This page is intended to help Social Workers who are in course of taking up their graduate or licensing exam. It contains information collected and compiled from public domain, personal experience in working towards the exam,information regarding the subjects and tips.This page is created with the help of my guardian angel to help others who feel lost and a personal experience of a God centered person who enters SW profession
Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary, never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thine intercession was never left unaided. inspired by this confidence i fly unto thee O virgin of virgins. To thee do i come , before thee i stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the word incarnate, despise not my petitions but hear and answer me. - Amen
The most important thing to note is the differential diagnosis of Psychotic disorders. You may write them down as you read and understand it and stick the paper in your room to go through before bed daily or whenever you could.
CT seeks to help the patients overcome the difficulties by identifying and changing dysfunctional thinking, behavior and emotional responses. This involves skills for :
modifying beliefs
identifying distorted thinking related to others
changing behaviors
CT recognizes 10 common faulty patterns of thinking which are known as cognitive distortions. They are below:
if you don't want to spend time on video, here you go
Another important concept in CT include automatic thoughts and schemas.
Methods used in CT
1. Collaborative empiricism
2. guided discovery/socratic questioning
Guided discovery is based on asking a series of questions that allows information to be brought into the client’s awareness. The client is therefore encouraged to discover things for herself. Guided discovery is sometimes also known interchangeably as Socratic questioning as it is derived from the method of teaching employed by Socrates, as recorded in the Socratic Dialogues (Cooper, 1997). This consisted of asking questions, which then promoted reflection, which in turn produced knowledge. These terms are often used interchangeably, which can be misleading. Socrates tended to know exactly where he was going with his questions, which is not a necessity for guided discovery, as detailed below. Originally, Socratic questioning involved a questioning style similar to that of a cross-examination (Sieple, 1985). Repetitive questioning was used to force people to admit their ignorance (Nelson, 1980). This would often result in humiliation of the client (Chessick, 1982).
ref ; http://www.priory.com/psychiatry/guided_therapy.htm
key word : intentional production or feigning of physical or psychological signs or symptoms, the motivation for the behavior is to assume sick role. external incentives for behavior are absent.
key phrase : psychological response to an identifiable "stressor"
the emotional or behavioral symptom must develop within 3 months from the onset of the stressor and symptoms do not persist for more than additional 6 months time once the stressor has been terminated. do not represent bereavement
This includes Behavior therapy techniques as well as REBT and CBT techniques since the later was developed from the former.
1. Bio feedback
is the process of gaining greater awareness of many physiological functions primarily using instruments that provide information on the activity of those same systems with the goal of being able to manipulate them at WILL . Bio feedback may be used to improve health, performance and the physiological changes which often occur in conjunction with change to thoughts, emotions and behavior.
2. contingency contracts
a document that specifies a contingent relationship between the completion of a specific behavior and the access to the specified reinforcer
3. extinction
eradicating undesirable behavior is called extinction.
4. Over-correction
In behaviour modificationovercorrection is a psychotherapeutic technique involving the repetition of appropriate behavior after the occurence of an unwanted behavior. This is based on the principle of overlearning.
It is particularly used when teaching people with intellectual disabilities.
The word assertiveness is used to describe behaviour which helps us to communicate clearly our WANTS, NEEDS and FEELINGS to other people without abusing their rights as human beings. It is not about 'getting what you want' all the time, but about negotiating life without constant anxiety or lack of self-confidence, It is an alternative to aggressive, passive or manipulative behaviour.
12. systematic desensitization
Systematic desensitization is a type of behavioral therapy based on the principle of classical conditioning. It was developed by Wolpe during the 1950s.
This therapy aims to remove the fear response of a phobia, and substitute a relaxation response to the conditional stimulus gradually using counter conditioning.
this is used as a distinct process while using systematic desensitization for treating anxiety phobias OCD and further more. Relaxation produces physiological effects opposite to anxiety.
14. differential reinforcement
15. vicarious conditioning
The learning of various attitudes, feelings, beliefs and emotions, not through direct exposure to a stimulus, but through observing how others react to it. For example, the child becomes afraid of an animal after watching an older sibling or parent show signs of verbal and nonverbal aversion and fear of this same animal.
