Assessing the impact involves exploring how the affair affects the client's emotional state, relationships, self-esteem, and any underlying issues that may have contributed to the infidelity. This assessment can provide crucial insights into the reasons behind the affair and can guide the therapist in making informed decisions about treatment interventions. It also respects the client's request for confidentiality while still seeking to address the complexities of their situation, which could ultimately enable more effective counseling. Exploring the reasons for the affair may be important but is secondary to understanding its impact, as that directs the therapeutic focus and ensures that interventions remain relevant and helpful. Encouraging the client to disclose to their partner can create ethical dilemmas and may not prioritize the client's readiness or the therapeutic relationship. Confronting the client about their behavior might lead to defensiveness, which could hinder the therapeutic alliance and progress. Therefore, assessing the impact is the most supportive and constructive way to proceed in this scenario.