MFT Practice Set Exam Questions And Answers
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A young woman comes to therapy alone. She has been dating a man for almost a
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recently began having sexual relations. Although the woman is sexually aroused during intercourse,
she is unable to achieve orgasm through either intercourse or clitoral stimulation. The woman says
that, while this is her first experience with intercourse, she has masturbated to orgasm several times.
In treating the woman a therapist using Masters and Johnson's approach to sex therapy is most likely
to recommend that the woman use which of the following techniques?
Select one:
a. The bridge technique
b. The stop-start technique
c. Sensate focus
d. The squeeze technique Correct Answer: Although many questions that ask you to choose an
intervention are "best answer" questions, this is a "one-correct-answer" question because Masters
and Johnson suggest specific procedures for treating each sexual dysfunction. Answer C is correct:
In treating secondary Orgasmic Disorder, Masters and Johnson emphasize the sexual value system
and recommend giving the couple permission to be sexual, using sensate focus with constant
communication of likes and dislikes to the partner, genital play, penile containment without thrusting,
and, finally, coitus.Answer A is incorrect: Be careful: this is associated with Kaplan's treatment for
secondary Orgasmic Disorder.Answer B is incorrect: This is associated with Kaplan's treatment for
Premature Ejaculation.Answer D is incorrect: This technique is associated with Masters and Johnson,
but is used to treat male sexual dysfunction, such as Premature Ejaculation.
The correct answer is: Sensate focus
Based on the initial evaluation of a 15-year-old boy, a clinician believes the nature and number of his
symptoms suggest a DSM-5 diagnosis of Attention-Deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder, predominantly
inattentive presentation. Before assigning the diagnosis, the clinician will want to confirm that some
symptoms were present before the boy was _____ years of age and that he exhibits them in at least
_____ settings.
Select one:
a. 7; 2
b. 12; 2
c. 6; 3
d. 10; 3 Correct Answer: Answer B is correct: For a diagnosis of ADHD, the DSM-5 requires that
"several inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms were present prior to age 12" (p. 60) and that
symptoms are present in at least two settings.
Answer A is incorrect: This answer describes the DSM-IV-TR requirements for the diagnosis.
The correct answer is: 12; 2
Bipolar I Disorder is distinguished from Bipolar II Disorder by the presence of which kind of episode?
Select one:
a. Manic episode
b. Psychotic episode
c. Mixed episode
d. Depressed episode Correct Answer: This is another straightforward recall question about
diagnosis.Answer A is correct: The presence of a manic episode rules out Bipolar II Disorder. The
criteria for diagnosing Bipolar I Disorder include one or more manic episodes.Answer B is incorrect:
With psychotic features is a specifier for Bipolar I Disorder, but psychotic episodes are not one of the
types of episodes associated with the Bipolar Disorders.
The correct answer is: Manic episode
Charles and Martha bring their two children to therapy. The parents are concerned with how
disrespectful the youngest child is to the mother. Whenever she tries to discipline him, he engages in
name-calling and has threatened violence. The therapist asks the mother to recall a recent event that
occurred and notes that the husband rolls his eyes and looks away as she begins to speak. When the
therapist calls attention to the husband's response, the youngest child immediately lashes out at his
mother. A structural therapist would view this interaction as:
Select one:
a. Conflict-detouring.
b. Reciprocal inhibition.
c. Equifinality.
d. Nonsummativity. Correct Answer: Answer A is correct: Conflict-detouring occurs when conflict from
one subsystem is detoured to another subsystem. This is often what is occurring in situations where
there is a family scapegoat. Reciprocal inhibition is a Behavioral Family therapy term that describes
the pairing of responses that are incompatible with anxiety to the previously anxiety-producing stimuli
(e.g. systematic desensitization) (B). Equifinality means that the same results may arise from different
origins. For example, an inhibited child may develop from experiences of physical abuse or emotional
abuse (C). Nonsummativity is the concept that a system cannot by analyzed by isolated segments:
"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" (D).
The correct answer is: Conflict-detouring.
