Clinical Practice SWES Practice Exam

When might a social worker determine not to intervene significantly in a client's regression?

1. When regression aids in solving problems

2. When it allows the client to forget their problems

3. When it serves to avoid aggressive impulses

4. When it protects the client from anxiety

The correct answer is: When regression aids in solving problems

The determination not to intervene significantly when a client displays regression can often be based on the principle that regression may actually facilitate problem-solving. In certain contexts, clients might revert to earlier stages of development as they engage with complex emotional issues, allowing them to explore their feelings in a safer, more manageable way. This process can lead to new insights or facilitate the uncovering of solutions that may not have been visible when they were functioning at a more advanced developmental level. For instance, if a client is regressing to a childlike state while discussing traumatic experiences, this can serve as a coping mechanism that provides them with emotional distance. Instead of forcing the client to remain at a more mature level of functioning, which could exacerbate their anxiety or stress, allowing this regression can create a therapeutic space. Within that space, clients often revisit and reprocess unresolved issues, drawing on earlier coping strategies that may lead them to solutions. While the other options might include aspects of regression that could also be valid in certain scenarios, they do not encapsulate the potential constructive nature of regression as effectively. For example, forgetting problems may provide temporary relief, but it does not contribute positively to resolution. Similarly, avoidance of aggressive impulses or anxiety, while important, may not harness the opportunity