Social Work Examination Services (SWES) Individual Practice Test

What is a useful strategy when beginning therapy with clients expressing severe emotional states?

1. Delving into their childhood immediately

2. Focusing on immediate feelings and safety

3. Encouraging the client to forget past traumas

4. Offering medication as the first solution

The correct answer is: Focusing on immediate feelings and safety

Focusing on immediate feelings and safety is a crucial strategy when beginning therapy with clients who are experiencing severe emotional states. This approach prioritizes the client's current emotional well-being and ensures that they feel secure and supported during the sessions. When clients are in a state of heightened emotion, their ability to process deeper issues can be compromised. By concentrating on immediate feelings, therapists can help clients articulate their current experiences and begin to stabilize before exploring more complex or painful memories. Establishing a sense of safety is also essential, as clients dealing with intense emotions may feel vulnerable and overwhelmed. This strategy allows therapists to create a safe environment where clients can express their feelings without judgment. Once the client feels more grounded and secure, they may become better equipped to explore deeper emotional issues, including past traumas. In contrast to this effective strategy, delving into childhood immediately may overwhelm a client who is not yet ready or able to discuss such topics. Encouraging a client to forget their past traumas undermines the importance of addressing and processing past experiences as part of healing. Finally, offering medication as the first solution ignores therapeutic interventions, which can lay the groundwork for clients to understand their feelings and explore their emotions in a supportive setting.