ASWB Masters cheat sheet

Piaget's four stages: sensorimotor (0–2; object permanence), preoperational (2–7; egocentrism, symbolic play), concrete operational (7–11; conservation, reversibility), formal operational (11+; abstract and hypothetical reasoning).

Erikson's crises in order: trust v. mistrust (0–1), autonomy v. shame/doubt (1–3), initiative v. guilt (3–6), industry v. inferiority (6–12), identity v. role confusion (12–18), intimacy v. isolation (young adult), generativity v. stagnation (midlife), integrity v. despair (late life).

Kohlberg's three levels: preconventional (punishment avoidance, instrumental exchange), conventional (social approval, law and order), postconventional (social contract, universal ethical principles); Gilligan argued moral development also proceeds through an ethic of care.

Ainsworth's Strange Situation classifications: secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-resistant/ambivalent, plus disorganized-disoriented later added by Main and Solomon.

Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems, innermost outward: microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, chronosystem.

Autism spectrum disorder (DSM-5): persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction plus restricted, repetitive behaviors or interests, present in early development and causing impairment.

ADHD (DSM-5): six or more inattentive and/or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms for at least six months, several present before age 12, and symptoms in two or more settings.

Defense mechanisms by maturity: denial, splitting, projection, acting out (primitive) versus suppression, humor, sublimation, altruism (mature).

Berry's acculturation strategies: integration (heritage and host culture), assimilation (host only), separation (heritage only), marginalization (neither).

Mental status exam components: appearance, behavior, speech, mood and affect, thought process and content, cognition (orientation, memory, attention), insight, and judgment.

Major depressive disorder (DSM-5): five or more symptoms for at least two weeks, including depressed mood or anhedonia, causing impairment and not attributable to a substance or medical condition.

PHQ-9 scoring: nine items, total 0–27; 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe, 20–27 severe; item 9 screens for suicidal ideation.

Reliability is consistency of a measure; validity is whether it measures the intended construct. A test can be reliable without being valid, but not valid without being reliable.

Delirium versus dementia: delirium is acute, fluctuating, with impaired attention and consciousness; dementia is chronic and progressive, with clouding of consciousness absent until late stages.

PTSD requires symptoms in four clusters (intrusion, avoidance, negative cognitions/mood, arousal-reactivity) lasting more than one month; acute stress disorder covers three days to one month.

Suicide risk factors carrying the most weight: prior attempt, current plan and intent, access to lethal means (especially firearms), recent loss, and substance use; protective factors include social support and reasons for living.

CAGE screening: Cut down, Annoyed by criticism, Guilty about drinking, Eye-opener (morning use); two or more positive responses suggest an alcohol problem.

DSM-5 substance use disorder severity: 2–3 criteria mild, 4–5 moderate, 6 or more severe, out of 11 criteria met in the past 12 months.

Motivational interviewing core skills (OARS): Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections (complex reflections emphasized), and Summaries; the clinician elicits change talk rather than arguing for change.

Prochaska and DiClemente stages of change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, relapse; the intervention should match the client's current stage.

Solution-focused techniques: miracle question, scaling questions, exception questions, and strengths identification; the focus stays on solutions rather than problem analysis.

CBT components: identifying automatic thoughts and cognitive distortions, cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, and graded exposure; between-session homework is typical.

Minuchin's structural family therapy targets boundaries (enmeshed or disengaged), subsystem hierarchy, and triangulation; the therapist joins the family and restructures interactions in session.

Tuckman's group stages: forming (orientation), storming (conflict), norming (cohesion), performing (productivity), adjourning (termination).

Trauma-informed care principles: safety; trustworthiness and transparency; peer support; collaboration and mutuality; empowerment and choice; and attention to cultural, historical, and gender issues.

Crisis intervention steps: assess lethality and safety, establish rapport, identify the problem, deal with feelings, explore alternatives, and formulate an action plan with follow-up.

Behavioral activation for depression: collaboratively schedule and monitor activities producing mastery or pleasure, reduce avoidance, and review results to reinforce engagement.

NASW Code of Ethics six core values: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence.

Informed consent elements: nature and purpose of services, risks, benefits, alternatives, right to refuse, fees, limits of confidentiality, and the right to withdraw.

Confidentiality exceptions: suspected child or elder/vulnerable adult abuse (mandated report), serious imminent threat to an identifiable person (duty to protect), court order, and client-authorized release.

Mandated reporting threshold is reasonable suspicion, not proof; the clinician reports to the designated agency within the statutory time frame and documents the report.

Dual or multiple relationships are not automatically unethical; they are prohibited where there is risk of exploitation or impaired professional judgment, and the burden falls on the clinician.

42 CFR Part 2 protects substance use disorder treatment records more strictly than HIPAA; redisclosure generally requires specific written consent naming the recipient.

Ethical decision-making sequence: identify the dilemma and relevant facts, consult the NASW Code and law, consult supervisors/colleagues or an ethics committee, evaluate options, choose, document, then review the outcome.

Termination must avoid abandonment: discuss and plan it with the client, give adequate notice, offer referrals, and document; unplanned termination requires documented follow-up attempts.

Self-determination: clients with capacity may set their own goals and refuse or end services even when the clinician disagrees, unless serious harm to self or others is imminent.