Archive for January 2014

Exam DSM: Anxiety Disorders

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Anxiety disorders make up a huge part of what social workers see in clinical settings (and out of them, for that matter). It's a good bet that you'll see questions covering anxiety disorders on the social work licensing exam. Remember, you don't need to know every detail about each anxiety disorder--especially the more obscure details. But why not enter the exam (and work...and life) armed with a basic knowledge of how they're categorized, diagnosed, and treated. Sounds more complicated than it is. For example: category: OCD, dx: symptoms (obsessions, compulsions), tx: CBT, exposure, etc.  Here are some places on the web to do some anxiety brushing up:

Exam DSM: Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF)

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Have you had to "GAF" someone in your clinical work? If so, great, you're ready for an Axis V question if it comes up on the social work licensing exam. If  not, you can get up to speed very quickly.  Just take a look at the scale, posted and explained on these sites and others


What number would you give yourself today? When you were at your worst? At your best? How about someone you know or know of who is really struggling--no work, few friends, addiction... Where would they land if you were called to assign them a number on the Global Assessment of Functioning scale.

It can feel odd for social workers to have to label a client with such a definitive-sounding measure. Social workers are generally looking to remove labels and to avoid pathologizing clients. But the GAF is part of the DSM and part of clinical social work practice, especially when insurance companies are involved. And so it's part of the knowledge you might reasonably be expected to have as you arrive at exam day. You probably won't be expected to know exactly what a given number means, but just to have a general sense of how the GAF works, what's high, what's low, what's what. If you've read through once, now you do!

Exam DSM: Personality Disorders

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The DSM is huge. There's way too much information in there for you to have completely memorized, or to come even close. Wiser thing to do as you're approaching the social work licensing exam, try imagining what you'd do if you were writing the exam.

What diagnoses are crucial to know about for carrying out day-to-day social work? Is it really important that every social worker have a handle on every obscure diagnosis? Not really. If something unfamiliar presents itself, they can look it up. Better that they are familiar with the diagnoses that most commonly turn up in social work settings. You know the ones: mood disorders, substance abuse disorders, psychotic disorders, disorders particular to specific groups (e.g., children and the elderly). And, of course, the focus of the links below, personality disorders. You know these when you see them; here are some places to brush up on the details:
Enjoy and good luck on the exam!

Social Work Exam Resource: Best in Mental Health

4:47 AM 0
Trying to catch up with the social work past as your prepping for the social work licensing exam may feel daunting. One way to take a break while still (sort of ) preparing for the test is to try to catch up with the social work present. What're people up to in the field right now?

There are journals and websites aplenty out there aiming to answer that question. Happily, Dorlee M., LMSW, is out there compiling a weekly best-of, summarizing contents, and generally making it easier for you to stay fresh on the latest social work happenings. She titles her posts "Best in Mental Health." They even have their own catch phrase: "I'm watching twitter, google+ and the web so you don't have to..."

You never know what might help you speed through a question on the ASWB exam. Every little bit of acceleration helps!  Enjoy.

Happy New Year

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Happy New Year from Pass the ASWB Exam! If you're the resolution-making type, hope you'll include setting aside some study time to get prepped for the big, four-hour licensing sit-down. The exam doesn't have to eat up your life, but it'll try to take a bite. Then, soon enough, it'll be over. This time next year, you're licensed!

Below are the site's most visited posts since launching in the spring. Thanks to everyone who has stopped by. Congratulations to all the now-licensed social workers who've gotten help here and to all of those facing down the social work exam in 2014!

 
 
 
 
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