Social Work

My process of earning my LCSW has been challenging. After four years of advocating for clinical supervision at different employers. After 3200 hours in January 2019 and much frustration, I submitted my hours. The added frustration started a year ago when my wife and I made plans to move closer to her parents and buy a house in Oregon, so I started studying a year ago. back to January 2019, I bought the TDC program and started moving my studying into overdrive. It took 8-weeks to hear back from the board and then another 2 weeks for approval to test.

I would first like to thank you for putting this program together and utilizing audio lectures to make the process of studying (for hours) bearable. I personally have a difficult time studying for hours but not with this program and the audio lectures. It brought back the memories of being in class lectures which I personally loved.

It took me a long time to get around to studying for and taking my LCSW exam, related to various professional (not technically needed in my job as an Assertive Community Treatment Team Clinician) and personal issues (life, parenting). I had put off studying for it for years because I have been out of school for 25 years and the idea of doing seemed daunting given a full time, very demanding job in the field and life in general. My friend, who was in a similar situation, used TDC and passed the exam. She recommended the program to my husband, another friend and I.

I really enjoyed studying with TDC! The materials/topics covered were pretty much spot on with what's on the exam. I felt adequately prepared and the mock exams were extremely helpful in terms of identifying what areas I need to focus more on. I started using Apgar's study book but immediately felt overwhelmed with amount of content I needed to read/study. TDC had just enough study materials that didn't seem too overwhelming. I particularly enjoyed listening to the audios and listened to them multiple times on my commute to work.

I PASSED!!!! That felt amazing to walk in and out with complete confidence. I was feeling unsure and not confident due to the unknowns. However, through the audios and rationalizations provided I could hear myself talking through the process. With that came the confidence. I had the knowledge, however, why did I know that answer was unclear to me at times. After studying with this program I understood why I did. I would review the questions I answered incorrect as well as the ones I got correct to develop a deeper understanding. I highly encourage same practice.

While I have always been a strong test taker, it is hard to not be intimidated by this exam. With people whispering in your ear, "you know 75% of people fail on the first try," and "I'm on my 3rd (4th,5th) try," it is hard not to let that get to you. When I first started studying, I ordered a 2019 book and SLAM, it hit my table and my spirit like a brick. I remember by the end of my first day using it, I had filled out a pack of note cards and felt ten times more anxious than when I first sat down to study. Then, several of my co-workers told me about the Therapist Developmental Center.

I took the exam actually three times and wanted to give up. I purchased other study materials, and failed the exam. I purchased an in-person weekend course in Atlanta, then failed the exam. I committed to FaceBook study groups and was given tons of materials from colleagues, and still did not pass the exam. But when I purchased TDC after a recommendation from another colleague, it changed my life. From the moment Amanda and Bethany began to speak, I felt this would be different. I realized quickly so many ways I'd gone wrong in the past.

Before learning about TDC, I used another well known program to study for the law and ethics portion of the lcsw exam. It was so monotone! I somehow managed to pass that exam anyhow. But I was nervous about even attempting to study for the lcsw clinical exam since I graduated 9.5 years ago and never did therapy! I’m a children’s social worker so all of the material felt overwhelming at first! I felt like without TDC I would have felt much more overwhelmed and less focused on what was really important!

I honestly do not believe I would have passed if not for this program. I purchased the ASWB exam guide book and was immediately overwhelmed by the amount and scope of topics. This course broke the test down into easy to remember steps and the "common sense" approach to the question stem helped me succeed. I listened to the DSM What's the Difference at least three times and it really assisted in those questions where it could be one or the other (ODD VS Anti-social is a great example that I saw on the exam). The quizzes really helped with my confidence level.

I am very happy to share that I passed my California clinical licensing examination to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)!!! I think it is also important to share that the process to get to this point was not easy. This journey started way back in 2006 when I started my Masters of Social Work Program and graduated in 2008 from San Jose State University with my (MSW). After graduate school, I accumulated over 5,000 hours of clinical work experience and supervision in the mental health field.