overview

The assessment and intervention planning content outline comprises 24% of the Masters exam (approximately 36 questions).

Competencies and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs)

IIA. Biopsychosocial History and Collateral Data

• The components of a biopsychosocial assessment
• The components and function of the mental status examination
• Biopsychosocial responses to illness and disability
• Biopsychosocial factors related to mental health
• The indicators of psychosocial stress
• Basic medical terminology
• The indicators of mental and emotional illness throughout the lifespan
• The types of information available from other sources (e.g., agency, employment, medical, psychological, legal, or school records)
• Methods to obtain sensitive information (e.g., substance abuse, sexual abuse)
• The indicators of addiction and substance abuse
• The indicators of somatization
• Co-occurring disorders and conditions
• Symptoms of neurologic and organic disorders
• The indicators of sexual dysfunction
• Methods used to assess trauma
•  The indicators of traumatic stress and violence
• Common psychotropic and non-psychotropic prescriptions and over-the-counter medications and their side effects

IIB. Assessment Methods and Techniques

• The factors and processes used in problem formulation
•  Methods of involving clients/client systems in problem identification (e.g., gathering collateral information)
•  Techniques and instruments used to assess clients/client systems
•  Methods to incorporate the results of psychological and educational tests into assessment
• Risk assessment methods
• The indicators and risk factors of the client’s/client system’s danger to self and others
• Methods to assess the client’s/client system’s strengths, resources, and challenges (e.g., individual, family, group, organization, community)
• Methods to assess motivation, resistance, and readiness to change
• Methods to assess the client’s/client system’s communication skills
• Methods to assess the client’s/client system’s coping abilities
• The indicators of the client’s/client system’s strengths and challenges
• Methods to assess ego strengths
• Placement options based on assessed level of care
• The use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association
• The indicators of behavioral dysfunction
• Methods to develop, review, and implement crisis plans
• The principles and features of objective and subjective data
• Basic and applied research design and methods
• Data collection and analysis methods
• Methods to assess reliability and validity in social work research

IIC. Intervention Planning

• Methods to involve clients/client systems in intervention planning
• The indicators of motivation, resistance, and readiness to change
• Cultural considerations in the creation of an intervention plan
• The criteria used in the selection of intervention/treatment modalities (e.g., client/client system abilities, culture, life stage)
•  The components of intervention, treatment, and service plans
• Psychotherapies
• The impact of immigration, refugee, or undocumented status on service delivery
• Discharge, aftercare, and follow-up planning