16. Modeling
a method used in certain techniques of psychotherapy whereby the client learns by imitation alone, without any specific verbal direction by the therapist
17. Proselytizing - sharing the approach with others
18. Re framing - viewing a problem from a different perspective, which gives it a different meaning This is another strategy for getting bad events into perspective. One way to reframe events is to reevaluate them as 'disappointing', 'concerning', or 'uncomfortable' rather than 'awful' or 'unbearable'. Another way is to see that even negative events almost always have a positive side to them, listing all the positives you can think of. ref : http://www.testandcalc.com/Self_Defeating_Beliefs/sup9.asp
19. Bibiliotherapy - psycho-educational assignments but also reading assignments
20. Stop and Monitor - establish cues to stop and monitor the process throughout the day (technique used in REBT )
21. in vivo desentitization - a form of systematic desensitization where the client is systematically exposed to the phobic stimulus rather than made to imagine being exposed to the phobic stimulus.
22. rational emotive imagery
it is a form of intense mental practice designed to establish new emotional patterns by making the clinets imagine themselves the worst thing that could happen, unhealthy and upset feelings, intense experience of feelings and changing them to healthy and positive feelings. As clients change their feelings about adversities, they stand a better chance of changing their behavior.
23. Role playing and reverse role playing
Role-playing is a technique that allows the client opportunities to imitate the modeled behaviors, which strengthens what has been learned. Role-play can be defined as practice or behavior rehearsal; it allows the client to receive feedback about the practice as well as encouraging the use of the newly learned skill in real-life situations. For example, a group of people who are trying to learn social skills might practice the skills needed for a job interview or for dealing with a minor problem (returning a defective item to a store, asking someone for directions, etc.). Role-play can also be used for modeling, in that the therapist may role-play certain situations with clients. During practice, the therapist frequently coaches, prompts, and shapes the client's enactment of the behavior so that the rehearsals can come increasingly close to the desired behavior.
24. forceful coping statements
it is a way to help clients to go from intellectual to emotional insight. clients are shown how to conduct forceful dialogues by reverse role playing in which therapist adopts the clients beliefs and vigorously argues for it. while the client tries to convince the therapist that the belief is dysfunctional.
25. Reciprocal inhibition :
In psychology, reciprocal inhibition is a form of behavioral therapy in which a desired behavioral response is repeatedly carried out in the presence of a stimulus that normally triggers an undesired response. For example, a patient with a phobia of snakes might be repeatedly exposed to the presence of a snake, while practicing a deliberate relaxation procedure. The theory behind this type of reciprocal inhibition therapy is that, with sufficient repetition, the old, undesirable response can be unlearned, and a new behavioral pattern can be permanently established.
refusal to maintain ideal body weight 85% than expected by restrict or binge and purge
extreme fear of gaining weight though underweight
distorted perception of self : severely underweight but perceive obese and overweight
missing period : amenorrhea i.e missing 3 periods at least
Specifier
Restricting type - absence of purging or binge eating
Binge eating/purging type - induce vomiting
BULIMIA NERVOSA
criteria
presence of binge eat - more than a normal amount of food in short period of time and sense of lack of control over eating
inappropriate compensatory behavior
self evaluation unduly influenced by body shape and weight
Further more
Treatment
for those medical status not seriously undermined an outpatient setting is suffecient
for those who are seriously starving and life is at risk, forced hospitalization and in patient treatment is required along with group therapy, cognitive restructuring, nutritional counselling, individual intervention and family intervention
co existing conditions must be taken into account while planning for treatment, like substance abuse, obsessive compulsive behaviors, anxiety.
Reference :
DSM
Social Workers Desk Reference : Eating Disorders and treatment planning pg : 328
Behaviorism is very important to understand behavioral therapy. Its a theoretical construct to understand the whole perspective based on which various techniques were developed. Again its not just one theories or one theorist who can be associated with this. Its a whole school of thinkers and their approaches which has lead to the development of Behavioral Theory and further Therapy.
