Therapist Development Center Practice Exam 1

During which therapeutic phase should a social worker acknowledge a client's profound grief?

1. Assessment phase.

2. Intervention phase.

3. Termination phase.

4. Follow-up phase.

The correct answer is: Assessment phase.

Acknowledging a client's profound grief is particularly important during the assessment phase. In this initial stage of therapy, the social worker gathers critical information about the client's emotional state, experiences, and concerns. Recognizing and validating the client's grief at this point helps establish trust and rapport, allowing the client to feel heard and understood. This validation can further assist the social worker in developing a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to the client's specific needs. Although grief may be touched upon in other phases, such as the intervention or follow-up phases, the primary goal during assessment is to create a foundation for effective therapy. By addressing profound grief early on, the social worker can ensure that the subsequent therapeutic interventions are appropriately aligned with the client’s emotional and psychological context.