Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Practice Exam

How should a social worker handle a situation where emotions escalate within a family session?

1. Redirect the conversation to more neutral topics

2. Encourage open expression of feelings among family members

3. Set strict rules about communication

4. Dismiss emotional responses as irrelevant

The correct answer is: Encourage open expression of feelings among family members

Encouraging open expression of feelings among family members is a crucial component of effective family therapy. This approach allows individuals to voice their emotions and concerns, which can lead to better understanding among family members. By facilitating a safe space for emotional expression, the social worker helps the family to process their feelings, validate each other's experiences, and enhance their emotional connection. When families are in a heightened emotional state, it is important to recognize and acknowledge those emotions rather than suppress or redirect them. This practice not only fosters healthy communication but also encourages members to address underlying issues, promoting healing and resolution dysfunctions within the family dynamic. By actively encouraging this expression, the social worker supports emotional processing and helps the family work through their conflicts in a constructive manner. The other options, while may contain elements of truth in certain contexts, do not prioritize the validation and expression of emotions as foundational to the therapeutic process. Redirecting the conversation to neutral topics may avoid immediate conflict but does not address the underlying issues. Setting strict rules about communication can feel restrictive and stifle the open dialogue needed in such a situation. Dismissing emotional responses as irrelevant completely undermines individuals' feelings and can lead to further escalation and breakdown of trust within the family unit.