LMSW Practice Test

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Prepare for the LMSW Exam with confidence. Engage in comprehensive quizzes and multiple-choice questions designed specifically for social work licensure. Enhance your knowledge and skills with explanations and study tips. Get ready to ace your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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What principle should guide a social worker's action when dealing with a client involved in an affair with another client's spouse during a contentious divorce proceeding?

Both clients are equal and the worker should treat each as a separate situation that requires its own clinical strategy.
If the worker believes there is a clear conflict of interest, she should terminate one of the clients and refer her elsewhere, after fully discussing the issue with her.
The worker should bring both clients together to determine their motivation for involving her in this awkward situation.
The worker should seek clinical supervision.

The correct answer is: Both clients are equal and the worker should treat each as a separate situation that requires its own clinical strategy.

The principle that should guide the social worker's actions in this situation revolves around the recognition and management of potential conflicts of interest, along with the need to uphold professional ethical standards. The correct approach involves acknowledging the complexity of the relationships and ensuring that each client’s needs are addressed in an appropriate manner. By treating each client as a separate situation, the social worker can develop tailored strategies that respect both individuals without compromising professional integrity. This approach allows for an objective assessment of each client's circumstances while maintaining confidentiality and minimizing the risk of bias. Furthermore, addressing each case individually fosters a safe environment for both clients to share their concerns and perspectives. The other options suggest approaches that might overlook the ethical responsibility to both clients or could potentially create additional conflict or discomfort. Terminating one of the clients without due consideration might neglect the complexities of their situations, while bringing both clients together could exacerbate the tension and may not be beneficial for either party. Seeking clinical supervision is valuable but should not be the primary guiding principle over the immediate need to effectively understand and manage the relationships with each client involved in the affair.