Social Work Examination Services (SWES) Individual Practice Test

In the initial phase of treatment, what is the primary task of the social worker?

1. Understand why the client is seeking help

2. Establish treatment goals collaboratively

3. Assess the client's past mental health history

4. Develop a crisis intervention plan

The correct answer is: Understand why the client is seeking help

In the initial phase of treatment, the primary task of the social worker is to understand why the client is seeking help. This foundational step is crucial because it involves active listening and engagement with the client’s concerns and motivations for seeking assistance. By doing so, the social worker gains insight into the issues affecting the client and can build a trusting therapeutic relationship. Understanding the client's perspective also helps to identify their needs and expectations, which are vital for any subsequent treatment planning and intervention. Establishing treatment goals collaboratively and assessing past mental health history are indeed important tasks that occur later in the treatment process. These tasks hinge on the insights gained during the initial phase. Developing a crisis intervention plan is a specific response to immediate needs and may be necessary, but it assumes a certain level of understanding of the client's situation that is typically addressed in the early discussions. Hence, focusing on understanding the reasons for the client's help-seeking behavior lays the groundwork for all future steps in treatment.