FAMILY SOLUTIONS INSTITUTE AMFTRB
ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Whose clinical model uses the following terms: placater, blamer,
avoider?
a. Communication - Watzlawick
b. Communication - Haley
c. Communication - Satir
d. Communication - White. Answer: c. Communication - Satir
Although Satir, Watzlawick & Haley are all associated with
communication theory, Satir is the one who uses the terms placater,
blamer, avoider (also leveler & computer). White is not associated with
communication theory, he is associated with a Narrative approach.
◉ Paradoxical tasks given by the Strategic therapist are:
a. expected to be thought of as ridiculous.
b. expected to provide insight.
,c. expected to be resisted.
d. expected to be particularly helpful in child management. Answer: c.
expected to be resisted.
Erickson's experience as a hypnotherapist convinced him that people
could change quickly. Erickson saw his job as finding ways to bypass or
use "resistance." Many paradoxical techniques came out of Erickson's
application of hypnotic principles to avoid creating resistance in patients
or to use their resistance to benefit therapy (Nichols & Schwartz, 3rd. ed.
p. 412). The other answers can be eliminated as follows: Ridiculous -
Paradoxical tasks are generally presented in a context in which they
make sense. Insight - Paradox is not intended to provide insight. It is
expected that change will come from the dilemma the client is placed in,
rather than from a new cognitive understanding of oneself. Helpful for
child management - Paradox is not intended to be any more or less
helpful with parent-child issues than with any other.
◉ A family therapist begins to map the various ways in which a family
is organized. This technique is most associated with:
a. Constructivist therapists.
b. Solution-focused therapists.
c. Transgenerational therapists.
d. Structural therapists. Answer: d. Structural therapists.
,Mapping is a concept specifically associated with the Structural model.
Specific symbols are used to designate such things as boundaries,
coalitions, enmeshment, etc. (Exam tip: Know all the Structural mapping
symbols!)
◉ Some Feminist family therapists are critical of Minuchin's emphasis
on family hierarchies because they believe:
a. it upsets the parental subsystem.
b. it places women in conflict with their children.
c. it reinforces gender stereotypes.
d. it gives parents excessive power. Answer: c. it reinforces gender
stereotypes.
Feminist Family Therapists have outlined three major mistakes of
mainstream family therapy theory. These mistakes are: 1) overlooks
gender, one of the major building blocks of any theory of family; 2)
overlooks power as a valid construct of family systems within
generations (although noted power issues cross-generationally); 3)
supports the main bias in our culture, that autonomy & the
differentiation of self is valued more than relational competence &
affiliation. Feminist thought equally values autonomy, differentiation of
self, competence, & affiliation (Hare-Mustin, 1989).
, ◉ A Facebook friend asks you to be their therapist having heard from
her many friends what a great & helpful therapist you are.The most
ethical response is to:
a. accept the client because he is a friend of a friend & you would be
able to commence therapy in a way that would address or erase any
boundary blurs.
b. decline the request & delete their friend status.
c. close out your Facebook page.
d. refer the client to a colleague. Answer: d. refer the client to a
colleague.
The best & most ethical response would be to refer out. As a friend on
Facebook, this person is able to see personal information about your life
& would qualify as a dual relationship. Some social network websites
allow therapists to maintain a professional profile online where one can
attract clients through the internet. This separates the therapist's personal
life from their professional one therefore creating clearer boundaries for
their practice & yet could still violate HIPAA if your LinkedIn profile
only consists of your clients. Again, rule of thumb, most conservative
answer is always best in legal & ethical questions.
◉ An MFT works as a 1/3 time employee of a local high school. His
primary responsibility is to meet with students together with their family
members to help them understand & coordinate educational goals with
teachers & guidance personnel. Occasionally, the MFT will hold a series
of family therapy sessions when school guidance counselors indicate
ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Whose clinical model uses the following terms: placater, blamer,
avoider?
a. Communication - Watzlawick
b. Communication - Haley
c. Communication - Satir
d. Communication - White. Answer: c. Communication - Satir
Although Satir, Watzlawick & Haley are all associated with
communication theory, Satir is the one who uses the terms placater,
blamer, avoider (also leveler & computer). White is not associated with
communication theory, he is associated with a Narrative approach.
◉ Paradoxical tasks given by the Strategic therapist are:
a. expected to be thought of as ridiculous.
b. expected to provide insight.
,c. expected to be resisted.
d. expected to be particularly helpful in child management. Answer: c.
expected to be resisted.
Erickson's experience as a hypnotherapist convinced him that people
could change quickly. Erickson saw his job as finding ways to bypass or
use "resistance." Many paradoxical techniques came out of Erickson's
application of hypnotic principles to avoid creating resistance in patients
or to use their resistance to benefit therapy (Nichols & Schwartz, 3rd. ed.
p. 412). The other answers can be eliminated as follows: Ridiculous -
Paradoxical tasks are generally presented in a context in which they
make sense. Insight - Paradox is not intended to provide insight. It is
expected that change will come from the dilemma the client is placed in,
rather than from a new cognitive understanding of oneself. Helpful for
child management - Paradox is not intended to be any more or less
helpful with parent-child issues than with any other.
◉ A family therapist begins to map the various ways in which a family
is organized. This technique is most associated with:
a. Constructivist therapists.
b. Solution-focused therapists.
c. Transgenerational therapists.
d. Structural therapists. Answer: d. Structural therapists.
,Mapping is a concept specifically associated with the Structural model.
Specific symbols are used to designate such things as boundaries,
coalitions, enmeshment, etc. (Exam tip: Know all the Structural mapping
symbols!)
◉ Some Feminist family therapists are critical of Minuchin's emphasis
on family hierarchies because they believe:
a. it upsets the parental subsystem.
b. it places women in conflict with their children.
c. it reinforces gender stereotypes.
d. it gives parents excessive power. Answer: c. it reinforces gender
stereotypes.
Feminist Family Therapists have outlined three major mistakes of
mainstream family therapy theory. These mistakes are: 1) overlooks
gender, one of the major building blocks of any theory of family; 2)
overlooks power as a valid construct of family systems within
generations (although noted power issues cross-generationally); 3)
supports the main bias in our culture, that autonomy & the
differentiation of self is valued more than relational competence &
affiliation. Feminist thought equally values autonomy, differentiation of
self, competence, & affiliation (Hare-Mustin, 1989).
, ◉ A Facebook friend asks you to be their therapist having heard from
her many friends what a great & helpful therapist you are.The most
ethical response is to:
a. accept the client because he is a friend of a friend & you would be
able to commence therapy in a way that would address or erase any
boundary blurs.
b. decline the request & delete their friend status.
c. close out your Facebook page.
d. refer the client to a colleague. Answer: d. refer the client to a
colleague.
The best & most ethical response would be to refer out. As a friend on
Facebook, this person is able to see personal information about your life
& would qualify as a dual relationship. Some social network websites
allow therapists to maintain a professional profile online where one can
attract clients through the internet. This separates the therapist's personal
life from their professional one therefore creating clearer boundaries for
their practice & yet could still violate HIPAA if your LinkedIn profile
only consists of your clients. Again, rule of thumb, most conservative
answer is always best in legal & ethical questions.
◉ An MFT works as a 1/3 time employee of a local high school. His
primary responsibility is to meet with students together with their family
members to help them understand & coordinate educational goals with
teachers & guidance personnel. Occasionally, the MFT will hold a series
of family therapy sessions when school guidance counselors indicate
