MFT national exam- sample questions
2023-2024
Out of earshot of Dad, Mom points out one of his parenting inadequacies to the
children. From a
... [Show More] Contextual Family Therapy perspective, Mom's actions are evidence
for - ANS-split filial loyalty
Bob (45) and Marianne (38) argue about what is the proper age for their daughter Jill
(14) to begin dating. Jill hears the fighting and enters the room. Marianne draws Jill into
the argument to side with her against Bob. From a Bowen Systems perspective, what
has occurred? - ANS-triangulation
Creation of a sufficient holding environment is a critical part of which theoretical
approach? - ANS-Object Relations
Which theory believes that relative birth order is significant in determining specific
characteristics? - ANS-Bowen Systems
Bill (50) and Alexandria (43) present for therapy because their son Ralph (13) has
developed school phobia. The phobia emerged after a trial separation between Bill and
Alexandria. Bill moved back into the home when it became apparent that the only way
to get Ralph to attend school was with both parents working together to help him. From
Bozormenyi-Nagy's perspective, this is an example of - ANS-invisible loyalties
Jonathan (47) and Samantha (46) present for help with their daughter Michelle (12) who
has a history of depression. The family has also recently moved and Michelle will be
entering a new high school this fall. The family spends some time animatedly describing
recent events in their lives that they believe deepened Michelle's depression. The
conversation begins to wind down. An Object Relations therapist would be most likely to
- ANS-request details of their earlier histories
The following therapist is most associated with multigenerational process of
psychopathology - ANS-Bowen
Introjection can only be detected by - ANS-trained therapists
Anita (23) has had a conflictual relationship with her mother, Sarah (43) throughout her
teens. She was rebellious and angry with her mother much of the time. Sarah is a single
mother and very anxious about her daughter, so much so that she frequently screamed
and used inappropriate punishments in an attempt to get her daughter to "behave".
After Anita left home for college, she rarely wrote or called home and only visited on
holidays. Now that she has graduated, she took a job several states away from her
hometown and continues her pattern of not phoning or calling. A Bowenian therapist
would say that Anita is engaged in - ANS-emotional cutoff
In object relations theory, the latent meaning behind attitudes, behaviors, or feelings
that is detected by therapists through analyzing personal reactions to session materials
is knows as - ANS-derivatives
Sandy's parents divorced when she was 10 years old, and her mother went through a
depression. Consequently, Sandy often was responsible for the care of her 7 year old
brother as well as seeing to family meals and other household chores. Her mother often
confided in her about her feelings and interacted with her more like an older sister than
her mother. When Sandy became a young adult, her mother, who had recovered
somewhat, was surprised to find how irresponsibly Sandy conducted her life and how
angry she seemed. According to Bozormenyi-Nagy, Sandy's behavior is an example of -
ANS-destructive entitlement
The role of the therapist is Bowenian therapy is that of - ANS-coach
Mary's mother often calls her during the week to complain about the behavior of her
father. Usually, Mary is highly sympathetic and supportive of her mother's complaints
and becomes and remains angry at her father for sometime following the call. After
attending therapy with a Bowenian therapist, however, Mary responded to her mother's
next complaining phone call with the following statement, That sounds like something
really important that dad needs to know. Have you talked about this with him? Mary is
attempting to do what in Bowenian terms? - ANS-detriangle
A contextual therapist will frequently attempt to help a client see the positive intent and
intergenerational loyalty issues behind even the most destructive behaviors of previous
generations. this concept is known as - ANS-exoneration
Object relations theorists believe that, as a process of normal development parts of
caretakers are split off and internalized into a child's developing personality.
Expectations of self and other are based on these internal representations. They are
known as - ANS-ledgers
This major model developer believed that, in order for a therapist to remain detached,
neutral, and non-anxious with clients, he or she must lower their level of reactivity to
their own family of origin. Who was the model developer? - ANS-Murray Bowen
This theoretical concept states that normal development should entail a degree of
emotional separation from family of origin while remaining in relationship with them. In
addition, an individual should be able to separate emotions from cognitions. What is this
concept? - ANS-differentiation
According to Contextual Family Therapy, each family member earns this concept
through the accumulation of care and concerns toward others. - ANS-merit
Anna (35) and Chuck (40) have been married for ten years and have struggled with
sexual issues the whole time. Although Anna probably has a desire disorder and doesn't
enjoy sex, she insists that Chuck is the one who never wants to be sexual. She has
made appointments with medical doctors and therapists and tells each one that she
very much wants to have more sexual relationship with Chuck doesn't want to.
According to object relations theory, Anna is probably engaging in what? - ANSprojective identification
Amy is discussing her relationship with her father in therapy. She is angry and attributes
her father's "unreasonable" behavior to his lack of empathy for others. As she describes
the latest argument with her father, her therapist says, "As your father turned around
and walked out of the room, what were you thinking?" and "What happened next?" and
"How did you respond to that?" Her therapist is probably using _____ and is practicing
from a _____ - ANS-process questions/Bowen
Milan systemic therapy differs from Haley's strategic in that - ANS-systemic therapy
helps families to understand the meaning of the symptoms, while strategic just changes
the pattern
In Strategic Therapy, when first starting out with a family in therapy, it is important to-
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