Cindy and Tom Thomas come to counseling with their 6-year-old son, Michael, who was adopted
from a Romanian orphanage three years ago. Michael has been slow to learn English, is behind at
school, and often doesn't seem focused or socially engaged. Cindy and Tom tell you they often fight
about Michael and Tom says, "I think that Cindy spoils him and now he doesn't want to do anything
himself." Your next step would be to:
Select one:
a. Refer Michael for psychological and psychiatric testing.
b. Refer Cindy and Tom to a parenting class.
c. Normalize Michael's cultural adjustment process.
d. Get a release to speak with his teacher. Correct Answer: Answer A is correct: It is important to
refer Michael for a psychological and psychiatric evaluation. Because Michael's prenatal and first
three years of care are questionable, it cannot be assumed that his problems are acculturation issues
or weak parenting. In recent years there have been many couples who have been stunned to find
children who were adopted from abroad were not properly cared for during their formative years and
permanent cognitive deficits have been the result. Russian and Romanian adoptions have been
under specific scrutiny in this regard. Referring Cindy and Tom to a parenting class would not
address any possible existing organic or psychological problems. Because Michael's prenatal and
first three years of care are questionable, it cannot be assumed that his problems are strictly the
result of trial and error parenting attempts (B). Helping to normalize Michael's bicultural adjustment for
his parents is not enough in this case (C). Getting a release to speak with Michael's teacher might be
somewhat helpful, but it doesn't address the possible organic problems this child may be having as a
result of prenatal or early neglect or abuse (D).
The correct answer is: Refer Michael for psychological and psychiatric testing.
Clementine, an 18-year-old high school senior, is referred for therapy by her physician. She went to
see her doctor due to constipation and menstrual irregularity. Though slightly underweight,
Clementine talks excessively about being fat and unattractive. When prompted by the MFT, she
admits to thinking that food is a "tyrant" in her life. She also discloses that she sometimes "gorges on
food" to a point where she feels sick and throws up, but is quick to add that she does this no more
than a couple of times a week. Based on this information, the most likely diagnosis for Clementine is:
Select one:
a. Anorexia Nervosa, binge eating or purging type.
b. Bulimia Nervosa.
c. Major Depressive Disorder with atypical features.
d. Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Correct Answer: The information presented in this question suggests
that Clementine has an eating disorder.Answer A is incorrect: Anorexia and Bulimia share some
features (e.g., disturbed body image), but a person with Anorexia refuses to maintain weight over a
minimal normal level for her height and age.Answer B is correct: The primary clue indicating that
Clementine has Bulimia, rather than Anorexia, is that she is only slightly underweight. Other signs of
Bulimia include her lack of control over eating ("food is a tyrant"); her preoccupation with her body
shape and weight; and her gorging on food and vomiting. Finally, menstrual irregularity (and even
amenorrhea) occurs in some females with Bulimia and constipation can develop in individuals who
chronically abuse laxatives.Answer C is incorrect: Major Depressive Disorder with atypical features
often includes overeating, but Clementine is not exhibiting other symptoms of depression.Answer D is
incorrect: You can rule this out since Clementine clearly seems to have an eating disorder. The
essential feature of Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a preoccupation with an imagined or minor physical
flaw.
The correct answer is: Bulimia Nervosa.
During an initial interview with a patient who was recently admitted to the hospital, a therapist finds
that the patient tends to take an unusually long time to answer questions because he spends a lot of
time providing minute details and making parenthetical comments. However, the patient doesn't seem
to lose track of the point he is trying to make and usually ends up answering the questions. The
man's speech pattern is best described by which of the following terms?
Select one:
a. Loosening of associations
b. Circumstantiality
c. Confabulation
d. Flight of ideas Correct Answer: A key feature of this person's speech is that he does not lose the
original point.Answer B is correct: The man's speech pattern illustrates circumstantiality. His speech
wanders somewhat but he continues to be aware of the original point.Answer A is incorrect:
Loosening of associations involves incoherent, rambling speech and loss of the original point.Answer
C is incorrect: Confabulation involves the fabrication of details or events in order to fill in information
gaps resulting from memory loss.Answer D is incorrect: Flight of ideas involves a nearly continuous
flow of rapid speech with abrupt changes from one topic to another.
The correct answer is: Circumstantiality
During your first session, a new client tells you that she sometimes gets very light-headed and
"shaky" and that, during these periods, she has an impending sense of doom and feels like she's
going to die. She says these feelings "come and go" and don't seem to be related to anything she's
doing at the time. A representative from her insurance company calls a few days after this session
and requests a diagnosis. He says the company will not reimburse for the session unless it receives a
diagnosis with the first billing. You generally do not like to assign a diagnosis without doing a
complete assessment, but you want to get paid. Therefore, you hazard an "educated guess" and
assign which of the following diagnoses?
Select one:
a. Panic Disorder
b. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
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