Preparation becomes tiring for many reasons...However this is not a mt.everest task for sure. In this 1 yr long journey of facing the exam let me jot down all that i've learnt from myself so it will help you know how better you can know yourself to plan in much better way.
If you have 1 year time to take your exam, never take your time for granted. collect the materials and plan according to the least amount of time you can spend on your preparation.
If you have 1 yr or 6 months or 3 months or even 1 month its still a time enough to conquer the exam. All you need is a sound plan and consistency to stick to it.
Divide the topics.compartmentalize the matter for better retention and recovery. Either you could divide the topics according to ASWB handbook, or divide according to study guides, or even your own topics but make sure you cover all that is mentioned by ASWB.
A simple blue print will help you have a right mind set to sit down to study. There is a minimum of 15 days in which if you could cover 15 theories, 15 class of disorders and 15 major therapeutic interventions you are half way through the ocean. That means 4 topics a day along with doing practice questions each day for 15 days, you have all major data in your head. Am sure everybody has more than 15 days of time :-)
Take books that cover the majority of the topics and read the content while tired of recalling information or doing practice tests. I would suggest Social Work Practice by Charles Zastrow, Social Work Desk Reference by Albert and Gilbert, The practice of Social Work by Louise C Johnson and DSM
So i have come now down from a one year to a 15 days plan...I would have planned and failed at least 10- 15 times in a year by now. crossing so much of hurdles...Now into 15 days plan, am going to create a label and blog under the title 15 days plan and how it goes..... Never give up :-) (feel funny inside)
Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) is based on the concept that emotions and behaviors result from cognitive processes; and that it is possible for human beings to modify such processes to achieve different ways of feeling and behaving. REBT is one of a number of therapies that come under the heading ‘cognitive-behavioural’.
Theory of Causation
REBT suggests that human beings defeat or ‘disturb’ themselves in two main ways: (1) by holding irrational beliefs about their ‘self’ (ego disturbance) or (2) by holding irrational beliefs about their emotional or physical comfort (discomfort disturbance). Frequently, the two go together – people may think irrationally about both their ‘selves’ and their circumstances – though one or the other will usually be predominant.
"Musterbations" or cognitive distortions according to REBT
Awfulizing
I cant stand it -thinking
damnation
all or nothing thinking
jumping to conclusions
fortune telling
focusing on the negative
ignoring the positive
Minimization
emotional reasoning
labeling and over generalization
personalizing
phonyism
perfectionism
Process of the therapy
engage the client
assess the person, problem and situation
prepare the client for therapy
implement the treatment program
Evaluate the progress
Techniques used in REBT
Cognitive techniques - rational analysis, double standard dispute, catastrophe scale, devil's advocate , re framing
Imagery techniques - time projection and blow up techniques
behavioral techniques - exposure, shame attacking, risk taking, paradoxical behavior, stepping out of character, postponing gratification
The best that i've realized and found in this exam prep is, you cannot move a mountain in a day. A consistent and steady method is the only way to do it.
Never over do yourself even if you feel interested in a particular day. Moderation and consistency are the two main ingredients to success. 3 hrs a day for 3 months is the most effective way to prepare. If you work then 2 hours a day for 6 months is good. (i over do sometimes and dont do the next couple of days, then i try moderation and steady speed, it works...try and let me know)
Plan your time and stick to the schedule. This is not a matter of discipline but a matter of behavioral technique. conditioning as we say. your brain gets ready to assimilate the study experience and stuff you are taking into the brain in some fascinating fashion and yield you result.
Always study in multiple ways. not only by reading, switch to videos when u r bored to read, switch to audio when u take a quiet walk, write concepts down as puzzle for yourself to recollect and see how much your brain can recollect concepts. sometimes read extensively and repeatedly. this is a principle of recency. the brain easily remembers things repeatedly exposed to. Do it as a game not a study routine. The more interested you make it the more the brain is going to be active to absorb it.
If any other tips you want to add please add in comments section so it helps students out there.
