LMSW Practice Test

What is the most important consideration in choosing a goal with a client?

1. What the agency wants

2. What the client wants

3. What the client's parents want

4. What the worker wants

The correct answer is: What the agency wants

The most important consideration in choosing a goal with a client is what the client wants. This approach is foundational to client-centered practice, which emphasizes collaboration and respect for the client’s autonomy and preferences. Goals should reflect the client's needs, wishes, and values, ensuring that they feel empowered and engaged in the process. When the client's desires guide goal-setting, it promotes a stronger commitment to the therapeutic process and increases the likelihood of achieving positive outcomes. Prioritizing the client's perspective fosters a trusting relationship and aligns the interventions with what is most meaningful to them. In contrast, considering what the agency, parents, or the social worker wants may lead to goals that are not aligned with the client’s values or needs. Such an approach can result in lack of motivation, resistance, or even conflict in the therapeutic relationship. Therefore, centering on the client's wants is critical for effective practice in social work.