Existential psychotherapy was developed by Friedrich Nietzsche, Soren Kierkegaard, Jean-Paul Sartre, Rollo May, James Bugental, Viktor Frankl, Irvin Yalom, Kirk Schneider, Stephen Diamond, and Myrtle Heery. very useful link : http://www.existential-therapy.com/
The psychodynamic approach includes all the theories in psychology that see human functioning based upon the interaction of drives and forces within the person, particularly unconscious, and between the different structures of the personality. The psychodynamic theories of personality are mainly composed of famous theorists such as Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson and Alfred Adler. The Object Relations Theory also belongs to this group of personality theories. The psychodynamic perspective is concerned with how internal processes such as needs, drives, and emotions motivate human behavior.
Drive theory
Ego Psychology
Object relations
Self Psychology
Freud's Psychodynamic theory
Freud's theory of Psycho sexual development
Drive Theory : Drive or instinct theory. This theory proposes that human behavior is motivated by two basic instincts: thanatos, or the drive for aggression or destruction, and eros, or the drive for life (through sexual gratification).Recent revisions of drive theory have suggested that human behavior is alsomotivated by drives formastery (see D.Goldstein,1996) and for connectedness (Borden, 2009). Ego Psychology :
1. Pre-social/symbiotic : lack of recognition of difference between self and non self, mother becomes different from environment
2. Impulsive : difference between self and mother, fixation with sexul and aggressive drives, implosive and exploitative and dependent
3. Opportunistic: child tries to manipulate and control others, follows rules and moralities when it is conveniently advantageous to them
4. Conformist : child develops trust, becomes very self conscious of their appreance, how others see them and their personal possessions, rules are somewhat internalized
5. conscientious : child internalizes morality regulated by ethical imperatives, disobedience results in feelings of guilt, relationship with others are intense and accountable, internal feelings and success pre occupy their thoughts
6. Autonomous : constant thoughts about self identity and fulfillment, maintaining independence in relationships, learning to deal with and accept personal conflicts, differences with others and controlling impulses
7. Integrated : grandiose or unattainable ideas from childhood are replaced, appreciate individuality in personal relationships, reconciliation of conflicts, constant thoughts of attaining an integrated identity
8. Self protective (transition stage between stage 1 and 2)
9. Self aware :(transition stage between 4 and 5 )
Infancy and early childhood (0-6) - learning to walk, take solid foods, talk, control elimination of body waste, sex differences and sexual modesty, achieving physiological stability and forming simple concepts of social and physical reality, learning to relate oneself to parent, sibling and other people, learning to distinguish between right and wrong and developing a conscience
Middle Childhood (age 6-12) - learning physical skills necessary for ordinary games, building wholesome attitude towards oneself as a growing organism, learning to get along with age mates, learning appropriate masculine and feminine social role, developing fundamental skills in reading writing and calculation, developing concepts necessary for everyday living, developing conscience, morality and a scale of values, achieving personal independence
Adolescence(12-18) - achieving new and more mature relations with age mates of both sexes, achieving a masculine or feminine social role, accepting one's physique and using the body effectively, achieving emotional independence of parents and other adults, achieving assurance of economic independence, selecting and preparing for an occupation, preparing for marriage and family life, developing intellectual skills and competence necessary for civic competence, desiring and achieving socially responsible behavior, acquiring a set of values and an ethical system as a guide to behavior
Early Adulthood (18-30) - selecting a mate,learning to live with a partner, starting family , rearing children, managing home, getting started in occupation, taking on civic responsibility, finding a congenial social group
Middle Age (30-60) achieving adult civic and social responsibility, establishing and maintaining an economic standard of living, assisting teen age children to become responsible and happy adults, developing adult leisure time activities, relating oneself to one's spouse as a person, accepting and adjusting to physiological changes of middle age, adjusting to aging parents
Later Maturity (past 60) - adjusting to decreasing physical strength and health, adjustment to retirement and reduced income, adjusting to death of a spouse, establishing an explicit affiliation with one's age group, meeting social and civic obligations, establishing satisfactory physical living arrangements
Along with Edward Sapir they claim that language shape the way people think. because of differing languages cultures vary in their understanding of the world. The link between language and thought is considered bi directional.
